Family duties took me to norcal at Fort Bragg over this week. Seeing that it is the last weekend of recreational salmon fishing in the area I inquired about local landing and managed to find myself a spot in a half day trolling outing last Saturday with Kendall Lynn. She is a sweet six pack vessel operated by good folks. In particular she is equipped with 4 downriggers so only two rods used the 2lb lead balls.
We trolled with flashers about a few miles off from the Noyo harbor where we sighted quite a few humpback whales hanging out. No photo of them as they were too far. A local landed a short king right away and another angler hooked and landed a huge coho salmon! It was properly released back to ocean after a quick photos.
We had a bunch of biters after that but no one could land them including myself. I lost one good bite making my line untight. The barbless hook got away from the mouth so easily. Bites stopped after awhile then there was some quiet time. That’s when I saw my rod got loose. I carefully handled my rod this time and managed to land this nice king salmon.
Deckhand Richard ordered me to switch rods with another angler so we have a better chance of getting fish to everyone. Bites were happening deeper in the column like 150-200ft deep and my rod was targeting that. I concurred and switched to a rod fishing shalow at 70 feet down. After more bites that were missed by others, my shallow rod that did nothing for the entire morning started to bounce! I carefully landed even a nicer salmon. Making the deckhand scratch his head.
What a lucky day to land a limit of these beautiful Chinooks! I brought back the bounty to my friends and wife making a feast to remember for long!
![A1C8AAB3-6BBF-44A0-BB52-6AB3528C5BCC.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3344-9d5268d404e7461fcf729680b80a62f3.jpg)
![6EA2F2D0-6A58-453D-93AE-7734874AD48D.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3335-ea41b4cfa6b8ff504045c73d4ac5821a.jpg)
We trolled with flashers about a few miles off from the Noyo harbor where we sighted quite a few humpback whales hanging out. No photo of them as they were too far. A local landed a short king right away and another angler hooked and landed a huge coho salmon! It was properly released back to ocean after a quick photos.
![F171679E-8009-46D3-89B7-7F3639D89B6C.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3336-36428adc87aa7ad02107128e5137f5a7.jpg)
![99772FCA-64B2-4993-A826-375704635A06.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3337-cadc95c1b7e137fbc48aadd4c03fc30d.jpg)
We had a bunch of biters after that but no one could land them including myself. I lost one good bite making my line untight. The barbless hook got away from the mouth so easily. Bites stopped after awhile then there was some quiet time. That’s when I saw my rod got loose. I carefully handled my rod this time and managed to land this nice king salmon.
![2A539082-0944-49F9-81BA-3DE55B287F0C.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3338-97dc216e3b1aa5318fe1d1434f049133.jpg)
![90EA51DE-2F81-4549-A987-5DF274C13369.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3339-487770c369cb2ab7938be12376a9e02d.jpg)
Deckhand Richard ordered me to switch rods with another angler so we have a better chance of getting fish to everyone. Bites were happening deeper in the column like 150-200ft deep and my rod was targeting that. I concurred and switched to a rod fishing shalow at 70 feet down. After more bites that were missed by others, my shallow rod that did nothing for the entire morning started to bounce! I carefully landed even a nicer salmon. Making the deckhand scratch his head.
![77AC3519-5BEF-4134-97F1-B2823AF93E2D.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3340-c4b57542a9b98958ff3f00bfbba0246e.jpg)
What a lucky day to land a limit of these beautiful Chinooks! I brought back the bounty to my friends and wife making a feast to remember for long!
![D65123F6-6544-4ED8-8A0F-755607C4A8E8.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3341-0dfa65aaa47fe403ccc6c3be9491a06b.jpg)
![E5B2178A-35F3-4097-A3A5-BE83D1BA0A7B.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3342-0736340a6f7f19e478baffb2fca289f4.jpg)
![03EC27FE-C978-4D45-8F37-E0AE66637CB9.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3343-e8a817adf07cf7c63fa454996446d591.jpg)
![A1C8AAB3-6BBF-44A0-BB52-6AB3528C5BCC.jpeg](/msgboard/data/attachments/3/3344-9d5268d404e7461fcf729680b80a62f3.jpg)
Last edited: