witnessed an awesome sea lion event!

greenbuttskunk · 03-15-2004, 06:44 AM

We were anchored up in the CR near St. helens enjoying the nice weather and Riverkeepers compnay next to us. I see the boat next to us hook up and the guys wife is fighting the fish while he gets ready to net it. All of a sudden I see a big bull sea lion heading right for their boat but they do'nt see it. I yell over "THERE'S A SEA LION ABOUT TO TAKE YOUR FISH, GET IT OUT NOW!" They net is and as they pull the fish out of the water the animal launchs itself out of the water against the boat with its mouth open to take the fish , net and all. :shocked: It was awesome to see! The gal cracked me up, giving the sea lion the middle finger wave as it jumped a few more times near the boat before swimming away. [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] The closed call I've ever seen!
They were following a small group of fish upriver at the time, two were hooked at that moment.
We got skunked, oh well. The moment was worth the
price of admission.
GBS

fishuntr2 · 03-15-2004, 06:53 AM

Saturday I was anchored in the Mult. channel just below Sand Island. A sea lion surfaced behind the boat, dove, and then surfaced right beside my boat, turned and glared, hissed and showed its BIG yellow teeth. It was right next to me and after reading about that fisherman that was pulled out of his boat by a sea lion....welll I was a little startled by this...to say the least.!
These animals are HUGE and there looks like there potentially could be a swamped boat if they get more aggressive.

Oncorhynchus · 03-15-2004, 07:00 AM

I was a little further up the channel and saw a big old monster, he snacked on a couple of fish during the day. Man are they impressive animals, HUUUUUUGE!!!

barnettm · 03-15-2004, 07:17 AM

Maybe the human safety issue will be a way to get rid of some of these things. It seems like sooner or later someone is going to get hurt, and I really hope it is not a child or someone's left arm.

IFISH4U · 03-15-2004, 07:19 AM

Good thing that didnt happen to someone in a car topper, probably would have thrown them out of the boat. :shocked:

Dipnet · 03-15-2004, 07:35 AM

Saw probably the same HUGE guy out there in the channel on Friday too. He was absolutely humongus. I'm sure he had better luck than we did!!! It was a beautiful day though!!!

Dipnet :grin:

Wildgoose · 03-15-2004, 07:36 AM

We had a similar encounter last year.The beast grabbed our 20#+fish and we made chase.30 min later and way downstream of our hook we recovered the slightly longer native.It had some teeth marks near it's tale and after some TLC swam off with a story to tell.
Hint for next time.If Hershal goes for Sammy early in fight,switch on clicker(so as to not nest your Abu)open bail and let the fish do what he needs to.If SL quits you resume the fun.Half a Nate is not better than no fish.

blacktail519 · 03-15-2004, 07:38 AM

That story is amazing. I know after talking to ya on the radio yesterday, I had my keen eyes open on the surrounding water. Thanks for sharing, Todd

Fish Hawg · 03-15-2004, 07:49 AM

I heard that story yesterday on the radio(VHF) :shocked: :shocked: .....Ross

Riverkeeper · 03-15-2004, 07:49 AM

A few seconds after she hooked the fish, we saw the sealion porpose about hundred yards down river, headed up. Then again at half the distance. He was really swimming hard. Next rise was under the net. It is amazing that it keyed in on the sound (signal? smell?) of the distressed salmon from so far away and made a bee line.

The best part was when the fish hit the floor of the boat, the guy yelled "its a keeper!", the woman yelled "#@&^ YOU, SEALION!" and everyone in the surrounding boats let out a cheer.

DT · 03-15-2004, 07:56 AM

I was in my 13' Zodiac crabbing a few years back in Yaquina Bay and foolishly used some shad I had caught for crab bait. Anyway, as I was pulling the crab pot up, it pulled back. Hard. Hmmm, that's wierd. Pulled up some more and just as it came into view about 8 feet down, I saw a sea lion swim under it, grab the bottom of the ring in its mouth and pull it back down. Actually burned my hands with the rope as it slid through.

At this point, I'm thinking: "Okay, I can BUY crab on the way home". I let him have the crab pot and came back about an hour later. The animal actually ate through the chicken wire and bait box to get my shad. Definitely scared me. And I had not crab that night.

DT

shalom · 03-15-2004, 08:46 AM

Greenbuttskunk ,
That was an interesting story !! I would have to guess that you have fished the Deschutes River for summer steelhead many times with the name Greenbuttskunk . Have you fished up river from the mouth . I started fishing that section in 1960 . I use to guide for about 20- years and fished it on a regular bases until 1999 . I only mention this because we have probably talked at one time or another on the river or boat ramp . I would like to have a dollar for all of the GREENBUTTSKUNKS THAT I HAVE TIED AND CAUGHT STEELHEAD ON .If you see this drop me an e-mail with your phone number and I will give you a call .

:laf :laf

Freakwater · 03-15-2004, 08:50 AM

That was amazing to watch. Knowing that they had seconds to net the fish and didn't know it was coming. I think Riverkeeper got a picture of GBS's reaction to the victor of that battle. Post it up RK.

Freak

live to fish · 03-15-2004, 10:24 AM

check out these encounters. http://www.ifish.net/ubb/ultimatebb....;f=21;t=003949

greenbuttskunk · 03-15-2004, 10:53 AM

shalom, yes, it's my fav. summer steelie fly, and the name is cool too! Problem is for those who see it on my boat that don't know flies, I think it scares them a little, something about "butt" and "green" :blush: Maybe my fly graphic I'm gonna add will help clear that up.
GBS

Herring Impaired · 03-15-2004, 02:43 PM

I worry about my water loving dog!

