Fishing Trip

[Gonna Smoke]

Just got back home from a 5 day fishing trip to Alaska. There were 6 of us and we had 2 boats. We went to Elfin Cove on a self-guided trip primarily targeting Coho and Halibut. Did catch some rock bass, too. Weather was unbelievably good with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s, no wind, and no rain. Thought some here might be interested in a couple of pics...

Day one limit of silvers...

Day one catch of Halibut from our boat...

Another limit of silvers from our boat...

And finally another pic of some Halibut...

Biggest Halibut we caught was 88 lbs. Was hoping for a triple digit fish, but just wasn't in the cards this time. We had 6 fish over 60 lbs. Most of the Coho were in the 7-9 lb. range with the biggest being 11½ lbs. after gutting and cutting out the gills. This was a great trip and we've already booked one for next year. Between the 6 of us, we're splitting 950 lbs. of fillets. Now what to do with all that fish...

 

[normanaj]

Trip of a lifetime!

 

[sawhorseray]

AWESOME TRIP CHARLES, LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS HAD A LOAD OF FUN!

 

[SmokinEdge]

How fun is that! Thanks for sharing that Charles. Beautiful catch really like those slabs. That’s what they always told me “ Just like pulling a 4x8 sheet of plywood off the ocean floor”

 

[Quiganomics]

Awesome! I live in an area with great walleye fishing, I just never seem to find the time to just unplug and go enjoy a day out on the water. I'm envious, nice catch!

 

[02ebz06]

Wow, that is some haul. Congrats!
I love Halibut, hard to find unless you are on the west coast.

 

[Brokenhandle]

That's awesome Charles! I can't imagine the feeling of catching something that big!

Ryan

 

[Winterrider]

Wow, great score !

 

[mr_whipple]

Sweet! Never been halibut fishing.

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Trip of a lifetime!

It was and I can't wait to do it again.

AWESOME TRIP CHARLES, LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS HAD A LOAD OF FUN!

Thanks Ray, it was a ton of fun.

“ Just like pulling a 4x8 sheet of plywood off the ocean floor”

Yep, except it pulls back...

I just never seem to find the time to just unplug and go enjoy a day out on the water.

You have to make the time.

I love Halibut

We do, too. Especially my wife.

That's awesome Charles! I can't imagine the feeling of catching something that big!

Ryan

Thanks Ryan! 2 speed reels help, but still quite a pull...

Wow, great score !

Thank you!

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Sweet! Never been halibut fishing.

The barn doors are tough...

 

[Fueling Around]

Awesome Charles
I’d take a chick off your hands but sounds as I’d have to fight Sheila

 

[clifish]

Just got back home from a 5 day fishing trip to Alaska. There were 6 of us and we had 2 boats. We went to Elfin Cove on a self-guided trip primarily targeting Coho and Halibut. Did catch some rock bass, too. Weather was unbelievably good with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s, no wind, and no rain. Thought some here might be interested in a couple of pics...

Day one limit of silvers...
View attachment 724058

Day one catch of Halibut from our boat...
View attachment 724059

Another limit of silvers from our boat...
View attachment 724060

And finally another pic of some Halibut...
View attachment 724061

Biggest Halibut we caught was 88 lbs. Was hoping for a triple digit fish, but just wasn't in the cards this time. We had 6 fish over 60 lbs. Most of the Coho were in the 7-9 lb. range with the biggest being 11½ lbs. after gutting and cutting out the gills. This was a great trip and we've already booked one for next year. Between the 6 of us, we're splitting 950 lbs. of fillets. Now what to do with all that fish...

nice, always wanted to do a trip like that. How do you bring that much fish home?

 

[processhead]

That looks like an amazing fun trip.
I would be curing and smoking some of those salmon filets.

 

[Gonna Smoke]

How do you bring that much fish home?

