Giant sunfish

Had an encounter with a foul hooked giant sunfish wile trolling out of Illwaco. Our guess was at least 300 lbs. Needless to say, got back as much of my line as I could before cutting it loose. What a ride. Any other strange encounters? Anyone an expert on this fish? Sure would like to learn more about them! Thanks....DB

I've seen them up close a few times but never seen one hooked. My friend Chris hooked about a 6 ft. blue shark while we were trolling herring around 12 ft. deep out of Depot Bay for silvers. It acted like it didn't know it was hooked as it swam lazily around our boat. We were trying to decide whether to keep it or not (I've heard only Thresher and Mako sharks are much good eating) and how to handle it if we did. It decided for us. After it got bored looking at us it just turned and swam off while the line just cut across it's teeth. The suprizing thing to me was it took a trolled plugcut. Anyone else ever hear of such a thing? I've heard of one other that was hooked by mooching herring off a charter boat.

[Steve]

I was fishing off Three Arches a while back and also foul hooked a large Sunfish only a harpoon would have been effective in landing it...My father tried cooking one once and it just melted away to liquid!? I have heard that they just drift in the current with no actual swimming ability, also dregded up a sea cucumber up in B.C. nasty...Steve

[TheRogue]

While fishing out of Gold Beach in the early 1980's, hooked and landed a 4 ft. blue shark. It had bit off one other rigging before he got to mine. We kept it, and it was extremely good eating. Kinda the same consistency as tuna fish.

The captain of the boat threw a fit, made me club it, cut the gills, and trail alongside for a while....was just sure it was going to eat everyone!!!

TR

[Ramstrong]

A few years back during El Nino sunfish were swimming into the Jaws at Winchester bay. My buddy decided it would be fun to snag one with 12lb test. Despite their strange appearance and lack of a Caudal fin they are quite strong swimmers. The one my buddy snagged took an hour to land, but it was only about 25 lbs. They can jump, I wouldn't reccomend eating them, the largest component of their diet is jelly fish. So they aren't the greatest table fare.

[Slider]

Ramstrong etal,

The sunfish is not a common visitor of our inshore waters unless of course our pal El Nino us visiting. They can grow to be quite large, up to 10 foot and weigh over a ton, though they seldom are that large off our coast. They do eat jelly fish, are usually infested with parasites, and some cultures consider them good eating. You might find them in specialty seafood stores sold as Mola or Mola Mola. They do swim and are known to jump.

As far as sharks go, most any shark is edible if it is bled immediately. Mako's and Thresher's are probably the best eating, though they are not the most common caught. Blue sharks are not of the same flesh grade but if bled immediately and thoroughly they are good table faire. Another species that is also quite good is the dog shark. Just remember if you are going to keep one of these critters make sure that you prepare it correctly. Don't waste these fish. Some of them have a gestation period of up to 24 months and only produce 1-2 pups at a time. They are relatively slow growers, very important to the ecosystem, and the fisheries are incredibly under managed.


Slider

[Osprey]

A few years back a partner and myslf were fishing about 5 miles out of westport,when my partner hooked in to what we thought was a monster King,after about 10 minutes we caught site of the largest Blue shark I have ever seen,after another 20 minutes he got up semi-close to the boat .
Now our boat was only a 17 footer and when this beast got along side of us and my buddie is looking for rope to try and drown this fish ...I looked over at the fish and then at the life jacket back at the fish ...( not good) this fish looked as big as the boat no s**t.( probably at least 10 -12 feet...at least
his head was as big as my chest.and oHHHH those eyes cold killing eyes.
Now from my perspective ,As in being FOOD...to this thing there was no way I was going tie JAWS to our samll boat ,my partner hands me the rod so he can get the rope I'm trying to convince him Hey Dude Bad idea, this thing will eat us ,He nah it'll be cool we'll get our pictures in the paper to which I reply Yeh in the obitchouraries ( spelling?) so I just whipped out the old trusty blade and cut the leader...
Now the Damn thing decides he likes us and won't leave the boat he starts to circle and circle ...All I can think about is the Jaws Movie du du du du ,so we go to start the big motor...You guess it ...no go...Damn Suzuki #@$##@*&^ Im thinking GREAT now I'm fish food for sure,my next thought was hey I'll just rub my partner down with fresh herring and toss his butt over the side...Hey it's his fish?
so after a dozen trys we fire off the kicker and make for dry land with this is in hot pursuit after a hundred yards or so he decides to go bother someone else
Thank you Lord !!!!Wheeew that was close

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Row quietly and fish a Cataraft !!-------<'))>><

[This message has been edited by Osprey (edited 08-08-2000).]

[Doubletake]

Osprey,

That is one of the best fishing stories I've heard in a long time. As soon as I quit laughing I have got to print it out and take it to work. (Probably not too funny at the time) You made my evening, thanks

Doubletake

I can't thank you enough for that one Os!!! Now people can finally put your story of me and the emu in proper perspective . - BTW, might be a good idea to use your spell check, at least on that one word (sp?). - Steve

[Osprey]

Perspective...now thats a new one,there is big difference between being eaten by a BIG *#^*^# Shark and you wanting to film a sequel to Deliverence staring You and a Emu
Lets try this...Squeal like an Emu ??? sorry it just does'nt work for like it does for you ROTFLMAO

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Row quietly and fish a Cataraft !!-------<'))>><

[This message has been edited by Osprey (edited 08-09-2000).]

[GutZ]

Some time ago, a friend and I were trolling off of Sekiu and hooked up on a creature we thought sure was a Halibut. As we got it up closer to the surface it began to slither these tentacle arm things around the line and out of the water. This thing was BIG. We were trying to figure out what to do with it when it took off like a shot. I got some line back and we decided to "cut it the hell loose". We came to find out that it was a coddlefish. Apparently very fine eating. Anyone else every caught one of these critters or know much about em?

Jeff "Fishguts"

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Fish Now,
Sleep Later.