Anchor point King derby...who's going?

We all started with those looks. The guys are great and I have yet to meet one of them that will not help.

Good timing I guess. Bought an Outback last year, just finished rigging it up with a fish finder and downrigger and stuff. I'm trying to figure out how to load and unload it on the overcab  "Cam Damper". Worst case, I'll drag it down on the 10k tilt trailer. Will just follow the crowd and hope for "beginners luck" because I don't know the fist dang thing about about kayak fishing or trolling for kings except what I read from you fine folks. Bought some property in Anchor Point a few years ago to plan for retirement so I better get started on the learning curve. I'll be the one with shiny new stuff and a stupid look on my face.   

C'mon down!  This is one fishery, especially the kings where as long as you are dragging some type of bait or lure, You have a chance.  It's closer to shore and I would say you have a better than 50% chance of hooking up.  What you will want to be prepared for is AFTER you hook the fish.  Leader length, net, dive clip, etc.  I'd fish 10 to 30ft of water about half way down.  I will be running either green or blue label herring I think. 

I won't make it this year - had fun last year though ! 

I should get back to AK by 2nd week of May and hoping to spend the last two weekends of the month down that way. 

Hope you guys kill em in the tourney!    It's time for a kayak to take away a win.

Hope there's a place to set up a tent. Mrs. Artemis borrowed the camper this weekend for a mother daughters thing and kissed the side of a roof overhang just below where daughter #2 did it last summer. Took me weeks to rebuild it then. I'd rather sleep on the ground for now. Cursed! The dang thing is cursed! Camdamper...razin...frakin...bumpis...

Plenty room to tent and move around.  Make sure you turn left at end of the road.  I believe state owns the left side and private RV park on the right.

I'm going to try to go to this event for sure

Hmm. would love to, but I think I will be watching a crazy-intense 9-yr old girls basketball game that scores into the combined 20-pt range.  And, sadly...or proudly...I can't miss it for all the fish in the ocean. But good luck to you guys. We need a kayak win in one of these tourneys!

Crapola I must be cursed. I'm out until I get this stupid knee brace off. Hopefully I'll see one of ya on the beach in 3 weeks. "Just goes to show if it ain't one thing it's another." (Rosana Rosana Dana) 

FYI: I just spoke with the organizers of the derby and they told me the phone #s for calling in your fish are incorrect on the form. If you catch a fish and can't reach them via radio here's the correct # 399-2686. Weather forecast looks awesome, see u all there.


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Thanks Swanson SIlver.

Ok, so who is going? A few thoughts for the weekend.

1) Should be the peak of the feeder king fishery for this time of year.
2) Last two kings were loaded with tiny sand lances.  But herring and hooligan are also present. 
3)   In general, the bigger kings that win the derby are spawners NOT the feeders.  My plan is to fish "in-river" gear for a while to target the spawners first.  Tee spoons, vibraxes, and maybe kwikfish.  I may try that while I let my kid try green label herring behind a flasher. 
4) Hard to say but personally I don't expect the fishing to be as good on Saturday becasue I like big tidal exchagnes.  It was over 25 feet last weekend.  Less than 10ft difference this weekend. 
5) Past few times out, the fishing seems better as the tide is incoming for the kings.  Maybe it moves fish up, but on big tide swings, it definitely makes for cleaner water.  I plan to fish as shallow as the clean water will allow.  Having said that, A few of the fish I saw and caught lasst weekend were out in 45 ft of water partly because you had to go that far out ot find clean water at the time.  Stop on top of the hill and look out into the water.  If wind and sun is right, you can see the difference in water clarity. 

So it looks like this on Saturday for tides and current. 



So we will drift North.  King conservation zone markers are right after the Big Tower on the cliff.   Tide won't switch back till 11am-ish.  I am going to do what I can to stay near the launch.  Two reasons.  One, if I catch a good one, I want to try and weigh it.  Two the max current is 1.6kts so we should be able to go either way when trolling. 

Depending on who I see down there and how "into it" people are, I am hoping to have my fish and be out of the water by noon-ish, but a last chance possibility is to hook up with someone else, we drive a rig North as far as the markers and drop the kayaks off.  Land at launch and run another truck up to go get the launch vehicle.  This could add a few hours at the end of the day for a "last chance" fish. 

Though its fishing and not catching, I would expect to catch multiple fish...and release multiple fish unless we get really lucky with a good one first.  If last weekend was any indication, the fishing should be awesome.  I had kings chasing halibut bait and caught a couple in very short order.  Small tides will make for easier fishing though I don't think it will be better fishing necessarily. 

oK, WHO IS IN?!?!?!?

I'm ready to give it a try. This will be my second time on the saltwater and first time for kings, so if you see a guy staring at you trying to figure out what to do or asking a lot of questions that may be me. I'm heading down today so I can practice with me king gear a little on Friday since I haven't tried it yet. Thanks again Kardinal for sharing your ideas.

I'm ready to give it a try. This will be my second time on the saltwater and first time for kings, so if you see a guy staring at you trying to figure out what to do or asking a lot of questions that may be me. I'm heading down today so I can practice with me king gear a little on Friday since I haven't tried it yet. Thanks again Kardinal for sharing your ideas.

Awesome!  We will see you down there.  Don't worry, this is about the easiest fishing you will do off your kayak given king salmon are the target.  No guarantees because I have been blanked for sure but this time of year, the success rate is better than 75% is my guess.  Especially if you aren't picky about size.  The smaller feeder kings are awesome table fare and I don't think twice about keeping a 10 to 12 pounder usually.  As long as your bait is in the water, you have a chance...a great chance this weekend.  My only concern is the smaller tides that i don't like.  Things don't move as much so if that area happens to be "off", it's likely to stay that way longer.  But it works great if the fish are in the area!

For kings...anything will work.  But I would go get 4 to 10 oz trolling sinkers.  A triangle shaped fish flash flasher.  Red and Chartreuse are our favorite colors.  The easiest way would be to use spoons.  I love the Silver Horde Coho Killers but anything in chrome or black white 3 to 5 inches long will work.


Our go to set up is green label herring tied on two 4/0 to 6/0 gamakatsu octopus hooks.  Egg snelled about 1.5 times the length of the bait apart.  Fluor carbon leader (40lbs minimum, I use 50 or 60)  about 3ft long.  If you don't know how to make the bait spin, either use a cut plug or get a helmet.  I use whole herring.

 

I wish I was out fishing, but it's moving weekend for me. Have fun out there!


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Sounds good Rudy. I'll be going for sure. Not gonna make it for the auction but I'll drive down early Saturday morning. I plan on initially trolling my king kandy candlefish behind a flasher. I really like the action of it imitates the sand lances pretty well. I think I'll also try troll some bigger bait (blue label herring) to try get the bigger fish. If I get a king early on I'll probably head out a mile and try for some halibut. Man I love living here...[emoji41]


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It looks as though it wasn't in the cards for .even to make the trip. Good luck to everyone in the tourney and fishing in general.

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