My SE trip heavy photos

My visit with Howard McKim was just what I needed after a long year of work and life in California.

Allen Sansano (Polepole) joined us after a few days whcih rounded out the "Three Amigos aspect of the week.

I got to go with Howard and his lovely companion, Alison, on their morning tours, shepherding trourists from the cruise ships on kayaks to observe the ecological wonders of the marine area, and occasionally to assist in guiding anglers. 

Howard owns a parcel outside of town that he bought when I was last up there, and I got to assist a bit in his cabin construction.

WE caught LOTS of smaller fish, mostly quillback rockfish, though Allen and I hooked up a great variety of sculpins, cabezone, and flounders on our paddle out of Vallemar Bay one day.  Howard and I had  an afternoon of turbot fishing (I call them devilfish), as we could not find the halibut hole that day.
Below are a number of pics.  My gallery is not working correctly, so I can't imbed in the text.  I needed to get this up as I am already pretty late with it.  I' edit o and addendum after my gallery gets fixed.

Bigger fish include a great halibut by Allen on the Quicksilver, and a good halibut and (finally after 4 tries) a king salmon for me down at Herring cove.

Enjoy the pics, I promise I'll do a better report job when I can post the pics properly.

Allen

Congrat Allen & Allen  on the Hali and King Salmon.  Wish I were there fishing with you guys.  Thank you for the report and pictures.

Nice trip. I am so jealous!

-Brian G

Nicey looking fish thanks for the reports and Pix

Wow What kind of fish is that in the last pick? ... Thanks for the report Allen! I wanna see more pics when we get together next week...

A dusky female King Salmon around 30 lbs.

Allen

There is a funny story behind this fish.  Just call us Laurel and Hardy.  Why is it there is always a funny story when we go up there?  Remember the infamous "Brian G rock" incident?

I have video that goes along with it, but I haven't processed it yet.  Will tell all once I get the video.

-Allen

I can't wait.  I deliberately held back in post.

Let's just say there are some interesting sound effects.  Think: 20,000 Leagues under the Sea.

Allen

Beautiful Dusky Allen. Thanks for the great report..
Rich

Great Report Allen.

Question, how did you get your Kayak and all your gear to Alaska?

Great fishing. Forget the tropics, Alaska looks like Fishing Heaven to me.

Gorgeous pics! the fish aren't bad either...  Thanks for the report! Looking forward to the rest of it!

Are those both trippy Alaskan cabs?  Weird coloring.  Thanks for the great variety of pics.   

Thanks for the update Allen glad your having a great time catching all those fish, it has been a life long dream of mine 

Pat R

A cab, an 18" greenling, then the Red Irish Lord, a type of sculpin.

Allen also caught a great horned sculpin which was outrageous. I think he got a good shot of it.

The other pic with Allen holding a flounder hooked sideways came right after he told me that the flatfish up there sometimes will "lay on" a bait then get side hooked. 

The flounder was like a volunteer illustration of the concept.  Cracked us up.

 My favorite shot might be the one of us paddling out to the fishing grounds with the island and cloud on the horizon.  So empty and pure looking, with lots of fishy potential below.  Exciting and peaceful somehow at the same time.

Or maybe the Allen bendo shot  Look at the picture his rod is actually pretty hefty and a stiff blank. When that flattie hit I was watching and the head shakes shook Allen's whole upper body, from 180 FOW.  Giant shakes! I can only imagine what a big one would feel like. 

Allen