Halibut, Bird, Halibut, King... 12 consecutive months catching a king from a kay

So I fished Friday on the Kenai river.  Laucnhed at Cunnigham Park, pedaled/floated upstream with the tide up to Eagle Rock.  Fished back down.  No love from the kings though I did manage a red salmon in about 30 minutes of trying.

Saturday, fished Whiskey Gulch…nothing.  It sure seems to have slowed down.

Sunday, I fish the low tide at Whiskey Gulch again.  Landed 4 halibut, kept two that were 20 to 25 pounds.  I also managed a King Salmon on my halibut gear.  That king whacked my bait 5 or 6 times before getting hooked.  Didn’t bring a net, but with 200lbs leader and 12/0 hooks,  no problem hauling it in as I could see the fish was well hooked.  King was loaded with normal sized and tiny sandlances. 

But still, the prize for perseverance goes to a bird. I get hit bouncing bottom in 65 feet of water.  As I reel up there isn’t much fight.  I look and there is a bird clamped onto my herring. What?!?!  Just as I was bumming out, it lets go.  I didn’t think it could get a 12/0 big river hook down.  So as I am getting ready to deploy, it goes after my bait again.  Got a little footage.  Pretty cool

So all in all it was a slow weekend.  But who can complain?  12 consecutive months with a king!!!  Woohoo!!!
 

Congrats on the King streak.  That's impressive.

I enjoyed the bird segment.  Cool to see it from above and below the surface.  Did you notice any around you before it started pecking at your bait?  Looks like it might be a common murre.

   Ya did it Rudy 

   You have set a very high bar for anyone else. Way to get-r-done.

The bird hit the bait at 65ft? I didn't know they could dive that far down. Congrats on the 12 month streak, that is awesome!

WTG Rudy !   12 montrhs going is Amazing!   

Congratulations. I think I passed your rig 20 minutes out of WG. Would have liked to meet you but maybe next time. I was also targeting halibut when I caught my king.  I was working right in with the birds and seals but no hook-ups in that department than goodness.  FF marked the bait - fish ball in the top 15 feet of 51 foot depth. Got my herring stripped twice so I hooked in my trailer to the herring tail and had my first fish.

The bird hit the bait at 65ft? I didn't know they could dive that far down. Congrats on the 12 month streak, that is awesome!

I've caught puffins over 100ft down in Seward.  Definitely not what you expect to see  when you reel up.  They were around but I didn't notice any birds close by until I saw this one.

Congratulations. I think I passed your rig 20 minutes out of WG. Would have liked to meet you but maybe next time. I was also targeting halibut when I caught my king.  I was working right in with the birds and seals but no hook-ups in that department than goodness.  FF marked the bait - fish ball in the top 15 feet of 51 foot depth. Got my herring stripped twice so I hooked in my trailer to the herring tail and had my first fish.

My king smacked my bait 5 or 6 times before it got hooked.  I was a ways out in 65 ft of water.  Things that make you go hmmm......

Hope to fish with ya soon!

Congrats Rudy! Thanks for loaning me your spare paddle.  I'll PM you with contact info so I can return it.  My buddy and I both landed 25lb butt and 10lb flounders.  I think the jumpers we saw in Saturday were kings feeding on baby sandlance.  Saw bunch of them swimming near the surface.

I would have joined Rudy for morning tide excursion but I was too hungover and woke up late...still feeling the after effect.

Congrats Rudy! Thanks for loaning me your spare paddle.  I'll PM you with contact info so I can return it.  My buddy and I both landed 25lb butt and 10lb flounders.  I think the jumpers we saw in Saturday were kings feeding on baby sandlance.  Saw bunch of them swimming near the surface.

I would have joined Rudy for morning tide excursion but I was too hungover and woke up late...still feeling the after effect.

King was loaded with sandlances.  Normal sized and the tiny ones.  Partial stomach content...

I may start targeting them and fish halibut secondary...which was my normal pattern until last year.

Amazing!  12 straight months of kings sounded like a pipe dream at 1st.  Way to tough it out.

-Mark-

Nice work! Gotta love Alaska. You never know what you may encounter. I had a couple porpoises breaching about 15 feet from me last week at WG. Good times.

Congratulations Rudy!  Awesome footage

Amazing!  12 straight months of kings sounded like a pipe dream at 1st.  Way to tough it out.

-Mark-

I think it's time Rudy has an updated article in one our major fishing magazines.

Very nice Rudy good job with the king so now do you try for lucky number 13 ?

so cool! good job! I liked seeing what was in the salmon belly. I might make it one more trip this year. Going to hit ship tonight with bobber and eggs