Going after the big guys!

I went and bought a heavier rod/reel combo and some 20lb test line. I'm ready for the big guys!

I also just found an article explaining the new wording for the regulations on salmon fishing this year. If you've ever read a book on regulations for anything, you know they can be confusing. The California Department of Fish and Game states in the regulations: "4 Chinook Salmon- up to 4 fish over 22 inches in total length until sub quota is met, then 0 fish over 22 inches total length."

Ok, so I can keep 4 fish over 22 inches. What if they aren't 22 inches? It appears in my salmon report card that I can keep the smaller ones (jacks), but it doesn't exactly say. I finally found an article where our local paper interviewed someone from the DFG who said that you can have 4 per day (8 total) where they can be a mix of adults and jacks, but once the fall quota is met, you can only take jacks, not adults, and you still have to stick with the bag limit.

So I don't have to reel in a 50lb monster in order to keep it. Which is good because that was going to be a tough one.

I got some barbless hooks as well, a Northern California River guide, some larger lures and jigs and a small club. The small club is for killing large fish once I get them to shore. Let me tell you about my first fish killing experience (not all my pet fish I killed accidently). Up until this incident, I was never the one to kill the fish I caught. Someone always did that for me. No, you don't just let them suffocate. It's cruel and it spoils the meat.

So we were spear fishing while on a fire in New Mexico. We tied small pocket knives to stick and were spearing fish. I finally got one after spearing him 6 times. One of the guys told me I had to kill it. I asked him how.

"Just hold him in your hands and smack his head on a rock".

I held the fish upside down and smack his head against a rock. It made a strange popping noise. "Like that? Is he dead?"

"No, he's just got a bad headache. Hit him again."

I hit him again. The guys all laughed. We ate him and a couple others with out MRE's that night.

I don't think I'm going to gracefully pick up a 40lb salmon and smack his head against a rock... without losing him into the river.

So I got a club. I'm a little nervous. I can't believe I'm about to possibly hook something large enough that when I bring it ashore I will have to club it. With a bright orange club called "Wally Wacker".

I'll let you know how it goes.