Look Ma! I caught some earrings!

July 7, 2009

This morning, at 7 a.m. I got to go fishing with "Batman" (David Noble). I had one goal - to catch a Yelloweye (or Red Snapper). I wanted a Yelloweye so that I could have the ear bones in order to make earrings! The ear bones are located in front of the gills and behind/below the eyes on the fish. (The last photo on this post is what they look like.)

Since the tides were going out, and we wanted low tides, we started by trolling for salmon. That's when I caught my first Silver Salmon - or Coho Salmon. What a fun fish to catch! We were fishing by Gedney - a island just up from Yes Bay, in about 35 feet of water, and I was using "cut plug" as bait (That's herring that has had it's head cut off at an angle and it's insides removed so that it will get the proper "spin.") (In the 4th photo, David is holding the Coho.)

Then we were off to find a Yelloweye! You use a different rod and reel for Yelloweye(you use the same rod and reel that you use Halibut fishing. The rod is shorter, and the line is heavier), and you have to fish deep! The deeper the water, the bigger the fish. I was down about 475 feet when I got mine. To catch a Yelloweye, I used 2 hooks with a herring head on each one. Then you attach a weight to your line and drop it straight down. Right after the weight hits the bottom, you reel up two cranks and give it about 10 seconds - then wham! Fish On! Not only are Yelloweye down there, but a slew of other uglies such as Rockfish and Lingcod...but, it was my lucky day as I had hooked my Yelloweye! These aren't big fighting fish, but that's okay since you have to reel the sucker up all 475 feet keeping constant pressure on the line (that means there's no stopping to rest that throbbing arm!)
I can honestly say, that is the hardest I've ever had to work for a pair of earrings! Phew!
(I should mention...that big tongue-looking thing in the fish's mouth (See the second photo), is actually it's stomach, or air bladder. It blows up with the pressure when you pull it out of the water. Cool huh?)

After the Yelloweye was stowed we were off to get a but butt! (That's Alaskan for fishing for a bit Halibut!) We tried another location for the halibut, since we wanted around 250 feet of water. To halibut fish, I used salmon bellies and herring as bait. (At the same time - one on each hook - double your pleasure, double your fun right?!) Then you drop the line all the way to the bottom and jig the weight off the bottom. It took about 20 minutes and I had one! Now this was tougher to reel in since they fight and you're reeling up 250 feet! In the end, it was only about 15 lb halibut. I could have kept it, but I threw it back - I want a big one! (Photo 3 shows my halibut.)
Did you know that halibut swim on their side, so their tops are dark brown, and their undersides are white. And, both eyes are on the top!

All in all, a great morning fishing!
Now it's back to work!
Hope you enjoy the photos!

luv from AK!