Author Topic: Salmon fishing is badass  (Read 46608 times)

Retire-Canada

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8685
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #50 on: March 23, 2015, 02:20:01 PM »

I also know very little about kyaks... Any thoughts on how to approach my dilemma?

Frank



Get a sit-on-top kayak as your boat. There are wider fishing specific models that make flipping over a non-issue. A Plastic roto-molded can ram the rocks all day long and be fine.

Once you get the yak take it to a calm lake and play around with it. Try and flip it just to assure yourself that it's very hard to do. Watch some videos on how to paddle.

If you want to take a paddling course they'll teach you all sorts of useful things.

My yak is the blue one below [same as red one I posted earlier] is long and skinny for a fishing boat so you can get much wider boats that are extremely stable.





Eh, I have a little fleet of 18' touring kayaks...I have been paddling the PNW waters for about 25 years...and I can tell you that I would not want to hook into monster ling while in my kayak. ;)

To be fair, Vik's kayak looks a bit stubbier and stable than mine (and open deck, where mine are all closed deck)...but still.




Folks catch tuna and sharks from a yak so it's not something to worry about. For most people hooking a big fish is the goal not a concern. ;)

You can always break the line if you don't want to deal with the fish on the other end.

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #51 on: March 23, 2015, 03:01:56 PM »
I really hope they didn't kill those sharks purely for the "sport of it"...that would sicken me actually. :(

And yeah, the halibut picture - if I pulled something like that up in my current boat I would have to cut the line...any attempt to land that would likely send me to Davy Jones Locker...the more I think about it, a boat upsize is now officially on my list of "wants".

Exflyboy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8402
  • Age: 62
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Expat Brit living in the New World..:)
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #52 on: March 23, 2015, 04:15:56 PM »
Holy cow!.. I would swear those pics are photoshopped..:)


Exflyboy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8402
  • Age: 62
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Expat Brit living in the New World..:)
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #53 on: March 23, 2015, 05:23:20 PM »
I can hopefully get one of those on top of a Dodge Neon Roof rack?..:)

bigalsmith101

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 518
  • Age: 37
  • Location: Lake Stevens, WA
  • Yes, that's really my face.
    • No Jobs, No Responsibilities, No Better Time then Now
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #54 on: March 23, 2015, 08:21:32 PM »
I can hopefully get one of those on top of a Dodge Neon Roof rack?..:)

Which? The kayak or the shark? You could easily tow a kayak with a dodge neon should you need to. Depending on the length, it may or may not be legal on the roof rack.

Exflyboy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8402
  • Age: 62
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Expat Brit living in the New World..:)
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #55 on: March 23, 2015, 08:41:38 PM »
I can hopefully get one of those on top of a Dodge Neon Roof rack?..:)

Which? The kayak or the shark? You could easily tow a kayak with a dodge neon should you need to. Depending on the length, it may or may not be legal on the roof rack.

Haha.. Indeed.. yes I have a tow hitch on the Neon (I pull a Harbor Freight 8*4 flatbed with it).. Its how I transport the pontoon boat.

What are the rules for boats on a roofrack?.. must it not hang over the ends of the car or something?

Retire-Canada

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8685
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #56 on: March 24, 2015, 06:32:30 AM »

What are the rules for boats on a roofrack?.. must it not hang over the ends of the car or something?

Nope. Just flag the back end with some red material if it overhangs your vehicle.

Lot's of people haul 18'+ sea kayaks on cars.

A fishing specific kayak will be 10'-14' long and should work on any vehicle with a roof rack.



^^^^ on my way to Baja for 3 months. Those are 14' yaks on the roof.

-- Vik

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #57 on: March 24, 2015, 07:29:10 AM »
Nice setup Vik...here's how I roll. 18.5 ft kayak...

Retire-Canada

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8685
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #58 on: March 24, 2015, 07:45:27 AM »
Nice setup Vik...here's how I roll. 18.5 ft kayak...