Cliff, there are 2 options. The lodge cleans the fish, vac seals the fillets in serving size portions, and freezes them. When it's time to come home, they pack the frozen fish in insulated boxes, about 46 lbs. per box. These boxes can either be taken with you as checked luggage or shipped Alaska Air Cargo to an airport near you where they fly. If shipped, they fly the fish to Seattle and it's stored in a freezer there at the airport until ready to ship to its final destination. For the 6 of us, we had 21 boxes so it was much cheaper to ship air cargo than check them as luggage. The cost to ship is $1.10/lb. So if you know the cost to check luggage, then you know how much that can be. As an alternative, FedEx is about $5.00/lb. to ship.

Our fish should arrive at Charleston Airport around 6:30 this evening and I'm going to pick it up. The others will meet me at my house at get theirs.

 

[clifish]

Cliff, there are 2 options. The lodge cleans the fish, vac seals the fillets in serving size portions, and freezes them. When it's time to come home, they pack the frozen fish in insulated boxes, about 46 lbs. per box. These boxes can either be taken with you as checked luggage or shipped Alaska Air Cargo to an airport near you where they fly. If shipped, they fly the fish to Seattle and it's stored in a freezer there at the airport until ready to ship to its final destination. For the 6 of us, we had 21 boxes so it was much cheaper to ship air cargo than check them as luggage. The cost to ship is $1.10/lb. So if you know the cost to check luggage, then you know how much that can be. As an alternative, FedEx is about $5.00/lb. to ship.

Our fish should arrive at Charleston Airport around 6:30 this evening and I'm going to pick it up. The others will meet me at my house at get theirs.

Better get the freezer space opened up. Sounds like an awesome trip.

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Just ch

Better get the freezer space opened up

Been working on that this morning. Got my fingers crossed...

Just checked the tracking and it's on time...

 

[smokerjim]

Nice, looks like a great time

 

[forktender]

Just got back home from a 5 day fishing trip to Alaska. There were 6 of us and we had 2 boats. We went to Elfin Cove on a self-guided trip primarily targeting Coho and Halibut. Did catch some rock bass, too. Weather was unbelievably good with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s, no wind, and no rain. Thought some here might be interested in a couple of pics...

Day one limit of silvers...
View attachment 724058

Day one catch of Halibut from our boat...
View attachment 724059

Another limit of silvers from our boat...
View attachment 724060

And finally another pic of some Halibut...
View attachment 724061

Biggest Halibut we caught was 88 lbs. Was hoping for a triple digit fish, but just wasn't in the cards this time. We had 6 fish over 60 lbs. Most of the Coho were in the 7-9 lb. range with the biggest being 11½ lbs. after gutting and cutting out the gills. This was a great trip and we've already booked one for next year. Between the 6 of us, we're splitting 950 lbs. of fillets. Now what to do with all that fish...

Smoke'in trip!!!
For the silver's, lightly cold smoke with apple and cherry wood, an 45 min. to hour, using dust and a maze, or make a smoke bomb out of foil using saw dust.

For the smoke bomb lay the foil out put a few handfuls of saw dust, and wrap it up, poke a few pencil size holes in the foil on the top, and a dime size hole in the bottom, then light with a torch.

After the salmon is kissed with smoke, cold pack it into jars, add a little S&P and a tsp of cotton seed oil, the oil is optional, but it adds a nice flavor.

Then process in a pressure canner for the recommended amount of time and pressure.

I like it cold smoked lightly, equally well as hot smoked 100%, which will give you a firmer end product.


Nothing better than Canned smoked salmon, a tub of creamed cheese with green onion mixed in, the salmon on Club crackers, an ice cold beer while watching football on a rainy day.


Man you guys did great Charlie, what a trip!!!

If you don't mind me asking, how much does a trip like that cost, in total?
You can P/M me if you don't want to post it.

I want to do one next yr with my wife.

Thanks.
Dan.

 

[912smoker]

What a great trip and haul Charles!
And many great meals to come!

Keith