Last Day of Salmon Fishing

Today was the last day of salmon fishing.  We got an early start at 8 am and met John at the dock.  

The weather was supposed to be very pleasant, but it was colder and windier than we expected.

  The first fish I caught was a whopper!  Well, ok maybe it wasn’t really.  

Maybe in a couple of years it will be a whopper.  

Next, I hooked a Coho (Silver) salmon we got to keep because it was a hatchery fish.  The adipose (small fleshy fin behind the dorsal fin) was removed at the hatchery.  That is how you tell a hatchery fish from a wild fish.

Donnette was busy early this morning but was able to join us mid morning.  We call her our “lucky charm”.  When she’s on the boat we catch fish!

The next fish I caught was another Coho and a big one, but unfortunately we couldn’t keep it because it was a wild fish  and it’s against the law to keep them.  Still a lot of fun and exciting to catch!

John estimated the fish would weigh sixteen pounds.

 

Tom’s got one!  

On no!  It’s a nice one but it’s a wild Coho— not a keeper.  Oh, these rules! 

We caught one more keeper hatchery Coho.

Not as big as the one we had to let go but still a good eating fish.

We took our two keepers to the cleaning table.

 It was a long day of fishing but too many had to go back in the water or they just got a free meal by stripping our bait.  

The salmon fishing has truly been a highlight of our trip to Gold Beach.  We are taking home a lot of fish!  Thanks, John and Donnette!  You are “Memory Makers.”