Nicer truck than me! Nicer kayak as well! ;)

-- Vik


Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #59 on: March 24, 2015, 08:00:53 AM »
Lol...believe it or not that truck is 15 years old, and the kayak 17 years old...I am a bit obsessive about taking care of my things. ;)

When I see kayakers run their boats up on the beach I shudder (unless its a sandy beach) - I get out of my boat in about a foot of water every time.

bigalsmith101

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 518
  • Age: 37
  • Location: Lake Stevens, WA
  • Yes, that's really my face.
    • No Jobs, No Responsibilities, No Better Time then Now
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #60 on: March 24, 2015, 01:36:04 PM »

What are the rules for boats on a roofrack?.. must it not hang over the ends of the car or something?

Nope. Just flag the back end with some red material if it overhangs your vehicle.

Legally red or orange warning flags must be displayed when load is more than 3 feet ahead of the front bumper or 4 feet or more beyond the rear of the vehicle.

Flag has to be 18" square as well. Thought that will likely never be challenged.

Jon's setup is how I'd best suggest carrying a kayak. Of course with the rack that Vik has on his truck, it's also quite secure.

Retire-Canada

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8685
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #61 on: March 26, 2015, 11:42:51 AM »


Since we are in the badassity section I'll note that even though having 2 paddle powered boats is a great luxury I prefer the simplicity of wading for salmon whenever possible.

I pack a lunch/water and all my gear in something easy to hike with and just explore.

You don't get as much fishing done as you can with a boat, but it's cheaper, better exercise and very satisfying.

-- Vik

Gone Fishing

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2916
  • So Close went fishing on April 1, 2016
    • Journal
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #62 on: March 26, 2015, 02:56:32 PM »
I want to see what was on the other end of that line!

Retire-Canada

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8685
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #63 on: March 26, 2015, 03:00:42 PM »
I want to see what was on the other end of that line!



My 2nd ever steelhead! :)

Crappy photo, but I wanted to keep him in the water and release him fast.

He was on the far side of a deep river so I had to cast about 30 times at my limit to get the fly to him properly. I was about to give up when he grabbed it.

-- Vik
« Last Edit: March 26, 2015, 03:02:26 PM by Vikb »

Gone Fishing

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 2916
  • So Close went fishing on April 1, 2016
    • Journal
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #64 on: March 26, 2015, 03:06:55 PM »
Nice! 

Allie

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1739
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #65 on: March 26, 2015, 03:32:52 PM »
All of these pictures are getting me excited for the summer!  My husband and my FIL (who enables, supports, encourages? very unmustachian outdoors adventures) just bought and have been tinkering with a river/ocean boat.  This summer we should be back on the water fishing for salmon, halibut, cod, and snapper.  If we can find some pots, shrimping too!  So.  Much.  Fun!

I'm trying to convince my husband that there are exciting outdoor adventures to be had in warmer places...I may have to show him the spear fishing picture...

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #66 on: March 26, 2015, 06:21:33 PM »
This thread is getting me antsy for fishing season. April 1 is the day fishing licenses are available in my area. Fishing this year is going to be badass in so many ways - in a culinary sense of course...but also in terms of economics. I was doing a bit of sleuthing online, getting an idea of market prices for some of the seafood easily obtainable of my doorstep/beach. My license will cost me around $30..and my wife will probably get one too - which increases the amount of fish we can keep. I plan to spend another $60 on a prawn trap. Maybe $50 on some new cod jigs...but I'm pretty well stocked in tackle.
I knew going to the store to buy fish was expensive, but the numbers shocked me - it is a NO BRAINER to catch my own.

lingcod (best tasting PNW fish IMO) - $18 per lb.
sockeye salmon - $15 per lb.
coho - $14 per lb.
rockfish - $12 per lb.
spot prawns - $20 per lb.
Dungeness crab - $45 per lb.!!!!!!!!
red snapper - $16 per lb.

