Homer winter king derby

Grrrr.... Just went thru the calendar and I'm working that weekend.  Talk about cruddy timing...

Well ya never know with these off season derbies. The Anchor Pt derby got pushed back twice due to weather.


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Okay I am bored.  So as usual, if I can't be on the water, I am daydreaming about it.  So I added another page to my website that might have some interest here for those thinking about fishing Kachemak Bay.  Here's the page: 
https://sites.google.com/site/kayakfishingalaska/seasons/advanced-research

The page is titled "Advanced Research".  I don't know how many of you do this but ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be Jaques Cousteau.  Marine research has always fascinated me and I would have been one until i picked up a survey on annual wages of different professions...lol.

So since I just started the page, I have two papers that I found fascinating.  Ok, I'm a dork.  But these two papers I think explained to me why I have been successful near the spit in October.  Apparently large congregations of sandlances spawn in the spit vicinity.  The other paper is about the Kachemak Bay reserve and it showed current flow, kelp beds, eel grass locations, and such in the area.  Not what I expected.  It certainly has me pondering new locations and additional activities in the area.

Bottom line, I don't think its a substitute for being on the water.  I liken it to watching Alton Brown's Good Eats (ok, now I'm admitting to things I'd rather not).  He didn't help me cook any recipe better, but understanding the science helped me to improvise and try new things which for the most didn't work but every now and then it did! 

So for those looking to catch a King or anything else out of Homer and want to learn a little more about the environment, then I think its worthwhile...for some people!

Okay they just announced that registration is open!!  My trip planning thread page here: https://sites.google.com/site/kayakfishingalaska/seasons/trip-planning

From another board

=============
Dear Alaska Anglers,

Today its 26 degrees in Homer and a little overcast and we're hoping our warm winter weather will carry us through this year's, 20th Annual Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament that will take place on March 23rd.

Registration has begun for the tournament and we want to remind all anglers to keep their boats dug out! For those of you that are captains and have fished in the tournament before or are planning on fishing this year; we are compiling a wait list of anglers interested in fishing the tournament. If you have seats available on your boats please contact us so we can send anglers your way. If you are looking for a seat on a boat, please contact us ASAP so we can get you on the wait list.

Contact: 907-235-7740 or halibutderby@homeralaska.org

The Homer Winter King Tournament is now in its 20th year, come and celebrate this anniversary and win big prizes and bragging rights.

Kard -- Poured a cup of coffee and reviewed your planning thread and related links.  Now my coffee is cold but my brain is fully fired.  Great work there; I really like what you've pulled together on the KFA site.  I don't know whether I'll participate in the Homer derby. But I do know that I'll be heading south to chase some feeder kings off the Spit before too long.  Can't thank you enough for sharing your approach to applying the research. 

Kard -- Poured a cup of coffee and reviewed your planning thread and related links.  Now my coffee is cold but my brain is fully fired.  Great work there; I really like what you've pulled together on the KFA site.  I don't know whether I'll participate in the Homer derby. But I do know that I'll be heading south to chase some feeder kings off the Spit before too long.  Can't thank you enough for sharing your approach to applying the research.

Hey hey AKFISHERGAL!  Not only did I just pay my $100 entry fee into the derby, I even was arrogant enough to pay an additional $50 on the "skunk bet"  which is the most popular side bet.  The entries are pooled and 75% of the pool is paid to those who didn't get skunked.  Very few fish are landed in this derby relatively speaking.  I think 2012 was a poor attendance year due to weather and they had 123 boats, 473 anglers, and only 97 fish caught.

This fishery is small enough and uses a very old time tested method as a primary catch method (herring behind flasher) that I think some improvements can be made to up your odds.  This time I'd prefer to launch of Anchor Point but I was told I can only get 3 miles or so down the beach at low tide.  I need to get 5 or 6 miles south of Anchor Point.  So this time I think I will be fishing the green can.

Anytime from now on when I am not parenting, if the weather is above freezing and seas below 3ft, I am going!   Research is fun but to catch fish, there is NO SUBSTITUE for being on the water!!!!!!!

The derby folks called me back and said we can launch from anywhere but we still have to check in.  I was considering Anchor Point but 90% likely to fish the green can.

Ok. Stuck in Seattle but looks like a potential window for a practice run this weekend.  I'd say fifty fifty I may give it a shot. I don't know the issues fishing in 32deg weather for extended periods. I don't want to be testing stuff derby day if I can avoid it.

Decide as the weather becomes better known.

Kachemak bay marine forecast
400 AM AKST MON FEB 25 2013

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT AND TUESDAY...

.TODAY...E WIND 10 KT BECOMING NE 20 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 3 FT.
FREEZING SPRAY.
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW SHOWERS. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE...NE WIND 30 KT. SEAS 5 FT. SNOW. FREEZING SPRAY.
.TUE NIGHT...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT.
.WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.THU...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.
.FRI...N WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 

Weather

Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow. Highs in the 30s.

Thursday Night Through Saturday: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the 30s.

Saturday Night And Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows in the 20s. Highs in the 30s.

If you're down there, can u check out the camping scene on the spit?

And I know, it's cold... That's not the concern.  More of a snow level thing.

If you're down there, can u check out the camping scene on the spit?

And I know, it's cold... That's not the concern.  More of a snow level thing.

Will do.  Not perfect but here's some webcams of interest.

Clam gulch webcam
http://alaskaloghaven-cookinlet.viewnetcam.com/CgiStart?page=Single&Language=0

Webcam homer spit
http://hallobay.com/Web_Cam.htm

Homer looking at st Augustine
http://www.avo.alaska.edu/webcam/Augustine_-_Homer.php

Yea, there might be a bit more snow than I wanna camp on just yet... Call me soft...

Looks good!!!   Still stuck in Seattle but hoping to start "getting in shape' this weekend!!!  Still fifty fifty due to work, but this forecast is as good as I have seen in a LONG time! 

Anyone?  Anyone? Beuller?  Beuller?   Anyone?   Anyone?


PKZ141-271500-
KACHEMAK BAY
400 PM AKST TUE FEB 26 2013

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TONIGHT...
.TONIGHT...NE WIND 25 KT. SEAS 4 FT.
.WED...NE WIND 20 KT. SEAS 3 FT. SNOW.
.WED NIGHT...E WIND 15 KT. SEAS 2 FT. SNOW SHOWERS.
.THU AND THU NIGHT...NE WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.
.FRI...NW WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.
.SAT...N WIND 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT.
.SUN...VARIABLE WIND LESS THAN 10 KT. SEAS 2 FT. 

I would but my wife's birthday party is Saturday.

I would but my wife's birthday party is Saturday.

So what I hear you saying is if a "kayak buddy" ie someone outside the norm shows any support like sending her, uhhh....hmmmm....say a new avet reel for her birthday that she'd loan me to use you'd be there this weekend??? Or did I misinterpret?

I get the kids this weekend, so I'm out...

I would but my wife's birthday party is Saturday.

So what I hear you saying is if a "kayak buddy" ie someone outside the norm shows any support like sending her, uhhh....hmmmm....say a new avet reel for her birthday that she'd loan me to use you'd be there this weekend??? Or did I misinterpret?

Haha yeah you probably misinterpreted. It would take a lot of reels for her to want to take care of the kids the day after the party!