Hapiness is a full tankwell...

I went to my fav honey hole last weekend and the fishing was bonkers. The surf was there (4-5') so a little bit of a problem and made launching a workout. Made it to my spot and it was on from the first drop. Was cycling through a lot of fish so only took the best. Got 3 19" blacks on the clip but was looking for that ling. Made a new drift over a spot I hadn't touched yet and the rod went heavy. Drag was spinning and the fight was on. After anchoring itself to the bottom, then a few good runs, got it to the boat and my fav. KZ gaff sealed the deal. 29.25" ling to the yak. Got 3 more blacks in the 18-19" range but was looking for my second ling. Just a little bit later and the rod went bendo again. This was a long fight and was pretty sure it was a ling. Lots of good runs and when it splashed the surface and darted back for the deep confirmed it was a minty ling. About three more runs and got it on the gaff. 27" ling to the clip. I was looking for the trifecta so looking for that greenling or cabby to seal up the stringer. Went through a few more blacks when I finally got my greenling. It went 17" but I just can't kill those suckers. Too cool looking. So C&R'd it threw the fish in the Katch Kooler and stowed it with all my gear. Time to head in for that beer and relax for the rest of the day...

I pedaled to the surfline and it looked like some work to get back in since the swell period was really short. Breaks between the sets only came about every 15 minutes and they were still about 15 wave sets. Pulled the MD, got the paddle out, and watched the horizon for my break. When four feet from my port rises a seal.. a sea lion.. a Steller Sea Lion! Took me like 4 seconds to register. The damn thing's head was as big as half my yak. His mouth open, bloodshot eye staring at me, I knew that look. Sh*t I thought, looking in at the surf mid-set. I paddled parallel to the surf waiting for my break when he came from behind me full speed and turned at the last second splashing me. Turned right after the splash, came right at me, head out of the water barking. I like to think I'm pretty confident out there but when a steller fur bag about as big as my kayak outweighing me by a good 1000 pounds is barking and charging it's time to go. I figure I'd rather take my chances w/ the surf. At least I have a little control. The dog made another barking charge at me, turned away, and I hightailed outta there.. into some 5' surf. Dodged a few waves and then it was apparent I was gonna surf a wave in. Took off pretty good but with all the weight of the stowed gear the kayak didn't react like it normally would. I was just fighting to stay upright. Some chop hit me from the side, I fought it, when more chop hit I lost. The kayak flipped and I grabbed on. So there I was supermanning it sideways on a foam ball. It finally let me go and I was in pretty deep water. I was thinking to jump back on and paddle for the next one but there was no time. The next wave smashed me and I lost grip of the yak and left me swimming w/ a paddle in my hand. No bueno. Finally caught up to the yak, flipped and dragged myself out of the water.

Great day of fishing topped with some a little "bull fighting" in the end... kayak fishing rocks!!

Z

Great report

Nice haul & great report!
That's makin me hungry!

Next time just fill the tankwell with the fur bag and paddle in at your leisure

If you know what I mean

Next time just fill the tankwell with the fur bag and paddle in at your leisure

I had a good time w/ the situation but in all seriousness it was a really scary situation and I could have gotten mauled had the sea lion wanted to. Just checked the bio of a Steller and looks that my weight estimation was way off. They actually average 1.2 tons. I was definitely lower in the food chain.

This is pretty much all I have to say though.

I had one bark at me a few trips ago.  They look f'n scary from kayak level.  Easy to dismiss in a PB but 6 inches off the water they scare me more than sharks. I don't think they would attack a person directly as a food source (lets hope), but they could really ruin your day if they decided they wanted what was on your game clip.   Thats way my catch stays sealed in a waterproof dry bag (blood/scent control).  They aren't dumb either, I try to stay away(couple hundred yards etc) from areas with lots of them.  Three Arch rock is covered with them and I am always worried they will learn to associate a yak with a possible free fish dinner and the potential excitement that could entail .

While they may not attack thinking of you as a food source, they may attack out of defense or in pursuit of your catch.  I've never seen a Stellar in WA or OR, but have seen them in Alaska.  Fricken huge beasts.  I've tried to avoid them when I encounter them on the water.  A couple years ago I had a couple follow me after I boated a nice butt.  It was a bit tense for a few moments.

-Allen

Nice dude. Kinda scary but nice.

I think we have California sea lions in Oregon

I don't know what particular breed of sea lions they are, but the ones that are in the hood canal area are pretty close to Zee's size comparo picture.  They take up residence on the back of the submarines once they moor at Bangor.  I remember dousing them with a firehose and throwing monkey-fists at them to get them off when we needed to adjust the mooring lines. 

You'll see both CA and Stellar's in Oregon.  The Californians are the ones that'll make their way up rivers and bays to feast on Salmon and whatnot.  Stellars, so far as i've been told, are not salmon eaters.

Nice haul Zee!

The California Sea Lions are a dime a dozen in Oregon.  They can be a real pain in the azz too.  I had a pair of them chasing behind my yak last week.  By their excited state and the way they kept dodging and diving, I'm pretty sure they thought I was trying to land a fish at first.  It didn't help that I had a Coho bleeding out in my crate.    Eventually I just pulled 90deg and smacked at one with my paddle.  I guess it was a gamble, but it paid off.

Now, the big stellars are a different story.  There are a couple of places I surf where the resident stellar can be a problem.  Nobody I know has been bitten or mauled but they're intimidating as heck and they'll get right in your face with their GIANT head.  
I've actually had one herd me and a dozen other surfer into a tight pack by circling and bumping.  Thank goodness a good set came in allowing us to scatter.  I didn't even yell at the guy who dropped in on me as it was one of those every man for himself moments.  

Great read!  "Mano a mano" with a sea mammal of that size must have been an experience.   

Stellars, so far as i've been told, are not salmon eaters.

Yes they are.  I've seen them feasting on pink salmon up in Alaska. 

BTW, we also have elephant seals that can get aggressive as well, particularly near rookeries and haulouts.  And these can be even bigger than Stellers.

-Allen

Had a bad experience with a fur seal in the old country while spear fishing, Had spared a couple of butter fish, little bit off blood about, (OK a lot). Just surfaced and free dived 15-20 feet and had some thing bang into me, kept lunging and striking (i think with flippers and tail), dam seal could move faster than I could turn around, started heading for surface but it stayed above me and kept lunging had to use emergency air. (half inflated wine cask bladder). Started getting panicked and desperate for air so put power head on spare gun and shot the Bastered. lost spare gun, marker boy and catch bag, had tear in wet suit and grazes and scrapes on leg and back.
 After getting bearings and swimming round point to zodiac. came back and found that had drifted to with in 300 yards of about 200 seals. recovered lost gear and went home.