So let's say I catch a 25 pound lingcod which is not too difficult in my neck of the woods, and assume the meat yield on a lingcod is around 40% (meaning that of the total weight of the fish, 40% is edible meat)...this would give you 10 pounds of beautiful white fillet meat. A market price of roughly $180!!!
My license and prawn trap paid for with one fish! Add to this the crab, prawns, and salmon I hope to catch, this is economic Badassity of the highest order! And fun. And delicious. :)


Exflyboy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8402
  • Age: 62
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Expat Brit living in the New World..:)
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #67 on: March 26, 2015, 09:29:04 PM »
Hehe.. I have been looking long and hard at fishing kyaks and thinking about drilling holes in the roof of the Neon I rebuilt for a roofrack. Heck I could sew up my my own sail for it though.

It will take quite a few fish to pay that that lot off... But those lingcod sure look tempting..:)

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #68 on: March 26, 2015, 10:17:46 PM »
Exflyboy, just looking at a map of Oregon makes it is evident that the coast is pretty exposed - in other words, there is not a lot stopping big winds and waves charging across the Pacific Ocean. If you have to venture a fair distance off shore to get fish, I'd be a little leery of the kayak approach. Compare the geography of Oregon to where Vikb and myself are (waters between Vancouver and Victoria) - very protected waters, where bottom fish can be caught within a few hundred metres from shore - in fact I have caught lings CASTING from the same rocks in my orca video. ;)

Again, perhaps there are places in Oregon that are suitable - I confess I just looked at Google Earth without much further investigation. If I were you, before I shelled out for a fishing kayak, I''d look into this...I could be totally wrong on this I admit...

Allie

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1739
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #69 on: March 26, 2015, 10:50:27 PM »
I would never do this, erhm, because it is against some law about selling personal catch I'm sure, but I would imagine that once your freezer is full and your friends and family member's freezers are full, any extra seafood could be a welcome bartering tool.  I have heard that one may be able to gift good seafood to others and find themselves gifted back with vegetables, sausages, physical labor, shoes, baby clothes, unwanted gift cards, etc...

lakemom

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 401
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #70 on: March 27, 2015, 06:25:58 AM »
This thread is getting me antsy for fishing season. April 1 is the day fishing licenses are available in my area. Fishing this year is going to be badass in so many ways - in a culinary sense of course...but also in terms of economics. I was doing a bit of sleuthing online, getting an idea of market prices for some of the seafood easily obtainable of my doorstep/beach. My license will cost me around $30..and my wife will probably get one too - which increases the amount of fish we can keep. I plan to spend another $60 on a prawn trap. Maybe $50 on some new cod jigs...but I'm pretty well stocked in tackle.
I knew going to the store to buy fish was expensive, but the numbers shocked me - it is a NO BRAINER to catch my own.

lingcod (best tasting PNW fish IMO) - $18 per lb.
sockeye salmon - $15 per lb.
coho - $14 per lb.
rockfish - $12 per lb.
spot prawns - $20 per lb.
Dungeness crab - $45 per lb.!!!!!!!!
red snapper - $16 per lb.

So let's say I catch a 25 pound lingcod which is not too difficult in my neck of the woods, and assume the meat yield on a lingcod is around 40% (meaning that of the total weight of the fish, 40% is edible meat)...this would give you 10 pounds of beautiful white fillet meat. A market price of roughly $180!!!
My license and prawn trap paid for with one fish! Add to this the crab, prawns, and salmon I hope to catch, this is economic Badassity of the highest order! And fun. And delicious. :)

Nice!  Even paying for a charter boat (in the Midwest) the last time my husband and boys went salmon fishing we got 2X the cost of the trip in salmon fillets (and the charter cleaned and filleted the fish for us, lol).  We are down to just a couple packages in the freezer and I've been hinting that they should go sometime this summer.

Exflyboy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8402
  • Age: 62
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Expat Brit living in the New World..:)
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #71 on: March 27, 2015, 08:04:56 AM »
Exflyboy, just looking at a map of Oregon makes it is evident that the coast is pretty exposed - in other words, there is not a lot stopping big winds and waves charging across the Pacific Ocean. If you have to venture a fair distance off shore to get fish, I'd be a little leery of the kayak approach. Compare the geography of Oregon to where Vikb and myself are (waters between Vancouver and Victoria) - very protected waters, where bottom fish can be caught within a few hundred metres from shore - in fact I have caught lings CASTING from the same rocks in my orca video. ;)

Again, perhaps there are places in Oregon that are suitable - I confess I just looked at Google Earth without much further investigation. If I were you, before I shelled out for a fishing kayak, I''d look into this...I could be totally wrong on this I admit...

