New state record lingcod! 65 pounds

[Captain Starbucks]

Quite an eventful weekend in the big water this weekend. I landed a new state record lingcod that weighed 65 pounds. I didn't know that until after I butchered it so I will not get the record. The current record is 61 lbs set in the San Juans in 1986.

We also got a 26 pound Sablefish. We also ran over a 600-700 pound sunfish about 20 mph out in the ocean. Glad I had a stainless prop or I would have had to limp home on one engine 20 miles out.

Also saw fighter jets performing low level maneuvers at about 100 feet above the water. 42 miles out. Also saw tons and tons of whales, one of which came flying straight out of the water vertically like a trout taking a dry fly. Exciting and scary all at the same time. We were close.

More pics in my album.

[robhwa]

Wow; that is some Lingcod. Imagine all of the previous fish, likely including other lingcod, whose last view was that gaping maw! I haven't had the guts to go out much past Neah Bay, and this year even that was questionable April 18-22 when there. We did catch lingcod limits each day, and plenty of rockfish, and, interestingly, Cabezon. I have seen some really nice lingcod from boats that go further out. I had hoped this year to see some of those when I went on a charter for halibut, but we had trouble as it was just getting limits, and no time for other species. Thanks for the photos and inspiration. Maybe next year....

[Captain Starbucks]

I didn't realize until today that Washington keeps separate records for rod/reel vs speargun. Turns out, I would have both records had I known!

[mstrpo]

Contrat's on the great trip! You'll always remember the record even if it wasn't recorded.