Siuslaw seal ride

I decided to try again today for a keeper Coho. I fished yesterday for 4 hours, only getting two bites, and no hookups. Hmmm, what would make them bite? On the way home from running the dogs this morning, I stopped at the Sportsman, and picked up a bottle of anise Smelly Jelly. Got out on the water about 10am, smeared some of the smelly goo on my blue fox, and started trolling. Almost immediately got a strike. Reset the troll, and Wham, hooked and landed a small Coho. After releasing it, started trolling again. Got another strike, and lost it. I probably fished for another hour and a half with no luck. I discovered the spinner had become bent, and wasn't working properly. Straightened it out, added more goo, and started trolling again. Wham, another fish landed. While working this fish, I noticed that a couple of seals were giving me the eye.  When I started trolling again, they began following me. I tried to ditch them, but they kept tagging along, watching me from a distance. Got another hookup! While fighting this fish, the seals started chasing him. This made for quite a lot of action. I managed to get the fish to the yak, and release him quickly, as he was just hooked on the outside of his mouth. Started trolling again. Wham, another nice fish, and there were the seals again. Got the fish to the yak, and let him go quickly also. By this time, my lure was toast. Stopped and put on a brand new one, complete with smelly jelly. After setting my line and trolling awhile, hooked up again. This time it was a NICE fish. The seals joined in the fun again. This time, one managed to latch onto the head of my fish. He took off, with me in tow. At first, he only made short runs, and coming up for air. The runs got longer and longer. Eventually it was about 5 minutes between air breaks. Each time I was able to get him back close to the yak after taking out over a hundred feet of line. He towed me over to the opposite shore, up toward the North Fork bridge, and then back to the south side of the river. We finally ended up back where we started, and he tried towing me at other boats. I  crossed a couple of other lines, and got them loose quickly. Finally, one last run, and I got him back to the yak. He popped up beside me, spit out the fish, and gave me a very dirty look. The back of the fishes head was shredded. I grabbed the fish by the gills, hoisted him into the yak, and pulled my spinner loose. This whole time, all I wanted was to get my $4 lure back intact. The seal watched me the whole time, and was finally rewarded with a nice pre-chewed Coho that was over 30 inches and very fat! I am sure the seal and his buddy had a nice meal for all their effort.

The first photo was taken while being towed toward the 101 bridge, and the second two were taken near the end of the battle.

Now I know what it's like to catch a big one!

Dave

Those seals were probably just snapping them up as soon as you dropped them back in the water.

They were following the floating buffet!

sounds like good action and definately a good word for anise smelly jelly.

nice pics & report.

J

Hey Dave,

I think your approach is a great one for getting the fish back.  The PB'ers try to "keep them from getting air" by staying above them, but I think that what they're really doing is just testing the seal's will to hang on thru a prolonged engagement.  I believe that this approach would have worked for Zee with a recent poached Chinook, if his line hadn't snapped.

Two thumbs up for the Siuslaw Sleigh Ride!!   

-Mark-

I was actually surprised that the seal finally gave up the fish. There was a time that I considered breaking off the line, I was using 20lb leader. But darn it, that was a brand new pink Blue Fox that I had just bought! I am glad the seal finally came to his senses! After all, he got his meal!

If you could have seen the look on that seal's face!

Too much fun!!!

Hey Dave,

Watch out for over zealous USFW cops. Some of 'em would give you a "disturbing wildlife" ticket for that seal ride, even if they just heard about it happening.

I had a bit of a run in with USFW over what constitutes disturbance of wildlife while yak fishing at Yaquina Head, & I didn't even catch any fish. I'll have to go to court over this one. Seems that being on the water in a human powered craft is enough to get a ticket at the Yaquina Head Scenic Area. USFW cop called me at work 2 weeks after I was there & gave me the 3rd, 4th, & 5th degree over the phone. Got a ticket in the mail a week later. Had to file a discovery motion with the court to find out exactly what I supposedly did. Then got the 8x10 color glossy photos of me paddling around fishin' in a totally legal area, no wildlife anywhere near me, seeing how I was making my best effort to steer clear of them. Somebody reported that "10 to 20 harbor seals vacated the rocks & 50 to 100 Brant cormorants left their nests" because I was there. I never got that close to any rookery rocks. It didn't happen. If it had, I would have seen it, paid my $200 & moved on. I'm pleading not guilty. I was framed, 'yer Honor. It's a long story. I'll relate the episode after it gets resolved in court, Nov. 5.

My God, what's it coming to?

Hey Dave,

Watch out for over zealous USFW cops. Some of 'em would give you a "disturbing wildlife" ticket for that seal ride, even if they just heard about it happening.

