What are your 2015 fishing goals ?

I saw a 62 lb and a 55lb ling hanging on the boardwalk in homer last summer.  They went way out towards St. Augustine island on a picture perfect weather day.  Those 2 lings made the 4 buts over 50 lbs on the same rack look tiny.  You could literally put a 5 gallon bucket inside their mouths

I've seen some whoppers caught in August ....a couple of them had their bellies full of whole silver salmon.  They are few and far between though.

I wanna go!!!! Please???

You are asking?  I am demanding!  Heck ya!  Need the A-team to maximize the odds of pulling out a massive fish.   The goal is to catch a keeper.  Then to  drop BIG bait down and wait for the monster.  I think the limit is two.  If not I still have a proxy.  I think 50 pounds is a good mark to go for.

I'm in!!! After my big boat lings and the lings I caught at ORC last summer, I'm hooked on catching those ferocious suckers.   Gotta set a new personal best... 37" so far

I freaking love big lings! 40"+ is a high bar for near shore fish all of these came out of less than 120 FOW.

40" from about 6 miles from Ketchikan 90 FOW about 30 yrds from shore.

42" from Neah Bay 110 FOW

44" From Foggy Bay somewhere between 60 and 90 FOW .... she hammered it on the drop off with the reel in free spool.



Both of the AK fish were released.

My goal is to ride a 100#+ halibut rodeo. I think you can gaff it and remain in control, if you can keep about half of the body out of the water while it thrashes. =) .... only one way to find out!

 Damn Bill--------- those are some great lings. I'd be happy as hell with some of that...

I freaking love big lings! 40"+ is a high bar for near shore fish all of these came out of less than 120 FOW.

40" from about 6 miles from Ketchikan 90 FOW about 30 yrds from shore.

42" from Neah Bay 110 FOW

44" From Foggy Bay somewhere between 60 and 90 FOW .... she hammered it on the drop off with the reel in free spool.



Both of the AK fish were released.

My goal is to ride a 100#+ halibut rodeo. I think you can gaff it and remain in control, if you can keep about half of the body out of the water while it thrashes. =) .... only one way to find out!

Now THAT'S what we are talking about!!! Sweet. Strap that gopro on!!!! Yee haw!!!!!

Those Foggy Bay lings sure are chunky.  Compare them to some of the snakey 40+ inchers we caught at Hinchenbrook in 2007 ... http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=471

-Allen

How do you manage a 44" ling cod when you catch it on a kayak?  Do you pull it on your lap with a gaff and let it thrash around? 
WOW...that is just enormous.  Looks so fun!  Have to add that to my list now.

These are my kayak fishing goals:

1.) Don't die
2.) Albacore tuna (mothership)
3.) Halibut (Pacific or California - I don't care)
4.) Arctic Grayling
5.) 10 species of fish on bacon - Only because I want to get sponsored by a bacon company.
6.) Help 2 others catch their first kayak salmon

Hey, that's always my rule number one! Where's Langcod?

Springer from my kayak.
Lingcod from my Kayak.---after I get good at surf launch/landing.

Springer from my kayak.
Lingcod forn my Kayak.---after I get good at surf launch/landing.

I'd be happy to accompany you on a surf launch for lings at Pacific City. There are several times of year where we get a nw swell < 3' that make launching and landing in the surf very easy. Always nice to have a buddy there to help you out.

  Just WOW........

  I had no idea this thread would take off like it has, over a 1000 views and now 70 replies in 48 hours.

  There is some incredible insite to be gained from reading folks responses. I'm learning about different peoples experience levels, or lack of same . Learning about dreams unfulfilled and yet an anxiousness to get out there and make them a fact. And perhaps most important to me....what a great collective bunch of people we have as members of NWKA. More specifically----the desire to share with other, perhaps newer participants in this great endeavor and wanting to help others grow in their own experiences. To get out and develop the growth in our children and other family members as well as friends. All the while looking to go out with people we haven't even met yet. Just to share that special time together.

  Keep your thoughts coming folks. This is a very entertaining and educational bunch of thoughts we are sharing. And I appreciate your input.
   
  Because we all have dreams.

  Here's to "making it happen"

           Mark

I am old so the memories are a bit fuzzy but I had caught some pretty big Kings, huge Lings and very heavy Halibut out of my PB when I roamed Prince William Sound and on other salt water boating treks around the state. My goals now are huge fish caught from the Kayak. I may even try for a big shark out of Jacks Bay next summer. Big Lings and big Kings are doable pretty much determined by location and a water taxi of some sort. I'm working on my bucket list. Caught the hundred plus Halibut this year, I want at least one of my goals for 2015. Kodiak is still marked on my calendar.

I've fished w/o a fishfinder for years. Time to install & start using one, mostly looking for bottom structure.

Install a better rod holder.

Create more GoPro videos.

More free diving & find some rock scollops.

  Yeah, Mark....great thread!
  So thankful for the great Kokanee and Fall salmon year...would be happy just to come close to this in 2015. Very excited for the fall salmon forecast!
  Although, getting a springer IN the boat this year would be nice. And, some Ling/Rock action would be a nice addition to the addiction....as if I need that
  Thanks to everyone for the great info and continuous stoke!

Springer from my kayak.
Lingcod forn my Kayak.---after I get good at surf launch/landing.

I'd be happy to accompany you on a surf launch for lings at Pacific City. There are several times of year where we get a nw swell < 3' that make launching and landing in the surf very easy. Always nice to have a buddy there to help you out.

Would love that...just need to be ok with eating that out of state Oregon
 license.