Enjoyed a great day on the water on Sunday with Dan and Lacy. As I drove to the Little Hamlet By The Bay just prior to daylight, it was not easy imagining a fishing trip when the thermometer read 2 degrees. Remembering a fishing trip that I had read about earlier, my first stop was at Safeway for a dozen donuts, several sandwiches and drinks. Not taking a chance, we met at the old Orca Plumbing Building for a hot breakfast of sausage and eggs and lots of coffee. Come daylight, we had the boat hooked up and on your way to the harbor. The temperature was looking much better, it was now up to 18 degrees and clear. In very little time, the boat was launched, engines started and the cabin heater on high as we set sail for the fishing grounds.
It was a quick run across the bay, the water was a little rough in the rip but upon arriving at Gull Rock, it had laid down and looking good. Within an hour of our arrival, the ski was cloudless, the sun had a little warmth, and the water was like a mirror.
Fishing was great, my first fish came within 30 minutes of putting in our gear, a very nice 26 pound King Salmon. We also fished Peterson Bay, Halibut Cove and inside China Poot Bay, where we picked up fish. With the 22 foot tide running, fishing the entrance to China Poot is a challenge with the rock bluffs and current speed.
I could tell you how good the fishing was by the number of fish that we caught, but you would think that I was telling a fish story so I will refrain from braggling. Let's just say, we came home with the number of fish that we wanted, within our daily limits and still insured that remaining stock was released to insure future good fishing.
The big fish of the day was 26 pounds, which would have placed in the top three fish in the recent derby, however, the sixteen pounder that Lacy is holding is "white" king! Does anyone have a recipe for smoked white King Salmon, fresh out of the cold waters of Kachemak Bay. Trust me, I really did think of all of you in LA while we were plying the waters of Kachemak Bay, knowing that I was fishing in a nuclear free zone and with not a jet ski in sight - just us fishermen! Should have been there!