Porpoise Wondering

So I was out in Resurrection Day yesterday,  jigging for fish and soaking up some sun when I was was alerted by two things that happened at once: I felt a bump on the line, and I heard a very close exhalation of breath. It was an effort of will NOT to set the hook, but before I even completed the thought there were three more breaths from behind and on either side of me. Within seconds, I identified four Dall's porpoises nosing around and checking me out. I reeled up slowly and watched the show. They stuck around for about five minutes, swimming around me and sporting together. It was a sublime moment.

Afterward, I thought about how likely it was that the bump on my line was a porpoise. And how lucky that I didn't react abruptly to set a hook into one of my visitors. That got me wondering about the mouths of porpoises and whether a single 4/0 hook would even penetrate. I hope not, but it's not something I ever had reason to contemplate before.

Too cool! No pics?


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They truly are amazing animals. I applaud you for refraining setting that hook. It takes a good fisherman/woman to be able to overcome that natural reflex of setting the hook on a line bump and being conscious of your surroundings. Kudos to you!
Paul


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No pics -- I don't carry a camera other than on my iPhone, and that's tucked inside my utility dry bag. I've been looking at waterproof point-and-shoots, and think it might be time to get one to keep closer to hand. Sometimes though it's enough to just absorb the experience without distraction or interruption.

No pics -- I don't carry a camera other than on my iPhone, and that's tucked inside my utility dry bag. I've been looking at waterproof point-and-shoots, and think it might be time to get one to keep closer to hand. Sometimes though it's enough to just absorb the experience without distraction or interruption.

Sounds awesome. Each and every time I see a whale it's gone before I can manage to get the camera out.

had one get tangled in a downrigger wire once... let's just say i thought i was gonna have the downrigger ripped off the boat before the wire broke.