53 x 33.5.... 73.5 pounds!

Kool another BIG dead one...

Looks like Richie Sexton got over getting booted off the team pretty quick.....



c/22

Where's the pic?

Keith

Sport caught or commercial?

Don't you know it's against the (unwritten) law to publicize pics of BIG net-caught Kenai fish? Commies wouldn't want any proof that the nets are actually capable of killing such fish. Remember gillnets are selective... they only catch "small" kings that are the size/shape of a typical Kenai sockeye.... yeah, right.... my a$$

Anyway that beautiful fish was sport-caught in the river, reportedly at Honeymoon Cove. Would have made a nice Release-A-Hawg replica mount.

keeping this fish was a travistee, very sad. tsk tsk tsk....

Hey Doc,
Not wanting to start a fight here, but why post that pic at all. Dont get me wrong that is an awesome fish, and I, like you, agree it should have been released. I am hoping that posting pics of large fish does not motivate people to kill em. If I am being too picky or high and mighty, I apoligize. I have killed fish in the past, that I shouldnt have, and have tried to do better. Buying my camera was a good thing, and I always have it around my neck. That way, I cant justify bonking, when I know I shouldnt, even though it would be compelety legal. There are few better feelings knowing you were able to get that fish to bite, have the skill and equipment to land it, take a framable picture, and let that wonderfull creature go make babies. I download my pictures to my computer, and have them shuffle through on my screensaver. Can tell you how many times I walked past the computer, saw a picture, and immediatley remembered the details of its capure. Ok, Ok I will get off my soap box.

i think there are a lot of people out there that just dont get out and fish as much as we do...i think they keep the bigger ones, dont really see that changing...sad, but....c

Case in point... the guy who killed this fish reportedly released a 49" fish (50# plus) earlier that day.

It's safe to say he was definitely hawg-hunting.

Looks like a female as well, lot's of eggs not going to the spawning bes from that one.

Honeymoon, you say doc? I'll have to take a couple runs through there next week...

the thought of them traveling in schools is incredible

I would say yeah it's bad that he killed it, but posting a picture isn't going to sway someone from keeping or not keeping a huge fish in the future. It's already been done, so we might as well enjoy looking at it. In the heat of the moment I would imagine that it is next to impossible to release one of those things. I know I would be stumbling over myself if I caught one, and would be extremely hard pressed to turn one loose. Maybe its because I have never hooked one over 50lbs, but I would imagine a lot of people that go up there haven't either.

So whats the "rule of thumb" or "unwritten law" on releasing large kings? Many times I've seen people being applauded for pictures of large dead kings here. What's the slot limit that's acceptable? Is it OK to bonk hogs caught in the salt? Is this an area related issue? I'm not promoting killing big kings as I understand the genetics argument, it just seems inconsistent that some are applauded and others are condemned and I would be interested in what the guide lines are for releasing hogs like the one pictured.

Surely there is an issue for most of "if I'm going to spend the money" I'm gonna kill it.... Keep raping the resourse of it's genetics and the big kings will be that of history. It's a catch 22 really, you take away the catch and kill and you'll see less people trophy hunting. Alaska Fish and Game loves their chunk of the revenue......

Keith <>

Unless it's a mortal bleeder, EVERY hawg like the one in the pic should be released. But that prevailing "gotta kill it so I can show it off" mentality is sure a tough one to go up against, although the tide is slowly turning, and the conservation camp gains a few more C&R converts with each passing year. I see more and more guide sites that advertise "We encourage C&R"... these are the guides anyone with a conservation ethic should be supporting.

So what's the unwritten rule for what's legit to keep? There isn't one, but I did offer up these suggestions in the recent thread about the slot limit:

Personally, I allow the wood shampoo on anything in the 30's on down.

40's or better gets a free pass.

An honest 44" fish will typically weigh 38-40 pounds... that's a LOT of meat!

So from an inches point of view, I feel anything over 44" should hit the gravel. That takes about 60% of the physically largest ER5-o hens out of the harvestable pool of kings.

What's left in the harvestable pool under 44 inches? Let's see what the database shows.

87% of the ER hens.
61% of the ER bucks.

60% of the LR hens.
50% of the LR bucks.

I'd say that still leaves a whole lot of bonkable fish!

Hope that info helps you to arrive at your own personal standard as you seek a happy medium between a C&R conservation ethic and responsible harvest.

I said "reportedly" according to the local paper, anyhow.

Lately it seems the first big Kenai fish of the year always brings some unwanted drama/attention.

Looks like this year is no different.

Killing that fish was a tragic loss to the cause of big fish conservation

Kings that big taste like crap IMHO. My friend gave me a big piece from his 65lb that he caught from the Charlottes a few years ago. The meat was dry and tough and this from an ocean fresh fish. One of the Lodges in the charlottes actually provides free fibreglass replicas for anglers that catch and release a fish over 50lbs. Why can't something like this be done on the Kenai? A free or reasonably priced replica along with a couple of cases of canned sockeye to take home and as well lots of pictures and good memories of a fish that was released to spawn.

Now that the Kenai slot limit is officially gone for the year, it's safe to let the nasty smelly flea-infested cat out of the bag.

Last year it was the embarassing Dilley Debacle:

click here for the incredible shrinking fish story

This year, the first "sealer" of the year comes with it's own brand of controversy. Here's the original story in the Peninsula Clarion:

click here

Look for a follow-up story in the Clarion tomorrow or the next day.

Turns out the guide "mis-spoke" to the paper about catching the fish at "Honeymooners" last Thursday. It was in fact a slot-sized fish taken above the Soldotna bridge where the slot limit rule was still in force.... well that is, until today. Killing that fish and then unwittingly bringing it in to ADFG for "sealing" and a glory shot in the local paper earned the guide two big fat tickets, and secured his place in the history of "Most Embarassing Moments for Kenai Guides."

The real tragedy is that yet another of the river's priceless genetic treasures was needlessly sacrificed in the name of glory.

Sad... so sad...

Kharma is a big mother dog !