There are actually plenty of places Jon.. the longcod apparently hide on the seaward side of the numerous rocks that poke up between 20 and 100m offshore, there are a few kyakers that fish for them there, actually Oregon Field Guide did a segment on a couple that do this off of Newport (I think it was).

Of course weather has a life threatening effect on any ocean, so caution is required but location wise it doesn't appear to be a problem.

Retire-Canada

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8685
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #72 on: March 27, 2015, 08:31:26 AM »
Exflyboy, just looking at a map of Oregon makes it is evident that the coast is pretty exposed - in other words, there is not a lot stopping big winds and waves charging across the Pacific Ocean. If you have to venture a fair distance off shore to get fish, I'd be a little leery of the kayak approach. Compare the geography of Oregon to where Vikb and myself are (waters between Vancouver and Victoria) - very protected waters, where bottom fish can be caught within a few hundred metres from shore - in fact I have caught lings CASTING from the same rocks in my orca video. ;)

Again, perhaps there are places in Oregon that are suitable - I confess I just looked at Google Earth without much further investigation. If I were you, before I shelled out for a fishing kayak, I''d look into this...I could be totally wrong on this I admit...

Taking any kind of boat out in the ocean is a serious endeavour.

If you are new to kayaking start in a lake or slow moving river. Get comfortable in the yak without any fishing gear first.

Once you feel competent in easy fresh water conditions add the fishing gear to the mix.

Same with the ocean. Go some place easy without fishing gear just to enjoy a paddle and see the sights. Get used to the boat in the ocean, reading tides charts, learning about local currents, checking weather first.  Once you feel solid add the fishing gear.

There are lots of kayak fishing online forums find one and find someone in your area who you can go paddling with to learn the ropes.

Have fun!

-- Vik

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #73 on: March 27, 2015, 09:22:15 AM »
Sounds good Exflyboy! Let's all be sure to compare notes (and pics) throughout the upcoming fishing season!

Bikesy

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 126
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #74 on: March 27, 2015, 03:10:32 PM »
Ok so I'm trying to get up to AK again this summer with some old high school buddies who I still keep in touch with to do some fishing.  I love AK but its dang expensive to get there.  This year I decided to get into the travel hacking game to make filling my deep freezer a bit more economical.  Here's my break down of estimated expenses for 10 days:

Retail Price:
Flight - $700
Rental Car- $250
Lodging - $350
Halibut Charter - $300
Food/Gas/Etc - $350
Fish Processing - $300  Includes checked bag fees to bring home 100lbs of fillets.

My Price:
Flight- 50,000 AA miles sign up bonus = 2 RT tickets.  Buying flight for a buddy who is in turn paying for my food/gas and the charter.   $0
Rental Car- Capital one card nets $400 toward travel expenses.  I'll pay for entire cost and collect $500 total from my friends.  +$150
Lodging - Wifes capital one card for another $400.  I'll pay entire thing and collect $700 from friends.  +$50
Charter - Paid for by friend.  $0
Food/Gas - Paid for by friend. $0
Fish Processing - I'll pay this but my AA card gets me free checked bags for myself and my buddy who's flying with me.  He'll give me $50 or so for this.  ($150)
 

So my plan get's me hopefully to a point where I'm traveling for free or perhaps making a couple bucks.  We shall see how it goes!  I'm contemplating trying to churn a couple more flexy travel cards to offset the entire cost of lodging...at that point I'd definitely be in the black!

Cookie78

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1888
  • Location: Canada
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #75 on: March 27, 2015, 03:25:25 PM »
Wow Bikesy, that's impressive!

Allie

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1739
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #76 on: March 27, 2015, 08:49:26 PM »
Bikesy sounds like a great trip.  If you plan to head out of Seward, keep in mind that there are some delightful campgrounds right on the ocean! 

