Week 2 on Sea Lion, the week in Pictures...

Mr. Fisherman · 05-19-2003, 08:29 AM

Week 2 of the All Depth Halibut season was tougher than week 1 with bad weather and bar closings but Sea Lion prevailed and brought fish to port.
Day 1 we headed out to the Pile and broke the former record held by the Captain (me) with a 70# whopper! WildHawg aka Charlie was the whopper whipper. Here is a shot just after he landed the beauty!

Very few boats bagged big fish and this may have been the big fish of the day in Port. Here are a couple more shots...

And here Charlie gets it up :shocked: ...

Looks like Charlie Halibut huh?

Day 2 the bar was closed to 40' boats and under. We were Herring fishermen and clammers (Gapers).
Here is a shot of the Mighty Pilar under the Newport Bridge...

Day 3 was sketchy but based on the buoy 50 conditions and the improving trend and forecast the crew and I decided to go for it after the ebb tide subsided and the bar was safe.

Here is a shot of Mike with his first ever Halibut on!

That grin kind of says it all. Too bad it was a couple of inches short.

Here is a shot of Keta with his Halibut on...

In all it was a great day on the water and a good time was had by all. It was a little lumpy day 3 and the trip out was slow but we bagged fish and had a great time. Even the company was great but lacking a few of the usual neighbors. I am sure we will see them next time
Look for more pics soon...

[ 05-19-2003, 10:05 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Fisherman ]

Mr. Fisherman · 05-19-2003, 08:39 AM

After being Herring Fishermen and Gapers in the bay we went back to fish camp with crab, Oysters, Clams and enough bait to choke a Halibut to enjoy the beautiful sunset, barley pops and the fruits of our labors...

The Salty dogs on the beach...

My friend John aka Pilar

Just look at this view...

Now back to... The Fishing Channel, All Fishing, All the TIME!

Crew member Mike with a Grey Cod... Gee, these things are a lot tougher to reel in than they look.... Oh my Cod!

On the way in Saturday we saw the end of the rainbow!

It was a week to remember. My boat poreformed beyond my expectations.
We had a fuel issue on the way in and I think I have a faulty Y Valve but I was able to handle the issue and bring us safely back to port. It is important to keep a cool head out there and to prepare before you leave for issues like this. I had everything I needed and then some.
Thanks to everyone who crewed with me so far this season. You were all great and everyone left the dock with fish. It was a beautiful thing.

[ 05-19-2003, 09:42 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Fisherman ]

Birdnest · 05-19-2003, 10:22 AM

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Hummingbird · 05-19-2003, 10:56 AM

Ray,
It was a fun week-end . i had to get back Friday ,but, sure wish I could have went out 1 more time. A Great time had by all i think. thanks for sharing. Tom

WildHawg · 05-19-2003, 12:02 PM

Boy, that was one big 'but. First I got it up partway, but Ray kept yelling for me to get it up higher :shocked: tee hee hee...
Seriously folks, what a great time--and I only stayed 'til 3:30 or so Thursday.
Thanks Ray for a great trip. The halibut was only the icing on the cake. I hope you were able to send Mike home with some more feeesh.
I gotta say that one of the things that most impressed me was the level of preparation that goes into each trip, as well as the redundant safety features (ie 2 VHF's, 2 compasses, 2 GPS etc etc).
I know how much Fishplay, Mr. Fisherman, Pilar, and the others go through to prepare for a three day salty binge, and it's a pile of work.
It is also impressive the way that the Dogs look out for one another on the briny blue. In my days on the salt, we were lucky if we were in contact with another boat. Sure increases the safety factor.
I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know so many of you in such a short time. No names, cause I'm bound to screw it up.
Looking forward to my next opportunity to visit with ya'all!!! I'll bring the oysters next time!

Pilar · 05-19-2003, 12:28 PM

Sorry grasshopper, I was having a flashback to that old TV show, Kung fu.

Pilar {Blind master Po, an old Shao-lin monk}
"Close your eyes and use your nose grasshopper, what do you smell?"

Mr. Fisherman {Grasshopper, a young Shao-lin initiate}
'Uh, gasoline and dead fish?'

"No, use your nose and see with your mind grasshopper, what do you smell?"

'I do not know, master'

"Do you not smell the chinook salmon? Fish here and catch one, grasshopper"

Remember that day, Ray? When we 'smelled that last fish and stopped to hook him up and drag him to the boat?

Yep I pictured you lifting the smoking hot cauldron of boiled crabs with your arms, clearing your exit out of the Shao-lin temple of fishing and getting the crossed dolphin burns that would become scars on each forearm.

Or something like that.

What I got instead is the distant excited yells and whoops of 3 very happy fishermen as you boated the 70 pound monster.

Close enough. Be careful grasshopper ...

What do you smell?

Dynamite · 05-19-2003, 11:00 PM

Mr.Fisherman

Great pictures, but you only got part of my boat in your second picture.

Mello-Yello · 05-19-2003, 11:02 PM

The perfect trip is when you can't figure out what part was the funnest!

Pilar · 05-19-2003, 11:06 PM

The student exceeds the teacher. :grin:

Ray, I am so happy for you and 'Sea Lion'. You already know alot and you are just getting started.

You heart always was in the right place.

greenbuttskunk · 05-19-2003, 11:20 PM

Nice fish, and good to meet some of you salty dogs on sat. at the boat ramp in newport. I was with CD in from of you. He has that nice 24' bounty. Maybe I'll see you out there this summer.
Probably won't get out on my own till aug.

Mr. Fisherman · 05-19-2003, 11:22 PM

Johnboy, I have not surpassed the teacher, I have merily listened, watched and followed by example. Thanks to you and your teachings I know when to call a trip, How to cross a bar and when to stay inside and when to go back to bed.
I can't thank you enough. It was lessons that I learned from you my friend that propmted me to have what I needed on hand to deal with my fuel issue on the way in Saturday. It was your teachings that prompted me to throttle back and let the wave pass I might of other wise surfed in. That wave stopped and dissapeared into a hole but we were safely behind and had a relatively smooth ride in as a result of keeping a cool head and applying what I have learned from you John. Thanks for everything. It was a confidence builder to put that experience behind me.

Mr. Fisherman · 05-20-2003, 04:13 AM

Ohhh... I smell a BIG BUT! :grin:
Johnboy, don't give up the vigil or stop teaching. I am still learning every time I go out.

"Master, tell me about the opponent with 14 adipose fins.... Show me the road to his house and lets compare smells and tastes..."

Tuna, Tuna, Tuna, You will be aboard Sea Lion for the first Tuna blood letting won't you?