A True Alaskan Ling Cod Fish Story

August 24, 2006 on 11:33 am | In Fish Stories |

I have taken thousands of people on Charter Fishing Trips in my lifetime and have accumulated some great fishing stories.  However, this is my favorite Ling Cod story.  I will protect the names of the people involved for their own protection.  Mary and her husband George had booked a Charter Fishing Trip with Black Rock Charters.

Mary and George wanted to fish for Halibut and King Salmon while they were in Alaska on a five day sport fishing trip.  Over the course of the first three days of fishing Mary and George caught more Fresh Halibut and Salmon then they needed.  Mary was interested in what other kind of fish they could catch.  I mentioned that we could go Deep Sea Fishing on the outer coast of the Icy Straights to fish for Red Snapper and Ling Cod.

On the fourth day of their Charter Fishing trip; we drove the Quicksilver to the outer coast.  This was a great two hour trip through the Icy Straights and past Elfin Cove.  When we arrived on the outer coast the swells were pretty big, 4-8ft.  Mary and George were seasoned pros and their sea legs came to them pretty quick.  They had their lines on the bottom in no time.

George and Mary caught a few Red Snapper and a couple of Chinese Rock Fish.  We were fishing between 150 and 200ft of water.  Mary is a 65 year old woman, and between the swells, tides and the size of the fish she was getting tired.  I will say that she never had George or I help her reel in a fish.  Mary hooked another fish and started reeling it in, after a little while she said “it feels like my line got heavier.”

I looked at the tip of her rod and it was barley even bending.  I assumed that she must just be getting tired and did not think anymore of it.  At this point she had been reeling in this fish for eight to ten minutes.  Then she complained again that her rod was getting heavier, I offered to take over for her and she gave me a look that could kill.  One thing was for sure Mary did not need help, no matter how long it took her to bring in the fish. 

Well, after about 10 minutes I could see a dark spot coming to the surface.  I looked down into the water and saw a nice 40lb ling cod coming up towards the surface.  I was amazed, Mary was right, this was a large fish.  Well as the fish came to the surface and I hooked it with my gaff I noticed the reason her line kept getting heavier.

Turns out that Mary originally caught a 2lb Chinese Rock Fish.  As she started reeling it to the surface, a 10lb ling cod thought the Chinese Rock Fish was a tasty little treat and bit down on it.  Thus Mary’s line got a little heavier, well that 10lb Ling Cod was to much for the 40lb Ling Cod to resist and it bit down on the 10lb Ling Cod.  Amazing!

Well, if you have ever fished for Ling Cod you know they have a huge mouth and will not let go of that bait regardless of what else happens to it.  You can club a Ling Cod repeatedly and they will not let go of the bait. 

It turns out that Mary was right, her line had gotten heavier.  Each time she mentioned her line getting heavier, she had a new fish on the line.  Mary had caught three fish at one time using one hook!  This is was of my favorite Fish Stories of all time, Mary is also one of my most loyal and hearty fisherman/women; she can hang with the biggest strongest guy any day of the week.

Thanks for the memories Mary!
From all of us at Black Rock Charters!