Learned a few lessons today

Always read the regulations and know your fish.  No, I didn't get busted.  Took my two little kids to Sauvie Island so left the yak at home. While they played on the beach I decided to wet a line. Tossed out a prawn with spin-n-glow and weight.  After about 20 min had a fish on!  Reeled it in and it's a wild coho. Never caught one before, since I'm returning to fishing after 25 yrs.  Wow they're bright. And no spots on this one. (you smart ones already know what's happening).

Walking out, I ask another guy how he did. Pretty good, me? Oh I just got a wild coho. Really?, did it look like this? Holding up his catch.... Well, yeah..  That's too bad, You could have kept that nice Sockeye!!!

Lesson learned the hard way....

aww man, that sucks. intentional c&r always feel good, but that's a heartbreaker.

Pound for pound it could have been worse
http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=6980.0

Noah, thanks for the perspective. I don't feel so bad anymore. It was just a 4 lb fish anyway.   There will be many more fish in my future.   

No problem buddy. Now you know where they're at, they seem like they'd be a blast on light tackle. Do you know how deep of water you were fishing?

It was rather shallow.  Maybe 5 to 8 ft.  I just cast out from shore.  My first few casts I lost my bait, so I'm sure the chumming helped.  Too bad it's closed now.  I got him on trout gear so it was pretty fun getting the fish close to shore.  Quite a few spunky runs.