Ohbryant

I woke up way early Sat and started looking at my chart and decided where I wanted to fish. With the wife and 6 year old aboard I was thinking safety and sheltered water. We finally got all are junk packed and got to the lauch site,  motored out to the area I thought I wanted to fish, got out to about 80' but I didn't like the current there so I went into about 60' depth, about 100 yds. inside the eddy line.

Dropped our gear, and got my chart out to look it over and see where I was, I commented to Mindy that the last time I did that I had a take down and a couple minutes later and Bam down went the rod tip and line started zipping off!  He inhaled the bait and took off.  I really didn't think it was that big till we got it to the boat and I realized we had a problem.  He seemed pretty winded.  So I handed the rod to my wife and warned her, "I'm gonna gaff him and he's gonna freak out, keep your thumb on the spool OK, it was a Triton reel, I'd lost one of my good reels and I couldn't tighten the drag tight enough, no kidding.  Hit the beast with the gaff bouy and he sent a wake right into the wife and kid, and pop went the bouy, (The zip tie I'd secured the line to the gaff with failed), my wife lets out an ouch, and told her she could take her thumb off, and he went back to the bottom.  I looked up and Mindy and Josiah were just dripping with water and we all busted out laughing, then back to business.  Now What?  Well gotta get him back to the boat first, lets work on that.  Once he was boat side again I saw the gaff was still in him so I grabbed it but it came out and he went to the bottom again.  3rd time pays for all?  Boat side again I gaffed him I approached him slowly, he was plum tuckered out and I managed to pull him aboard with the gaff and my hand in the gill. 

OK, now we have a live beast on board and when he get's his wind back we will have a problem.  My brilliant wife says, hey why don't we tie him off, me with all my experience and having learned the cinch strap trick from Rory's vid from last year, grabbed the cinch strap I conveniently located just behind me, looped his tail and tied him to the seat and he was mostly incapacitated.  I decided to motor in, needed to fix my gaff and I wasn't sure I wanted him in my boat.  Once again my wife comes to my aid, "What are we gonna do with him when we get there?  Put him in the cooler  "  I dunno, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it, but I don't think I want to kill him out here.  Got back to the  dock procured 2 zip ties, and decided the best place for the beast was the bottom of the boat, cut his gills and he gave us no problem, I was ready to call it a day, but not my fishing wife, if one monster is good 3 is even better, but no such luck, couldn't find another one.

The owner ask me where I'd caught it and I told him and he chuckled, I said, "You were pretty smug with your info earlier."  He said, "Yeah, I save it for my regulars".  We said, hey we are regulars, we come every year.  Apparently he has better regulars then us. 

Just a Spreader bar and herring and sent cloth and as much scent as I could drench it with.

Here's to hoping he's enjoying similar fishing adventures in the hereafter.

Dang.  Pics didn't come with the block quote.

  Not what I wanted to see when I logged on. Prayers sent to his family.

So sad.  His small boat halibut report was one of the best I've read on here.  Made me smile and remember some similar experiences. Wish I could have met him.  Condolences to the family.

 Very saddened to hear this . I did not get the pleasure to meet in person--only through PM's and posts on NWKA.
  We have lost a very precious friend.

   A gentle reminder to always tell your family that you love them. Unfortunately it could happen to any of us.

   How can we help out ? Please let us know.

Wow.  I'm still in shock hearing the news.  I just had the pleasure to meet him at Hobuck for the halibut opener.  It was great to meet his wife and son as well.  Life is too short.  He will be missed for sure.

Like being punched in the guts when I read this post moments ago.
My thoughts and prayers reach out to his wife and child.
How can I help?
Grant

Damn, Sorry to hear that. Prayers go out to his friends and family. Im sorry to not have met him, Please let us know if we can do anything for his family.

A number of people have asked about helping the family with some type of financial gift.  I have expressed a willingness to act as a point person regarding this... Along with being Bryan's friend, I was his pastor for a number of years.  He is an amazing guy... anyway, if you are interested please contact me regarding the nature of your gift and I will pass it on to his family.

I was just at Fungunnin's when he told me the news. I still can't believe it, you see stories like this all the time but when it's a fellow kayak fisherman that has been part of what I call my 2nd family (NWKA). It becomes a bit surreal.

I pray his family was not with him in the vehicle and pray for them in this time of sorrow.

Rev...can we send you money via Paypal and you could give it to his family?

Dino Abulencia
HOW-NWest

I can't believe it. I look across at Port Angeles on these beautiful mornings and often thought of him and hoped he's out on the water enjoying it. i never met him but he was a good soul. Now i will look out from my window and still think of him....
T2

To have such a great week like that and just be gone. 

Rev, I think there are a good number of us that would like to help the family any way we can - could you provide some insight into what would be best right now?

http://www.konp.com/local/8725

Wow! this is just a terrible tragedy ! My heart goes out to Bryans family at this sad and painful time...

I can't believe this.  So sad.  My condolences go out to his friends and family beyond NWKA. 

Can we get a paypal button set up or something?  I'm sure there are other ways to help but I agree it would be nice to help defer expenses for the family.

http://www.konp.com/local/8725

Sounds like Bryan did nothing wrong and just had the bad luck of being in the wrong place at that moment in time.

May he find peace in the embrace of Christ.  May his family find peace and comfort in the embrace of the Holy Spirit.

I only knew Bryan through his posts, but I feel a real loss. He always had well told stories and dispensed some real wisdom. I regret never meeting him in person. Peace be with you, Brother Bryan.