Trash fish Derby 2009

[mnfish365]

Gathering ideas for an on line fishing contest for forum members. It would involve catching the biggest by length trash fish in several categories. Any interest? I have a sponsor already, Gamakatsu has donated a nice little prize package, and any other sponsors are welcomed. My idea is to have a small entry fee $5-$10, and mail out official measuring tapes. You would have to take a photo using the official tape, and post it here. Post any ideas or suggestions, and show some interest. For species, help me out. We need something that are found in most waters.
Category 1- Sculpin
Category 2- Skate
Category 3- Flounder
Category 4- ???
Who's In?

[Fishwhacker]

I will gladly defeat you Sign me up

[Fishwhacker]

By the way, try greenling for number 4, starfish for 5?

[akriverrat]

**** i got my boat for sale. probably wont be able to attend

[Cap'n Ron]

Count me in...

But greenling and flounder trash? They eat pretty good! Now an Irish lord, that ought to be there, and tomcod for sure!

[Fishwhacker]

**** i got my boat for sale. probably wont be able to attend

Dont need a boat for this, most of the listed fish can be caught from shore, I wont be using a boat for targeting the derby fish

[coho slayer]

I might be in for kicks...

How about suckers for freshwater?
Alaska Blackfish?

Saltwater ideas:

Wolf Eel
Spiny Dogfish (any other trashy sharks?)

-CS

[coho slayer]

But greenling and flounder trash? They eat pretty good! Now an Irish lord, that ought to be there, and tomcod for sure!

I'd agree for the most part...how about specifically Arrowtooth Flounder? They're just mush...

[mnfish365]

By the way, try greenling for number 4, starfish for 5?

I like it. Starfish has to be on there for sure, I've caught my share and big ones too..

[mnfish365]

Yes, we've got spiny dogfish here in Kodiak too. That is a good possibility. Let's keep this going. I will have boat space in Kodiak if anyone wants in. Many of these can be caught from shore anyways. Irish lord is a Sculpin, right? I'm relatively new around here, so I don't know all species that well yet. I do know I can catch some junk though! I'm gonna hit up Garbagefish.com for sponsorship. They got some trash fish "trophy flags" no sea robins here, but we definately got some skates and dogfish! A category could be for wormiest fish or most deformed.

[ak_powder_monkey]

wolf eel....

[Brian M]

Skates are not trash fish! Sauteed in butter and garlic, they are almost identical in taste and texture to halibut cheeks.

[coho slayer]

I suppose someone better define "trash fish," since not everyone will agree. It's true that skates are actually really good, and they fillet beautifully, but let's face it, most people toss 'em back cause they want halibut.

-mnfish365: Irish Lord does = Sculpin. And welcome to Alaska. I'll probably be over in Kodiak sometime the first week of March for a quick business trip. Can't wait to see it...it'll be my first time there after 35 years in Alaska.

[mnfish365]

I know skates are tasty, but usually not a targeted species. Most people throw them back. I don't want to offend anyone, but trash fish derby sounds better than incedental catch derby. I havn't caught a wolf eel yet here, are they pretty widespread in Alaska? Maybe I need to hone my eel catching skills. Thanks for the response so far, the derby will go on! Any ideas for how long to run it and what time of the year? I was thinking 2 weeks should be adequate to get some real trophys and post pictures. Maybe do it during July, starting 4th of July weekend?

[mnfish365]

I'll never forget my first skate. I was fishing for the first time in salt water in my life last August, in one of the small bays in Kodiak. My newfound fishing buddy and I went out in my 10' flat bottom skiff and jigged for Halibut when I hooked something big. Didn't fight like a halibut, just dead weight. When I saw that hog nosed skate come up under my duck boat, I almost wet myself! My buddy figured it was about 70lbs and had to have been 5' long! That was my first fish ever fishing the ocean in a "boat" so they will always bring back that memory.