Bikesy

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 126
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #77 on: March 28, 2015, 06:30:25 AM »
Bikesy sounds like a great trip.  If you plan to head out of Seward, keep in mind that there are some delightful campgrounds right on the ocean!

I have family in Homer so we always stay there.  I did accidentally drive to Seward one time.  Middle of the night and the road literally just dead ended at the ocean.  I knew that wasn't right lol, turned out we missed our turn and got to take a nice 70 mile or so detour!

Daisy

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2263
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #78 on: April 03, 2015, 11:24:13 PM »
This thread is getting me antsy for fishing season. April 1 is the day fishing licenses are available in my area. Fishing this year is going to be badass in so many ways - in a culinary sense of course...but also in terms of economics. I was doing a bit of sleuthing online, getting an idea of market prices for some of the seafood easily obtainable of my doorstep/beach. My license will cost me around $30..and my wife will probably get one too - which increases the amount of fish we can keep. I plan to spend another $60 on a prawn trap. Maybe $50 on some new cod jigs...but I'm pretty well stocked in tackle.
I knew going to the store to buy fish was expensive, but the numbers shocked me - it is a NO BRAINER to catch my own.

lingcod (best tasting PNW fish IMO) - $18 per lb.
sockeye salmon - $15 per lb.
coho - $14 per lb.
rockfish - $12 per lb.
spot prawns - $20 per lb.
Dungeness crab - $45 per lb.!!!!!!!!
red snapper - $16 per lb.

So let's say I catch a 25 pound lingcod which is not too difficult in my neck of the woods, and assume the meat yield on a lingcod is around 40% (meaning that of the total weight of the fish, 40% is edible meat)...this would give you 10 pounds of beautiful white fillet meat. A market price of roughly $180!!!
My license and prawn trap paid for with one fish! Add to this the crab, prawns, and salmon I hope to catch, this is economic Badassity of the highest order! And fun. And delicious. :)

You could start a little side business selling your excess fish conquests to your favorite MMM forum members. I wonder if the costs of paying you for the fish and shipping it would beat local supermarket prices.

Retire-Canada

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8685
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #79 on: April 04, 2015, 09:47:15 AM »

You could start a little side business selling your excess fish conquests to your favorite MMM forum members. I wonder if the costs of paying you for the fish and shipping it would beat local supermarket prices.

If you sell fish you catch you can't use a sport fishing license. You'll need a commercial license and at that it entails.

-- Vik

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #80 on: April 12, 2015, 10:43:52 PM »
Rumour has it that bottom fishing opens up in my area (Southern Gulf Islands) on May 1.

I expect to be on the water sometime early that day (weather permitting of course) and hope to post a picture of a 20 pound lingcod - this is the best size for eating IMO. Of course, if I catch a 30 pounder I won't be throwing it back!

Remember, pictures of my catch here on May 1st! If they don't appear, then it means I've got skunked and am avoiding the thread in shame - or I will blame the weather and hope nobody checks what the actual weather conditions were that day. ;)

Exflyboy

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8402
  • Age: 62
  • Location: Corvallis, Oregon
  • Expat Brit living in the New World..:)
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #81 on: April 13, 2015, 03:04:16 PM »
Killing me here Jon..:)

Axecleaver

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4155
  • Location: Columbia, SC
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #82 on: April 14, 2015, 09:24:39 AM »
Best thread ever!

The best summer of my life, upstate NY, I had just lost my job, but had enough money in the bank to last a year. Was just my wife and I at that point, so I took the summer off, went trout fishing every morning at sunrise in a pair of cutoff jeans. Ate what we caught, drank a few beers in the shade, made some phone calls and didn't worry about anything. Eventually went back to work in September when it got too cold to wade around in shorts.