I had a bit of a run in with USFW over what constitutes disturbance of wildlife while yak fishing at Yaquina Head, & I didn't even catch any fish. I'll have to go to court over this one. Seems that being on the water in a human powered craft is enough to get a ticket at the Yaquina Head Scenic Area. USFW cop called me at work 2 weeks after I was there & gave me the 3rd, 4th, & 5th degree over the phone. Got a ticket in the mail a week later. Had to file a discovery motion with the court to find out exactly what I supposedly did. Then got the 8x10 color glossy photos of me paddling around fishin' in a totally legal area, no wildlife anywhere near me, seeing how I was making my best effort to steer clear of them. Somebody reported that "10 to 20 harbor seals vacated the rocks & 50 to 100 Brant cormorants left their nests" because I was there. I never got that close to any rookery rocks. It didn't happen. If it had, I would have seen it, paid my $200 & moved on. I'm pleading not guilty. I was framed, 'yer Honor. It's a long story. I'll relate the episode after it gets resolved in court, Nov. 5.

Dammit.  This one needs to be fought.  I don't like the precedent it sets.  Paul, care to share more info?

-Allen

I too would be interested in the details.  I don't like the idea of being ticketed for perceived wildlife harassment.  If there are hard and fast site rules, fine I will follow them. For instance 3 Arch rocks off Oceanside Or has a 300ft exclusion zone, marked with buoys, but if it is some cell happy touron (moron tourist) dropping a dime every time they see a yak near wildlife then we all have something to be nervous about.  

And just an FYI for everyone out there, there general recommendation is to not approach within 100 yards of any marine mammals.

That being said, read this ... http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/deter/#What_deterrence_methods_for_sea_lions_and_seals_are_available_to_the_public

It talks about active deterrence methods available to the recreational fisherman.

  As far as I can tell the seals were harassing you and you were engaged in deterrence activities.   

-Allen

Nice find.  I'm guessing with the law source documents for that information, the seal would be found in the wrong if you ever got a ticket for one taking you and your catch on a ride.

This makes me think that we should perhaps move this to shorebreak where it can't be viewed by the general public.  And The Man.  Just sayin'......

http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/deter/Reference_Section.htm#Harassment1

Definitions:

    Harassment as defined in the MMPA:

        (A) The term "harassment" means any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which—(i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild; or (ii) has the potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering.

        (B) The term "Level A harassment" means harassment described in subparagraph (A)(i).

        (C) The term "Level B harassment" means harassment described in subparagraph (A)(ii).

    Injury as defined in the MMPA

        a wound or other physical harm. Signs of injury to a marine mammal include, but are not limited to, visible blood flow, loss of or damage to an appendage or jaw, inability to use one or more appendages, asymmetry in the shape of the body or body position, noticeable swelling or hemorrhage, laceration, puncture or rupture of eyeball, listless appearance or inability to defend itself, inability to swim or dive upon release from fishing gear, or signs of equilibrium imbalance. Any animal that ingests fishing gear, or any animal that is released with fishing gear entangling, trailing or perforating any part of the body will be considered injured regardless of the absence of any wound or other evidence of an injury. (50 CFR 229.2)

        Sections of the MMPA:

    Section 101 (a)(4)

        (A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the provisions of this Act shall not apply to the use of measures—

            (i) by the owner of fishing gear or catch, or an employee or agent of such owner, to deter a marine mammal from damaging the gear or catch;

            (ii) by the owner of other private property, or an agent, bailee, or employee of such owner, to deter a marine mammal from damaging private property;

            (iii) by any person, to deter a marine mammal from endangering personal safety; or

            (iv) by a government employee, to deter a marine mammal from damaging public property, so long as such measures do not result in the death or serious injury of a marine mammal.

        (B) The Secretary shall, through consultation with appropriate experts, and after notice and opportunity for public comment, publish in the Federal Register a list of guidelines for use in safely deterring marine mammals. In the case of marine mammals listed as endangered species or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Secretary shall recommend specific measureswhich may be used to nonlethally deter marine mammals. Actions to deter marine mammals consistent with such guidelines or specific measures shall not be a violation of this Act.

        (C) If the Secretary determines, using the best scientific information available, that certain forms of deterrence have a significant adverse effect on marine mammals, the Secretary may prohibit such deterrent methods, after notice and opportunity for public comment, through regulation under this Act.

        (D) The authority to deter marine mammals pursuant to subparagraph (A) applies to all marine mammals, including all stocks designated as depleted under this Act.

Commercial and Recreational Fishermen – Fishermen can deter Pacific harbor seals and California sea lions from damaging gear or depredating catch, only if they are actively fishing.

-Allen

Went back out again this morning. I managed to catch and release a nice Coho without any interference from the seals. The fishing was really slow today. I think it's because the water was very clear, unlike yesterday. Lots of fish jumping, but few being caught. I did hear back at the dock that someone had their released fish snatched by a seal!

Hey GD!

Good for you getting after the coho, and dodging the seals.  Pesky aquatic varmints.  Nice pics too.  It's fun seeing seals until it's time to catch some fish.  Good to see you getting after them - the fish that is - with positive results.  Keep up the good work -

Alan