Workers On Wheels

Fishing...

...for fun, profit, or good eating.

Fishing is one of the popular activities of RVers. Some do it as a hobby. Some do it because they love to eat the fish they catch. For others, fishing is part of their RV-home based businesses, or the industry in which they work while RVing.

Halibut Fishing With Grizzly Charters

Thump, thump, thump … you feel their tail pushing them, you feel the sheer power of the big flat fish running. That is how Bob explained his day of halibut fishing to me.

Bob and five other fishermen left shore at 7:00 a.m. for a day of charter fishing with Captain John Earls in Cook Inlet, out of Homer. Captain John supplied the boat and tackle -- and the expertise. Bob needed to take rain gear, his lunch and snacks, an Alaska fishing license, and a derby ticket. (Though it turns out this last item wasn’t really necessary as his catch was great for eating, but not trophy size.)

They fished from about 60 feet to 300 feet deep. Tackle consisted of a large hook, baited with herring or octopus, and a two-pound weight on a two-foot leader.

When a fish is on line, you fight it in, in a give and take system. You reel and the fish runs, and so it goes until you tire it out get it to the boat. When beside the boat, the captain shoots it at point blank, through the brain. This is so you can land the fish with a gaff without it tearing up the boat or injuring people with its thrashing. Keep in mind these fish are sometimes huge, 100 or 200 pounds.

The gaff is a 6-foot long handled tool, with a hook on the end used to grab the fish to hoist it aboard.

Everyone on the charter limited out, each catching two halibut. One halibut was over 200 pounds, one about 100 pounds. Several were in the 30 – 60 pound range. Dressed fish is about half of the fish’s live weight. Bob came home with nearly 50 pounds of boneless, skinless, sweet white halibut fillets for our freezer.

Captain John is with Grizzly Charters, Homer, Alaska. They had a full day, returning back at the dock about 5:00 p.m. Cost for charter was $165.00, plus tip and tax, and included fish cleaning, which was an interesting demonstration in itself as the captain wrestled a 200 pound barn door halibut on the dock, too large to fit on the fillet table. The out of state fishing license is $100.00 for the season (one day license $10.00). The derby ticket, not required, of course, but available at the charter office for anyone who thinks he might catch a trophy and wants a chance to reap the prize money, $7.00. Grizzly Charters, Capt. John Earls, PO Box 1664, Homer, Alaska 99603. Phone: 888-948-4388; e-mail: grizzly@GrizzlyCharters.com; website: http://www.grizzlycharters.com.

Seward Salmon Fishing
with Captain Joe Allen

Our arrival in Seward coincided with the days immediately prior to the Seward Silver Salmon Derby, one of Seward’s busiest times. Bob managed to get a spot on the Betty Lou, with Captain Joe Allen, leaving from Miller’s Landing.

The Betty Lou is an aluminum bow picker with a rear cabin. It is a four-passenger charter and two other tourists and a military man stationed in Alaska were also on board. They fished Resurrection Bay, 30 – 180 feet deep. Bob caught three silvers and his limit of six black bass. Estimated weights were 10 – 15 pounds each for the silvers and 6 – 12 pounds each for the bass. They also caught lingcod, small halibut, and sharks on the charter.

Bob really enjoyed the Captain and enjoyed being out on the water with him. The water was smoother for this charter than on the halibut charter. Bob said the day was exciting because someone on the boat was always catching fish. He also said the silvers fought more than the bass, making them more fun and challenging to land. This was a more relaxed trip, with less seriousness attached to catching the prize fish, and more focus on just having a fun day.

Cost for the daylong charter, tackle and fish cleaning included, was $163.20, plus tip. Captain Joe Allen works with Captains Mike and Sherrie Miller, out of Miller’s Landing, P.O. Box 81, Seward, Alaska 99664. Phone: 907-224-5739; e-mail: miland@ptialaska.net; website: http://www.millerslandingak.com.

Preventing Seasickness

Ginger helps prevent seasickness. There’s really not enough in most cookies to matter. Get the candied (crystallized) slices in the spice section or with the dried fruit, and eat it like candy throughout the day on the water.

Fishing...

...for fun, profit, or good eating.

Halibut Fishing With Grizzly Charters

Seward Salmon Fishing with Captain Joe Allen

Seward Salmon Fishing
with Captain Joe Allen