Broken Record - 7/3/09

No, I didn't break a personal best...  It's a broken record, like the one that keeps repeating itself.  

I hit a remote stretch of Humboldt Coastline Friday evening with good Bro, Graham.  We got in about 3 hours fishing in choppy and breezy conditions.  As we pulled up to the spot we see a 'yota 4x4 with 3 yaks in it and some younger guys gearing up to head out.  I pulled up, pushed the button to put Graham's window down, and promptly asked the trio, "Who the F&%* are you?!!!"    I was smiling, and they knew I was just razzing them (I think  ) - sorry, Graham, for putting you in the hot seat between us and our new friends that I was messing with!  They were from Arcata and usually fish Trinidad.  We wished them luck and said see ya OTW.  We proceeded on to our preferred launch, got the boats down the hill and paddled out to what is so often the best therapy session money can buy for my head.  It wasn't a mess out there, but it wasn't super calm either.  We both fought off a little quease for a couple hours, but the consistent action made that so tolerable.  Graham ran a bright knife jig that just killed it, and his shrimpfly was getting slammed constantly - he probably caught 5 dozen fish or more.  I went with my usual MO - big, ugly gear, and no flies today.  I'm out to play tug-o-war with fish big enough to attack something gaudy, and there were a few takers.  I brought a 29" ling up and netted it as it was hitch-hiking on a black.  CVR and it was back to its job down in the rocks.  If I'm going to eat one that was a good size, but I didn't want meat that day.  I continued my 'zilla quest and finally hooked up something very heavy.  I thought it was a snag, and I don't get fooled too often.  I started getting it to move up off the bottom and it was taking line and feeling like a rock with fins.  I thought it was going to be a 20 pounder up around that elusive 40" mark, but when I got it to the surface and into to the net I saw that it was only in the low to mid 30's.  It was the biggest blue lingcod I've caught, and it was a bruiser.  Its head was as big as a significantly longer ling, and it might've gone 18 pounds or so.  I got some decent vid footage and still shots for AOTY - an upgrade to 34.5" - then it was time for what always feels really good:  hold that subdued fish in the water and allow it to realize its good fortune.  I let go of its jaw and it calmly slid under and swam away.  More on that later...

I went on to hookup what I thought was another decent ling - felt heavy, took some line...  I was shocked when I started seeing a tannish tinge coming up, so I quickly got the net out and scooped an old-growth copper.  Hooked in 49 FOW and with a big chunk missing out of its tail, this guy had been around for a long long time.  I got some AOTY pics - rockfish upgrade to 22" - and a little video footage.  I could NOT get the mouth open on this beast of a rockfish.  Its head and shoulders were huge - it probably went 8-10 pounds.  I released it and it seemed to be in shock, floating there not moving much.  There was no bladder sticking out and the hooks hadn't hurt it.  I paddled around it and tapped it lightly with my hand.  I got the video under the water to watch it swim off and when it did come to it jetted.  I need a "Cato" with SCUBA, hovering below me to video the big fish swimming to freedom.  

We headed in earlier than we had to, both really satisfied with the great evening of sport.  Graham kept a few blackies for fish and chips and I went home unfettered by the need to clean and stow fish.  It's obvious, I'm spoiled and get out there enough to get meat when I want it.  I don't give away meat much at all - I found that it encouraged me to kill fish when I didn't really need to.  We never did see our new friends outside - they'd stayed pretty near shore and likely did OK in there.  I left a friendly note on their rig and asked them to come here to report and to be sure and mention how I'd "introduced" myself!    If they had come outside I would've enjoyed feeling out what type of sportsmen they were.  I'm about sharing it, but I'm leary of game-hogs, I admit...  I don't try to control anyone - I'm not looking for mindless lemmings ( ) - but anyone who fishes with me knows that I push my ethic of only taking what you need, and, most importantly to me, seeking the fulfillment that you're after at the same time as learning that taking fish home doesn't have to be part of it.  Over the years it's been obvious that I can't shut the F#(@ up about it, and I want it that way.  New guys, if you're reading this, I hope to see you again and have the chance to push my trip on you.