I wonder if they would go after a 40# blue heeler splashing around!?

She hasn't fallen out of the boat yet, but she does get pretty brave around the walkways and the bow and stern of the boat.

7066 · 03-15-2004, 02:59 PM

They will eat the soft under belly of a dog in one bite. Be Carefull!!

shalom · 03-15-2004, 06:36 PM

Greenbuttskunk ,
What kind of a sled (or boat) do you have ? If I see it we can talk . I have a white and black RANGER 20-feet long with a 225- HP SUZUKI . You are correct Greenbuttskunk .is a great name I love it . Every time I hear it I have many fond memory�s of great times and fishing trips on the DESCHUTES River . Flag me down if you see me .

FishFood · 03-15-2004, 06:51 PM

Maybe we need to start taking pepper spray along. A snootfull of that might discourage a dog from popping it's head up too close to the boat.

PharmDoc · 03-15-2004, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IFISH4U:
Good thing that didnt happen to someone in a car topper, probably would have thrown them out of the boat. :shocked:

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">How about the guys I saw out of St. Johns on Friday in little one man pontoon boats! They were fishing for sturgeon out of them and catching fish nonstop! A huge sealion could have probably taken down their whole boats. I guess one has to admire the determination.

happybrew · 03-15-2004, 07:30 PM

I've always thought they should have made one of those old Japanese monster movies about a giant sea lion munching salmon and boats, and sending giant waves into downtown Portland! Anybody remember Gamra, the turtle thing that flew shooting flame out of the leg holes in its shell and fought all the bad monsters? Turtle vs. Sea Lion! Perhaps I should contact Hollywood.... [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

happybrew

judyfish99 · 03-15-2004, 10:57 PM

I would have used the Bonker for fish! Good dose of pepper spray, too! Saw a sea lion near the south point of the Mouth of the Clack last sunday!! They're heeeerrrreeee!!! [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img] judyfish99

Riverkeeper · 03-15-2004, 11:01 PM

I don't think that's what scares people when they see your boat.

Hooker · 03-15-2004, 11:01 PM

I was out ther eon Saturday also and saw a couple monster sea lions.

Sturgeon fishing was slow!

TeamYeeha · 03-15-2004, 11:04 PM

There was a HUGE one buy the St Johns bridge on Saturday. I thought it was coming to get a shaker we had on :shocked: I mean right to the boat. My question is now that I hear all these close incounters is it legal to protect yor fish while netting it by giving the seal a WOOD shampoo

For sure most of you would bonk the crap out of it if was trying to get in your boat, right?

Yeeha

Gun Rod Bow · 03-15-2004, 11:16 PM

Some else wanna tell me how they will "tale" their salmon while keeping them in the water above I-5???

If the fish doesn't jab a 2/0 trebble in your hand, how about a 1200lb sea lion grabbing at the fish and getting your arm instead

Glad they only lost their net and fish.

It's a contact sport.

TeamYeeha · 03-15-2004, 11:23 PM

GRB can we not even net a wild fish above I5? It's easy to control a 20#er and use a shaker tool to release, but what are we gonna do when they are 35+. Is it you cant take a wild fish out of the water?

Yeeha

Freakwater · 03-15-2004, 11:23 PM

GRB, That's a dang right scary thought! BTW, they did not lose the fish or net, though I think the fish was a bit tenderized.

Freak

stlhdr1 · 03-15-2004, 11:49 PM

I saw the exact same thing last year near Frenchmens bar.. Except the sea lion actually had a hold of the fish first then I busted loose of anchor and ran over it. At that time it spit the fish loose and my buddies actually realed it up. Once in the net the sea lion grabbed the fish, it was quite the tussle for my buddy with the net.. Only he managed to get the fish, needless to say it wasn't worth much nearly torn in half and teeth marks all over it...

Still don't know what he did with the fish to this day... Would have made good fertilizer for me..
Keith :grin:

Rubber Hooks · 03-16-2004, 05:44 AM

Brshooter and I had that same experience last spring off of Batchelor Island. 4 times, Homer (the unfriendly sea lion) had Br's fish in his mouth, 4 times he got it away. The last time Br had the fish on the surface and skidded it up to the boat with "Homer" in hot pursuit. I reached out with the net and got the fish. I hit "Homer " in the nose with the rim of the net. "Homer" proceeded to tell me about my ancestry in sea lion language. "Homer" swan next to the boat ( about 4 foot away) I would say that he was 700-800 lbs. I was conceerned that he would try to come into the boat.
The fish was a 23 lb hatchery with 2 puncture marks just in front of the tail and some minor bruising.
I am getting concerned with sea lions aggressive nature and just hope that no one gets hurt in a close encounter
Rubber Hooks

rob allen · 03-16-2004, 05:47 AM

I have been hearing that the sea lions are really targeting the commercial nets and the fish they release supposedly unharmed.

Jimmy Carl Black · 03-16-2004, 07:28 AM

Alright, I'm sufficiently freaked out about sealions now as to officially change my stance on the issue.

Seriously, the safety issues are first obviously and should really be looked into before something bad happens out there.

Dinikin · 03-16-2004, 02:32 PM

After reading all those posts about agressive sea mammals, I wont be fishing without fire arms. Any attempst for a sealion to climb in my boat will be greated with hostile fire.

I guess some issues about cleaning fish while in the hogling should be addressed as well. It is just like chumming for sealions.

I remember reading here a while ago that someone almost lost their arm while unhooking qwick fish from a wild salmon in the water. Now springer fishing got more interesting.