So with Sunday being a bust at Pt. Defiance as I had to work Saturday and went to the Mariner game that night to see Felix win his 10th game but woke up feeling woozy so didn't make the O' dark 30 time that I wanted to so we fished by Owens beach and it was real slow! Heard of a few caught and read Toni's post but we never went over to the girls scouts camp.

Now on to yesterday and today's report from Redondo!! So with having to work on Saturday my company game me a semi day off where I didn't really have to call on customers but just be available. I called my friend/chef/customer from Mexico Cantina in Pacific Place who has never caught a king salmon in his life and asked him if he would like to take a shot at it. I let him know it is early in the season and not to get his hopes up but it would be good practice for when the run is on we are tuned in to know what to do.

We were at the launch by 5:30 and took advantage of the no crabbing days Tuesday and Wednesday so we were the second boat in the water. The 1st boat took off to Pt. Robinson which I had been hearing of some good reports but quite a few natives so I almost made the choice to do that but decided since this was Stano's 1st time should do some
'king salmon 101' by Redondo. I ran a Irish cream tailwagger with sardine, herring and anise scent on one and a cool looking spoon my friend Craig gave me Sunday that he had picked up at Bob's in Longview that had spots and chartruese colors on it. Put one at 55 and the other at 65 and then started the lesson; so I said when the downrigger starts to bounce it means a fish is on. He said " like that?" Yes! Fish ON!!! I quickly got the rod out of the holder and handed off to him while getting the other rod in and the down riggers up. It was peeling line so I knew we had a king and was hoping it was a hatchery; Stano fought it like a pro and after 3 or 4 good runs was coming up to the surface. Now I had told him the importance of netting so was hoping I could practice what I preached and as he brought it up I had him gently lift the head and I slipped the net underneath her and we had our 1st king of the day!! Checked for fins while in the water and when I saw it was fin clipped brought her in the boat! Yea baby!! weighed in at 16.5 on my scale ( later to be confirmed and officially weighed by the fish checker at the launch at 17lb's) and 40" long.

Put the lines back in the water and no sooner did we get them set when the other rod starts bouncing and I am doing the salmon dance again but this time I take the rod and start to fight it. But being a better teacher then a student I proceed to give it too much slack at one point and off comes the spoon! Dang! I hate losing fish! So we set the rods out once again and 10 minutes later another rod dance so this time I hand it to Stano again and he brings it to the boat like he's been doing it for years and let's me net it once again. This time a hatchery 10lber (again officially weighed)

Got back to the launch by 10am and was greeted by a very happy fish checker who had worked the weekend at Point Defiance and said it had been very slow so she was happy to have some work to do. Weighed and measured our fish and took some scale samples; the big one had a chip in it's head so she took a couple pictures of us before she removed the head and disfigured it!! lol

We will be back out again Wednesday for sure!

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