Homer Winter King Derby - March 24th

Ok.  I have not been out fishing since the October Elks Derby.  I have a lot going on and every time I think about going the marine weather has been ugly or the roads icy. 

We are going to enter the Homer Winter King Derby again.  That's March 24th I believe. 

The fishing has been ultra slow from what I can gather.  The ocean conditions have changed considerably.  As one exmaple, the commercial fishing Pacific Cod quota was cut 80% this year in the area.  Some of the better charter boats have been finding fish, but even they seem to be having a harder time with both the number of fish and the weather.

Having said that, even in the years of abundance, I have never hooked up to more than one fish.  This March derby is tough/.  But that's what I like about it.  With it be tough for even powerboats, I look at it as a prime chance to have a kayaker win it.  Fewer fish overall means any given fish has a better chance of winning it.  The lack of cod and pollock will also have us trying different tactics potentially.

At any rate, it's obviously still the dead of winter as I look out the window, but I wanted to get people thinking about it as March is only a few days out. 

On a final note, I wrote a piece that was published in Alaska Magazine (Not Fish Alaska, but Alaska Magazine) in the March edition.  Of course I had to use Ryu since he seems to be the King slayer of the group.  Let me know what you think if you get a chance to see it!

I plan on being there again! 

I plan to be there. Alas, I think I'll be in a powerboat. I haven't trolled in a powerboat for a couple years.

I plan to be there. Alas, I think I'll be in a powerboat. I haven't trolled in a powerboat for a couple years.

It's not going to be easy off of any platform if this weather keeps up.  But that's what makes it fun.  Any fish will be a good fish this year!