The rest of you, those who've seen many reports from me, I want to carefully offer this "advice":  I've killed big lings - likely more than 99% of the people on this board - and I do NOT want to discourage anyone's personal triumph.  I've BTDT, and I'm not out to be a hypocrite.  I just want to encourage folks to start playing with the idea of going out there with intentions of releasing the biggest fish.  Keep the small or medium ones to eat and let the big ones go.  Documentation with the video and stills is key to having the confidence and willingness to do this.  I welcome anyone who's friendly and conscientious to contact me if you're up here and maybe we can fish.  I'll try to take you to my best spot.  I'll also encourage you to release a big fish if you catch one.  I'll help with the video and photos.  If you do go with me and keep a big fish I'll be stoked for you and will be just as enthusiastic with the carcass shots on shore over a cold one.  Just try to open your mind to this if you can, please.  I see it as a chance for our sport, which is already more conservative and caring than most fishing modes, to show others that we are on the forefront of contemporary fishing.  We're in an era where the "real" big fish were caught and killed a long time ago.  The remnants are 20 pound lings where 50 pounders were the rule 100 years ago (if you could catch one and live to tell about it...).  As we move forward the rest of the population will continue to scrutinize us and try to limit us because that is human nature:  if I can't have it I don't want others ruining it.  The other side of that human nature coin is this:  if I caught it I'm killing it.  To evolve as a society (to me its questionable whether we can even do that successfully...) we need to change our mode.  We need to derive pleasure by nourishing our souls with the sport and safeguard the ability to get that therapy by protecting the resources that we're playing with.  The "Safari" mentality is not one that fits with a world of shrinking resources.  Think of me and my preaching when you catch a big fish and know that I'm happy for you - stoked, Brother, stoked - and just making you think about preserving it is enough to make me happy.

Peace.  

congratulations on your catch, really nice looking ling.

Nice report, Abking, nice fatty ling. WTG, nice welcome to the strangers I tend to agree w/ you about the big guys. I've read that verms can grow to 15 lbs., though I've never actually seen one and it doesn't take a genius to figure out why. Over fished is the common sense answer. Besides those giant, old meat fish don't taste as good anyways. Thanks for the report and encouragement to photo and release the big guys and only take what you need. I think you should change your handle to Abpreacher haha lol just kidding!!! Giving those three on the beach a hard time and you've got a little coming to you as well!  But seriously thanks for the veteran advise

Thank you for your thoughtful and detailed report Eric.  I wish more people share your point of view so we and the next generation can enjoy the brighter future for fishing.

Eric,

Those are some fish worthy of the respect you gave them,

more and more the camera is becoming my witness, or course with the amount of fishing I've done lately it doesn't see much 

Thanks for puting your thoughts out there for all to see, the take a limit everytime mentality just fries my ass most of the time, I do notice however that you see very little if any of that Here.

I love the look I get trudging up the cliff after an ab dive where I was able to limit myself to just 1 (see I have that mentality too),

The inevitable question when you pass another diver always seems to be "How'd you do?",

and an all too often response to my "I just took one" is

"well you'll get'em next time", coupled with that look of pity for the old man,,,,,,

I just say yeah and smile.....as I walk back to my truck with that inner peace I get from having been in the water, and living my values instead of someone elses.

 

well said abking, and Dale L, its about being out there and the freshness to spirit you get, first and foremost for me, i have only recently harvested fish and only what i can eat that day or two, cameron

Thanks Eric.  I don't have that dilema of having to decide to keep or release the big one.  I never get the big one   I am always in awe when I watch your video and you releasing.  It's just being out there that matters.   

