Need some help with my 2016 to-do list

Have you ever heard the phrase "you don't know what you don't know"?  Well, that's me!  I'm working on a kayak fishing hit list for next year and I would love to hear some ideas from you. I just moved up here this fall and I don't even know what's swimming out there, but I want to catch it!  Please share ideas you think I would be interested in, or feel free to share your insight on my current draft!

1.  I want to catch salmon in the inlet, and preferably with that downrigger I bought this year! Kings, silvers, pinks, chum.... They're all kind of the same to me. I don't know any better.

2. Halibut! I would like to catch some chickens for the dinner table, and some day would really like to CPR a 100+ lb'er.

3.  I have no idea where you have to go to catch rock fish, or how to catch them, but they look neat and I want to catch one!

4. WTF is a ling cod?  I see the guys from down south talking about them all the time on the other regional forums. Do we have those up here?

5. All-day or maybe over-nighter to the other side of Kachemak Bay, launched from the spit. I've heard people say the Kings are bigger over there, but I just think it looks really pretty and want to go check it out.

6. CFR a salmon shark. I don't even know where to start, and I probably wouldn't do that one solo.

7. Pike sleigh ride with a fly rod! I've never caught a pike, but I've heard there are lakes on the peninsula that are full of those invasive bastards.  Going after one sounds like a good excuse to get the boat out on a lake.

8. Are any of the inlet oil platforms within kayak range, and do fish relate to them the way Gulf of Mexico fish relate to platforms?

So there you have it, that's what's bouncing around my head for next year. What other cool fish are out there that I don't even know about?

LOL - Where to start....by the numbers I guess:

1.  You already know that feeder kings are going to be around the Kachemak Bay and points south for the winter... you'll also find them up to Whiskey Gulch (WG)  in May when halibut are really starting to move up a bit.   I haven't tried to target other salmon in salt water in cook inlet, Sockeyes (Reds), Cohos (Silvers) and others run up the inlet as the summer progresses, and I have snagged/bycaught (?) a few while working for halibut, but someone else will have to post cook inlet technique to target them north of K-Bay.   You say "in the inlet"  --> I have had success for silvers out of seward and years ago out of whittier, though that was from my powerboat. 

2.  Me too - still haven't cracked the halibut 100# mark from a kayak.   Came close to 50#, so we both have some work to do here.   Got to log some time and get a bit deeper off of WG I think.  The first two seasons in my Kayak I tended to stay in close, up to 75' deep, but in my prior powerboat experience in this area I picked up two fish in the 95# to 120# range within 5 miles of the beach, but at depths of 95 to 110'.   I found one of my old GPS marks from the larger fish - will try to get a screen shot of the contours to share with you.  I'll be trying it this year.   As for the chickens, get offshore WG in May/June/July and put some meat on the bottom - they'll find it. 

3.  Rockfish - I have caught quite a few of these anywhere from K-Bay and south, to Seward, to Whittier.   Shallow depths (<150') can have quite a few small fish, if you can find rocky piles in deeper clear water, you can fish baits, jigs, all sorts of rigs with success.   Two types of rockfish are out there - pelagic and non-pelagic (bottom dwellers).    I have not found a good kayak-able location to fish for black rockfish (pelagic) - power boating I have found huge schools of these off rocky points off the gulf of alaska. 

4.   LINGs are cool fish - can get huge - have nasty teeth.   Similar to above, I dont have a good ling hole in easy reach from a beach.   Perhaps down off Kodiak ?   In any case I have caught these off rocky pinnacles and points way out in Resurrection (check the regs on in-bay fish) and exposed points out on the gulf of AK.    These are FUN to jig for, for sure.    I am thinking a water taxi to a camping location within reach of the big water might do the trick.

5.  K-Bay - I think there are a few rental cabins on Hesketh Island, you might google that.   I have also stayed in the public use cabins on Halibut cove lagoon and caught kings in the lagoon.   The last time I was there was over the Memorial weekend (several years back) and brought two inflatable kayaks.    You might cross in good weather, but consider a water taxi if you go.   Much safer, or you could be there a few days if the weather kicks up.

8.  Oil platforms - don't know of any you'll want to paddle to... don't know of anyone fishing them.   Remember most are up in the silty water, so the 'structure' effect of platforms in clearwater locations I am guessing doesn't quite work the same.

Some other thoughts - Upper Kenai has some really good rainbow trout fishing, K-84 has kayaked parts of it, and I am hoping to try this next year.   We still have this crazy idea to land a huge king from a kayak in the Kenai river... on Mondays the river is restricted - no fishing from powerboats - so I think a lower Kenai king attempt in early July (before traffic picks up with dip-netters racing to the harvest area) might be in order.   Some of the lakes have good lake trout, and I like your pike idea.   Lots to try out there!

Your post brings back memories of my first season in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. You're in the right place to get your questions answered, search in the Alaska regional forum and keep asking questions, I'm sure you'll get lots of help. Enjoy the addiction!

Yeah, I feel like a sugar'ed up 6-year-old up here.  So much excitement and energy and I don't even know where to direct it!

 Even though I no longer live in Soldotna I might be able to throw you a bone.

