Free Towing by a Salmon & some Lingcods @ Mendocino Coast 2025-09-08

Launched my Stealth Fisha @ Mac Kerricher.  The first time I tried to launch my Hobie Outback with hoop nets was a disaster.  I had a yard sale, and it took me some effort to retrieve my gear. 

This time I was using Stealth, and it was easy launching and landing.  I hooked a salmon; it was giving me towing service.



Paul

At it again huh Paul…
Salmon this time , wow!
Could you tell what kind it was? I’m thinking  a coho , it looked a little lighter?
Scotty

At it again huh Paul…
Salmon this time , wow!
Could you tell what kind it was? I’m thinking  a coho , it looked a little lighter?
Scotty

I could not tell, too busy trying to release it.

Paul

Looked like a Chinook from the purple/pinkish sheen I could see when you netted it, but there are a lot more coho around, mostly.  Would've been big for a coho.

I know you have acknowledged only keeping your stringer of fish in the water next to you briefly, but it only takes a second for a sea lion to grab it, flip you and start towing your kayak away.  Bleeding lingcod in the net quickly and just removing all the gills of rockfish and dipping them once is enough to produce nice white fillets.  I encourage you to not hang your stringer on the side at all.  The sea lion ride would make a good video though, if you got your kayak back!

I also want to advise that your two-speed reel is maybe too efficient!  You get fish up fast, and that leads to more barotrauma, generally.  With the lingcod, you will break less heavy leaders if you let them fight a bit, and you will find that netting them head first leads to more success overall.

Last, and you have already heard this from me - get a bigger net and you won't have to work so hard to fit average size lings in there.   

I do like the rubber netting though - it's way nicer on fish to be released.