Nice Abking!  That blue ling is an awsome color.  Hopefully now to be passed onto many baby lings.  That is awsome to let a fish like that go.  I BBQ'd some of the blacks I got a GMS III.  Delicious.  You have to love having that in your back yard.  Have you been out for Halibut at all?  My wife and I are talking about heading over before too long.  I will have to call you for a hook-up.  Matt

Great report Abking! I totally agree with and generally live by your philosophy.

Might have eaten Mr.Blueling though.

oh eric, i think you are a great guy. thats why i dispatched a group of jehovas witness to your home to enlighten you. after that magic johnson is gonna come bye and talk to you about abstinence. i know you are just trying to encourage people to release more fish but i have a philosophy of my own. when someone tries to repeatadly push their beliefs on me, i usually tell them to f@ck off. 

Never a broken record Eric. I personally love your post, pictures, and especially the videos you share with us. I hear what you are saying about letting go of the
big lings. I wished we catch them more around our area though. People here in the
Bay Area goes after those lingcod and for the most part, we come home empty
handed. That is even driving of an average of 2 hours or more. I was truly happy
when I finally caught one this year thanks to you at Shelter Cove. That was
really especial even more than taking first place with the wolf eel. Perhaps because I have log in many hours just to catch one lingcod. I hope I am not
shooting myself in the foot for voicing my opinion too. But , I only hope that if
someone here actually kept a nice fish that he or she has been after for such a
long time that that person doesn't ever feel the guilt because they kept the fish.
Just imagine them wanting to share their accomplishment with all the rest of us
and feeling shame at the same time. Maybe I need to stop here. I really don't want to step on anyone's toes and If I have, I am sorry. Just speaking for the
rest of the newbies like myself who have not had many hours on the water like
many of you fine gracious folks here.

There goes my soap box,
Jedmo

Eric, Your avatar quote "Temper the Obsession, but keep the Focus" says it all, Great Report and Pictures...keep up the adventures.

Right on, Abking! Love seeing those old-timer fish going back down - what a cool ol' copper that was. Heifer blue ling, too. Putting big fish back to make babies is awesome. Harvesting fish is part of the game but being judicious with your take is key, IMO. 

That's what a huge ling said to me on Friday @ the Cove, just before he broke me off....Who the F*&$ are you?!! 

oh eric, i think you are a great guy. thats why i dispatched a group of jehovas witness to your home to enlighten you. after that magic johnson is gonna come bye and talk to you about abstinence. i know you are just trying to encourage people to release more fish but i have a philosophy of my own. when someone tries to repeatadly push their beliefs on me, i usually tell them to f@ck off. 

Thank you to all, especially Jack.   

I think you should change your handle to Abpreacher haha lol just kidding!!! Giving those three on the beach a hard time and you've got a little coming to you as well! 

Bring it.  Thx, Bro.   

I only hope that if
someone here actually kept a nice fish that he or she has been after for such a
long time that that person doesn't ever feel the guilt because they kept the fish.
Just imagine them wanting to share their accomplishment with all the rest of us
and feeling shame at the same time.

and, Jedmo...  Man, I have to give you big credit.  You're probably the best man here in terms of empathy and kindness.  I respect that big time.  I feel exactly the same as what you wrote.  I want everyone to experience it and appreciate it and harvest regularly.  I just want to inject the idea of starting to gravitate toward a change, and, honestly, there is even more of a reward there than harvest ever produced.  I really do want to share the feeling by encouraging the act.  This guy said it best:

the take a limit everytime mentality just fries my ass most of the time, I do notice however that you see very little if any of that Here.

I love the look I get trudging up the cliff after an ab dive where I was able to limit myself to just 1 (see I have that mentality too),

The inevitable question when you pass another diver always seems to be "How'd you do?",

and an all too often response to my "I just took one" is

"well you'll get'em next time", coupled with that look of pity for the old man,,,,,,

I just say yeah and smile.....as I walk back to my truck with that inner peace I get from having been in the water, and living my values instead of someone elses.

 

"that inner peace I get from having been in the water, and living my values instead of someone elses."

Beautiful, Dale.  Thank you.