When I was living in Hawaii there was a guy who caught a big tuna in a kayak, capsized him but he held on anyway and had the fish landed when the coast guard came to "rescue" him. The Hawaiians routinely take their jetskis a mile out into the ocean to catch ahi, mahi-mahi, and blue marlin. It's way more hardcore than I'll ever be!

http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/news/post/giant-ahi-tuna-capsizes-hawaii-fishermans-boat

AlwaysBeenASaver

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 444
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #83 on: April 14, 2015, 10:07:13 AM »
I would love to learn how to fish in the ocean as soon as I FIRE (this summer.) Any suggestions on how to get started?

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #84 on: April 14, 2015, 10:51:35 AM »
I would love to learn how to fish in the ocean as soon as I FIRE (this summer.) Any suggestions on how to get started?

Well, for a start, which ocean are you talkin' about?

AlwaysBeenASaver

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 444
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #85 on: April 14, 2015, 10:55:02 AM »
Pacific, Monterey Bay.

AlwaysBeenASaver

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 444
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #86 on: April 14, 2015, 12:09:55 PM »
I should add that I'd be fishing from a kayak. I've seen some classes offered now and then but they tend to be very expensive. I wonder if that's still the best way to get started since they lend you all the equipment?

Retire-Canada

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8685
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #87 on: April 14, 2015, 04:00:03 PM »
Pacific, Monterey Bay.

I learned yak fishing in the Sea of Cortez around Loreto. Very easy conditions down there, nice in the winter, cheap accom and nice people.

There are yak fishing forums with lots of Cali members. You can join one and either take a course or ask someone friendly to show you the ropes.

http://www.yakangler.com/forum/index

I would start first by getting a suitable yak and practising basic paddling skills in a lake where it's safer. Get solid in the boat before you add fishing gear to the mix.


Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #88 on: April 14, 2015, 05:36:22 PM »
Yeah, I'll let Vik enlighten you on kayak fishing, something that I readily admit interests me little. ;)

Now, this is what I've got my eyes on. THIS is proper fishing platform. :) Might go in with a buddy on something very much like this soon. Basically a perfect PNW fishing boat - no flash, not much dash, but you will be haulin' aboard all the fish, prawns, and crab you could ever want. Once (and if) my oil stocks recover I'm selling some and buying myself an aluminum fish boat.




Allie

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1739
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #89 on: April 14, 2015, 06:00:06 PM »
That's beautiful, Jon_Snow!  My husband just went halvsies on a 22ft north river commander with an enclosure.  I'm not a super fan for family use, but for fishing and hunting purposes, it should provide deliciousness every trip!  We have shrimp pots on the list of things to get.  I think I have convinced my husband that pulling up 300ft of lead line and a pot full of spots is a great arm workout. 

I have had the pleasure of taking a refreshing dip in icy waters in full rain gear and anything that could easily lead to another experience like it, such as kayak fishing, is off my list of things to try. 

Even if the water was warmer, I don't think I would try my hand at kayak fishing before getting really comfortable in a kayak and with fishing gear. 

theoverlook

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 505
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #90 on: April 16, 2015, 01:31:18 PM »
Thanks to this thread:

I hadn't been fishing in years but still had my 20+ year old ultralight setup and a couple lures.  I heard they were restocking the rainbow trout in the lake near my house (as in, very near, 5 minute walk on a paved foot path).  So I bought my fishing license and loaded my 4 month old daughter up in the strap-on carrier, put some ice in a cooler and headed down.  I caught about 6, around 1 - 1.5 pounds each, and kept three.  Took them home and filleted them and broiled them with some olive oil and black pepper.  Best and only meal I've ever caught myself, at least an an adult.  It fed me and two other people with a bunch of fresh veggies thrown in.

Best of all it was a chance for me and the little one to get out of the house and enjoy some time together doing something.  She spent about two hours in the carrier and seemed to have a blast.  We got a lot of smiles and compliments.  Fun was had by all.

Total investment $19 in the annual fishing license.  But I did just spend about $7 on some new line and some bobbers and hooks in case I want to try a more relaxed fishing.  The casting is part of the fun though!

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #91 on: April 16, 2015, 01:36:53 PM »
Theoverlook, that is awesome!

