Lingcod Fishing -- May 1st, 2008 -- Edmonds Marina & Possession Bar 4:45 AM to 3:00 PM

Well it finally arrived - Lingcod season in Puget Sound. Woke up to the sound my annoying alarm clock (set previously 3:15 AM the night before). I was off and running by 3:50 AM and launching the boat at Edmonds by 4:20 AM. First fish hit hard at 4:45 AM on the Gulp rootbeer red worm, so need I say - FISH ON! Smacked hard right off the Edmonds Marina in 20 feet of water. After a 2 minute fight, the fish measured 28" and was safely released. Then I sent my same setup right back down as quickly as I could and wouldn't you know it -- FISH ON! This time it was pulling a little harder than the first linger and took out some of my power pro. I finally got the ling to the top after 4 minutes of battle and was able to do a quick measure - came in around 30" - a nice ling for Puget Sound. So that was two fish from 4:45 AM to 5:00 AM. Then it went really cold until 7:00 AM. It was at 6:45 AM that I moved out to Possession. After my Mudraker hit the bottom and no longer than within 3 minutes - BAM, FISH ON! This fish meant business. It struck hard on my lucky Mudraker in light blue/glo and was only on for about 2 minutes before comming unbuttoned well below my boat. This fish might have been closer to that 32" mark, I'm not quite sure. It did pull hard when it hit that Mudraker jig so who knows. Mudrakers seems to just irritate the heck out of lings but I lose some fish this way. I fished Possession from that 7:00 AM until 3:00 PM time frame without another hit. Saw all the charters and everything and it was sloppy with some 3 footers but not too bad. South wind on my hand held came in around S13G17. The weather seemed to improve as the day went on but I fished for 7 some hours and couldn't manage another fish from 7:10 AM until 3:00 PM, not even a nibble. That morning tide was the ticket I guess. Get out there really early -- like 3:45 AM and don't stay out too late. I'm going to do this from now on, rather than staying out there for so long. So to recap, 3 lings today, one 28" that was released safely, another 30" that was released safely also, and one nice hard pullin ling that I had on for around 2 minutes and knew it was over surely over 30." I still prefer lings up around Telegraph Cove where 4-6 footers are quite common if you know where to fish (gotta love Green Rock -Pt. Hardy). That is ling territory galore up there by Port Hardy and Telegraph Cove. Anyways, back at home today, it was a fun day and a long day as well. I managed to snap a couple shots before I let them go. I was thinking about keeping one, but heck, it's Puget Sound, not B.C. and they are hard to come by here so I say C&R, enjoy the fight, and keep the stocks healthy. It's a fun fishery. Hope you all enjoyed the opener as well. Many spots are already being picked over pretty good, as there were a good amount of boats off Edmonds; but moreso on the top of Possession to the east of the green can.

Fish on!
KTK

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