 #1. In time you will get to know the timing for the various salmon that come into Cook Inlet. Look through Rudy's blogs for some of the hotter areas . He has covered that pretty well.
 #2. Whiskey Gulch and Homer for halibut. Trolling herring always worked best for me. No need to anchor up.
 #3 The south side of K-Bay has lots of rockfish. I always did real good in Sadie Cove. If you'd like specifics--pm me.
 #4 Ling Cod are some bad-ass predators and in Alaska they have to be a minimum 35" to keep. Check the regs real close though. Highly restrictive. Some of the best tasting fish you'll ever eat.
 #5 Not sure if Kings are bigger on the south side of K-Bay. but agree about some beautiful scenery there. Check out Forest Service cabins .Spending a few days over there can be awesome. Good black bear hunting too.
 #6 Salmon shark eh... Can't help with that one.
 #7 Can't help with Pike either........
 #8 Oil platforms....probably not a good idea. Ugly water ,  lots of strong current , but no clue on fish numbers. Have to be some transient fish.
 #9 Other ideas---- Lake trout , silvers in Swanson River or Valdez, shrimping.
 There are a lot of new places for you to explore. Make it happen

   Mark

Thanks for all the great input, Mark!  I'll send you a PM about Sadie Cove.

#8 Oil platforms....probably not a good idea.

Yeah, I'm starting to see that.  Sounds like they're in fast, muddy water and good distance out.  So much for that idea!

#9 Other ideas---- Lake trout , silvers in Swanson River or Valdez, shrimping.

When I came up for a house hunting trip in August I caught a couple of small silvers in the Swanson River, right upstream from the landing at the end of Swanson River Road with my 4wt fly rod.  Much fun!  I have exactly zero river kayaking experience.  Is the Swanson slow enough that I could drift a stretch of it and paddle back upriver, or would I need to consider it a one-way trip?  Most of my adventures are solo, so river trips always have that added layer of complexity. 
Shrimp. . . I had never considered shrimping and just took a look through the shellfish regulations.  Good grief!  Maybe in 2017

AKrider has it covered.  I went to kindergarten with him in Kenai so he knows every bit as much as I do about fishing that area.  So not too much to add.

Salmon  you can catch year round in homer.  But really the action picks up in late april to early may.  Hooligan and herring enter the inlet in mass about then.  Easy picking for halibut and kings in ultra shallow water.  Kings in 15 ft or less.  Halibut in 30 ft.

Yah, dudemandude on these forums anchors up and slays the halibut.  I never anchor and do pretty well.  Slow trolling/power mooching works for me the best.  Drifitng...I rarely catch a fish.

You can catch small rockfish year round in Whittier but they are tiny. Perfect size to cook whole though. As AAKrider pointed out, know the difference between pelagic and non-pelagic.  South side of K-Bay is a 3 to 5 miles away.  Rockfish are plentiful but small.  Mainly duskies I think.

Ling Cod is the one fish you need a water taxi for.  If it s just catch and release you may want to try Resurrection bay.  Closed for retention the past decade or more bu that also means there area few fish around. 

Here's mid size ling cod froma power boat.  They are in the same family as the Kelp and rock greenling.  You can dfind jelp greenling in shallow waters about anywhere.


Salmon Shark?  Are you frickin nuts???  I AM!  So is polepole and bushy on this board.  they did it a few years back with some powerboat assistance. I am going to try it unassisted in January.  Currently working out the details. 

The shrimping thing is do-able but a PITA.  Heres how I did it a few years back. I'd rather swap some of my fish with friends who get them off of powerboats.


As for "other"...I'll think about it and post some thoughts.  I have only been kayak fishing for a few years ut everything I have done is on my youtube channel.  Go ahead and take a gander at that.  There is SO MUCH that has yet to be explored.  I have been hitting the low hanging fruit and as a meat fisherman, it dictates my schedule a bit differently. 

One suggestion is to plan a trip using a ferry to Kodiak.  THAT would be an adventure.  We had a great time!!  More later. Gotta work!! haha.



 

Medium sized lingcod! Man, that must be nice. I guess I can't complain though, I don't need a water taxi to get on the lings.

When I came up for a house hunting trip in August I caught a couple of small silvers in the Swanson River, right upstream from the landing at the end of Swanson River Road with my 4wt fly rod.  Much fun!  I have exactly zero river kayaking experience.  Is the Swanson slow enough that I could drift a stretch of it and paddle back upriver, or would I need to consider it a one-way trip?  Most of my adventures are solo, so river trips always have that added layer of complexity. 


 I have put in there and fished a couple miles down river and came back up with just a little effort but it wasn't bad . August and September you'll find a lot of silvers up there. You can't go too far upriver because of a serious log jam. One time I put in the Swanson at the park off Kenai Hwy and went out to the mouth of the river. It was a looooong ass pack out to get back to my truck ad I don't suggest you do that. But the fishing was outstanding.

 Ling ling--- yup-- that is just a medium sized Ling. Go look through some glory shots of Alaska Charter outits and you'll see some lingers that could easily eat a basketball. Fishing Alaska will definitely warp your perspective. I think the state record is around 86 lbs.

Medium sized lingcod! Man, that must be nice. I guess I can't complain though, I don't need a water taxi to get on the lings.

Picture from another board.  Cacptain Josh Brooks from the Charter boat Huntress. I get tons of info fromt his guy.  he is the guy who is going to help out with my mid winter shark attempt.   62" with 39" girth.  Fish and game supposedly estimated the weight to be 120 pounds...Would have been a world record potentially.  Definitely on my list...but would require a water taxi....

Medium sized lingcod! Man, that must be nice. I guess I can't complain though, I don't need a water taxi to get on the lings.

Picture from another board.  Cacptain Josh Brooks from the Charter boat Huntress. I get tons of info fromt his guy.  he is the guy who is going to help out with my mid winter shark attempt.   62" with 39" girth.  Fish and game supposedly estimated the weight to be 120 pounds...Would have been a world record potentially.  Definitely on my list...but would require a water taxi....

Ho Le Fuk !!!

-Allen

Polepole took the words right out of my mouth. That is insane.

and to make it more impressive this isn't some olden Goldie shot. it was caught this summer!

Lingzilla... 😮

Lingzilla... 😮

Pretty sure that thing ate Lingzilla.

RIP Lingzilla.