I'm making my wife take transit tomorrow and I'm taking our pickup to do some fishing supply shopping. :)

2 weeks from now and I will be holding a fishing rod in my hands in my favourite place in the world.

CAN. NOT. WAIT.

Axecleaver

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4155
  • Location: Columbia, SC
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #92 on: April 16, 2015, 02:33:33 PM »
Hey overlook, I have eaten a lot of rainbows, their skin crisps up great and the bones come out super easy in one piece. Filets are good for bony or poorly muscled fish like sunfish or mudfish. For trout, you lose a lot of the meat. You'll be better served just frying it whole in a pan, eyes, tail and all. Eat half the fish down to the bones then pull out the whole skeleton in one piece. I fry in butter and serve with lemon, simple and perfect. Nothing wasted! The crisp tails are especially good.


theoverlook

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 505
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #93 on: April 16, 2015, 02:44:43 PM »
Thanks Jon Snow, and enjoy your trip!!

Axecleaver, thanks for the advice!  I agree, as soon as I fillet the trout I saw how much meat I was leaving behind.  I'll follow your advice for the next batch, hopefully tomorrow if the weather cooperates.  I may take the head off since my wife is a bit squeamish about the head-on idea.  I also saw the idea of baking it with a lemon and butter inside, that sounded delicious as well.

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #94 on: April 18, 2015, 06:15:14 AM »
Alright, got my prawn trap with rope, float, bait container, bait pellets. And another crab trap for the heck of it. Ready for a summer of fishing, prawning, and crabbing. 


totoro

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2188
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #95 on: April 18, 2015, 07:23:24 AM »
We plan to be out jigging for ling or rock cod on May 2 - fair weather only but we'll post if we get anything. 

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #96 on: April 18, 2015, 07:35:27 AM »
See ya out on the water Totoro!

Kambo

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 9
  • Location: British Columbia
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #97 on: April 22, 2015, 10:00:48 PM »
Hi Pescadors!

 Great thread. It is neat to see all the cascadians on here, especially the BC boys.

I had a quick question about what some of you do with your bounty.

In my experience whatever doesn't go onto the plate gets either smoked, canned or vacuumed and frozen (or some combo of the three)

I've got the canner covered, and I've eaten fish/game from various smokers ( home built / Lil chief / Bradley digital)
But I was wondering about any GOOD vacuum setups you may have seen.

I have used a buddy's that is a full blown commercial unit from a fishing lodge and I have seen the results of the Costco special.

Basically I'm trying to find the mustachian sweet spot between 10k lodge unit and the $200 junker that results in a freezer full of next years crab bait.

Anybody find or use any that might fall in the $500-1000 range that work well and should last me 50+ years?

Great site
Great thread

K

Allie

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1739
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #98 on: April 22, 2015, 11:19:30 PM »
I can't help with the vacuum sealed recommendations.  I have a "200 dollar Costco" version found on clearance for 40 bucks.  We've packaged hundreds of lbs of salmon and halibut over the years and never had a problem.  The biggest issue is when the fish juices keep the seal from forming.  As a work around, I dump the fish into the bag, then freeze it, then vacuum seal it, then back in the freezer.  Freezer burn is minimized and fish retain all of their juices.  It also let's me use it as a vacuum sealed for fish in marinades, just freeze it up, then vacuum seal.  No crazy chamber sealer for liquid items needed. 

Good luck finding something that meets your needs.

Jon_Snow

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4458
  • Location: An Island in the Salish Sea (or Baja)
  • I am no man’s chair.
Re: Salmon fishing is badass
« Reply #99 on: April 25, 2015, 02:49:19 PM »
Fishing licence printed off. High quality filleting knife purchased...and a few more cod jigs.

So close now. :)

Once I get to the island I have several hard days of work my garden...after that, my reward will be some well earned fishing time - if the weather is too snarky to get the boat in the water, I can always cast off the rocks. I've caught big lingcod in the past by casting out as far as I can, letting the lure drop to the bottom, and bouncing the lure off the bottom as I reel it in. This is pretty tricky, and you are sure to lose tackle - but well worth losing lures if you can land a 25 pound fish. ;)