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Huge King Caught—And Released—On The Kenai
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July 21, 2009
Huge King Caught—And Released—On The Kenai
From the Anchorage Daily News:
Swimming fish can't be weighed.
But they can create a buzz, which is exactly what happened on the Kenai River this week when Kansas angler Joel Atchison, fishing with veteran guide John Whitlatch, landed a buck king salmon estimated between 85 and 92 pounds.
And then released it.
The evidence remaining are photos of the fish and a tale of the tape provided by Whitlatch: 58 inches long with a girth of about 34 inches, although the squirming fish made a precise measurement difficult.
So no one knows how close the fish came to Les Anderson's world-record king, caught in May 1985 on the Kenai.
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Comments (11)
Nice minnow!
the kenai continues to churn out behemoth kings, albeit not in the numbers of years past...here in Alaska, we have a huge over-fishing problem created (primarily)by the commercial fishing industry...its so bad that we "sport" fishermen have been cut down to ONE KING per year...the native villages on the lower yukon have taken the worst hit, they have been completely left high and dry and are now shipping in CANNED salmon to feed themselves...
It is really sad that commercial fishing has been allowed to just about ruin this wonderful fishery. You guys that are impressed by a 8 lb largemouth bass should hang into at least 1 average sized King in your life. The difference is dramatic to say the least. Don't show up with a cheap rod and reel lest you want it trashed by the first King you hook. Seen that happen more than once.
When I moved to the lower 48 didn't go fishing again for several years because of the quality let down involved. My old Army buddy Chuck S. still lives in Anchorage. Chuck told me yesterday he and friends went on an overnight charter for Halibut and did well despite rain and high seas. Wish I had been there.
BTW if that fish weighed 85 lbs take a look at this King in my photo file. He was never weighed but was 52 inches long. What do you think he weighed. pagehttp://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/trophyroom/recent/single?pnid=1001321410#1001321410
glad to see that those guys though enough to release that fish. i am tired of the record seeking mentality that seems to have gripped some people.
i see it every day. people bring in fish for no other reason than trying for a record. I say want a record fine. Do the homework know what the size is that you need to beat and you better beat it or at least come close.
want to keep fish for food, great ask someone what the best legal size to keep and eat.
Catch & release is a good thing. Sometimes I prefer filet & release.
Good comment, KingFisher907. I'm at the opposite corner of the country & we have the same issues with commercial fishing. They keep cutting the limits on sport fishermen while the commercial fleets keep hauling them in.
That big fella looks winded, so does the fish!
That is one impressive catch, I would love to be in that angler's shoes.
That is one fish I have yet to catch, that makes me want to go even more.
Not fair... people from Kansas already get big deer, they don't need big fish too! haha. Just kidding but that does look like a whopper of a fish.
When I lived in Fairbanks I went down there to get some Kings, did not want to seem hoggish with it so I only too 3 and all in the 25-30 lb range, fed us for a while! :)
capture your moment in history with the enduring leagacy of art. chad lavin studio. www.lavinstudio.com
Del,
A 52" long king can vary in weight from 42-107 pounds, depending on its girth. So, without the two measurements, you really can't tell. Althought from my experience, kings from the Kenai River around 52" will run somewhere around 60-70 lbs.
As far as catch and release, doubt I could let it go, just in case it was the record. Besides, my wife makes some killer salmon patties from kings!
Nice 65-75lb king… far from a world record. For the past 18 years, I have spent 3-4 weeks a year, fishing the Kenai. I have caught and seen 80+ pound kings. Sorry, but this one is a little light on the girth. Moishe – Check the regulations buddy. 2 kings a year only on the Kenai…
Post a Comment
Nice minnow!
the kenai continues to churn out behemoth kings, albeit not in the numbers of years past...here in Alaska, we have a huge over-fishing problem created (primarily)by the commercial fishing industry...its so bad that we "sport" fishermen have been cut down to ONE KING per year...the native villages on the lower yukon have taken the worst hit, they have been completely left high and dry and are now shipping in CANNED salmon to feed themselves...
It is really sad that commercial fishing has been allowed to just about ruin this wonderful fishery. You guys that are impressed by a 8 lb largemouth bass should hang into at least 1 average sized King in your life. The difference is dramatic to say the least. Don't show up with a cheap rod and reel lest you want it trashed by the first King you hook. Seen that happen more than once.
When I moved to the lower 48 didn't go fishing again for several years because of the quality let down involved. My old Army buddy Chuck S. still lives in Anchorage. Chuck told me yesterday he and friends went on an overnight charter for Halibut and did well despite rain and high seas. Wish I had been there.
BTW if that fish weighed 85 lbs take a look at this King in my photo file. He was never weighed but was 52 inches long. What do you think he weighed. pagehttp://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/trophyroom/recent/single?pnid=1001321410#1001321410
glad to see that those guys though enough to release that fish. i am tired of the record seeking mentality that seems to have gripped some people.
i see it every day. people bring in fish for no other reason than trying for a record. I say want a record fine. Do the homework know what the size is that you need to beat and you better beat it or at least come close.
want to keep fish for food, great ask someone what the best legal size to keep and eat.
Catch & release is a good thing. Sometimes I prefer filet & release.
Good comment, KingFisher907. I'm at the opposite corner of the country & we have the same issues with commercial fishing. They keep cutting the limits on sport fishermen while the commercial fleets keep hauling them in.
That big fella looks winded, so does the fish!
That is one impressive catch, I would love to be in that angler's shoes.
That is one fish I have yet to catch, that makes me want to go even more.
Not fair... people from Kansas already get big deer, they don't need big fish too! haha. Just kidding but that does look like a whopper of a fish.
When I lived in Fairbanks I went down there to get some Kings, did not want to seem hoggish with it so I only too 3 and all in the 25-30 lb range, fed us for a while! :)
capture your moment in history with the enduring leagacy of art. chad lavin studio. www.lavinstudio.com
Del,
A 52" long king can vary in weight from 42-107 pounds, depending on its girth. So, without the two measurements, you really can't tell. Althought from my experience, kings from the Kenai River around 52" will run somewhere around 60-70 lbs.
As far as catch and release, doubt I could let it go, just in case it was the record. Besides, my wife makes some killer salmon patties from kings!
Nice 65-75lb king… far from a world record. For the past 18 years, I have spent 3-4 weeks a year, fishing the Kenai. I have caught and seen 80+ pound kings. Sorry, but this one is a little light on the girth. Moishe – Check the regulations buddy. 2 kings a year only on the Kenai…
Post a Comment