I was contacted by the Hunt of a Lifetime group this past winter about some fishing trips in Kodiak and I was eager to help. Andrew is from Michigan and I jumped on the chance to hook him up and show him a good time. Thursday night Andrew and his dad landed in standard Kodiak rain and fog weather, showed them the basics around town, got fishing licenses and settled into their hotel. We started off Friday afternoon jigging black rockfish just to get the cobs webs off and get started. After having a blast with those we ran off shore and did some deep water jigging, but nothing really happening out there so back inside we came. Dropped the anchor in 140' and got the rods down. My standard in this spot is big baits, large herring or salmon heads and carcasses on the bait rods with 20/0 circles and some 10" twister tails on 8-12oz lead heads off the back of the boat. Andrew quickly put a 25ish lb butt in the boat to start us off on the jig. After about 20min one of the salmon got hit but the fish didn't hook up. We kept at it and 20 min later the salmon head goes again, same result, usually that's a smaller 50lb class fish that just can't swallow that big bait. About 10min before we pull the anchor it goes for the 3rd time, but this time we connect and his dad jumps on it (Andrew was indisposed at that moment). After about 20 minutes we stick that fish with the harpoon, the fish goes crazy and I get beat up pretty good hand lining it in, but the show is awesome, fish jumping, head trashing, great time. Putting a 150lb butt in the boat, not a bad way to finish the evening and home we head. Saturday morning we start off and Andrew wants his big fish, so we head back to the rock pile from last night. I set up in 138' and it's slow at first, then the salmon head goes again then quickly stops, right then my good buddy Jeff who is along to help out sets the hook into a good fish on a 10" glow twister tail. At that same time the head goes again telling me that the fish Jeff has hooked up is not the fish eating the big bait, now I'm looking for the double hookup!!! I let Andrew stick this fish with the harpoon and rodeo it, he does a splendid job and we put 100lbs on the deck. Back to the other fish, who hasn't come back to that rod yet, I look at the graph and I'm in 126' of water now, anchor slid and we drifted 160' from the spot. We give a bit but no go, pull the anchor and reset where we need to be, 138' on the gravel next to the rock pile. About 45min after resetting Andrew hooks a nice halibut on the jig. While playing that fish I mention that the herring rod behind us is going to go, we're not watching it, that's how it works right? His dad Dale says he wants to see that salmon head get eaten again, and it does. Line starts ripping from the reel with the head as Andrew gets a nice 35lb but to the surface and we have him switch rods. He regrets that decision as soon as he slides the lever drag to strike and feels the power of this fish. About 25min later this fish surfaces, they've already put enough meat in the freezer from Friday night, Jeff and I decided that we can take this fish and donate it to the local Senior center. So we stick this one and Andrew has his barn door, 120lbs on the deck. We call that enough and go looking for kings, weather turns sour and we head for the dock just as things get gnarly. Sunday he wants to catch something cool (ya, 100+lb fish aren't cool) so we go jigging the rock piles looking for a yelloweye for the wall. We didn't get the yelloweye, but pulled 3 nice lingcod, one which went 33lbs which will make a great mount, but they're out of season so we release it after a quick photo. I call a good friend of mine who is an outstanding taxidermist in Ohio 9jsut a short trip for them) and just happens to have a 30lb ling that I sent him a few years back. He's doing a replica of that fish for Andrew here when he gets home. Tonight we're heading back out, now Andrew wants another big boy before he gets on the plane tomorrow to head back to Michigan...Think he's hooked??
