Thanks @goutvols103! I'm glad you enjoyed this video and appreciate the kind words! You are exactly right - it certainly was a relief when this fish was safely in the net! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey Mike many thanks for the kind words! More than anywhere else, I find that Alaska helps one gain perspective at every turn. Something about the big mountains, sprawling ocean scapes and abundant wildlife reminds folks to take a pause and reflect. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Wow that's a beautiful salmon. I'm glad that you were able to get him in the boat because he really put up a good fight. Once he was in the net, and on the boat you can tell that he was dead tired because he didn't even move. Great catch
Hi Patrice thanks for watching this video! It certainly was an intense battle all the way to the end. Between me and the fish, I'm not sure who was more exhausted!
Haha hey there peadey mclovin (awesome screen name!) thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Yes indeed - I knew this was a nice fish when I was fighting it but I was totally thrilled when it hit the net and I saw just how massive this king salmon was (especially for Southeast Alaska)! Thanks again and all the best my friend! Captain Zac
Well done. That was quite a circus act doing it all by yourself, running the boat and downrigger, dancing around other rods, keeping the line free from the motor, netting the fish, etc. Lotsa ways that fish could’ve gotten free, but it didn’t because you played your cards right. Absolute beast of a fish! Amazing specimen, and you did it all to bring her in.
Hi Geoff - Thanks for the kind words and I am glad you enjoyed the video! It certainly was quite a battle with many things that could have gone wrong - a healthy combination of experience and luck made all the difference! Tight lines!
Hi Brent many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the kind words re: my own show... someday!!! I hope all is well on your end - are you doing much fishing these days? Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac I've actually been doing more hunting than fishing. Have a deep freezer full of Venison, but hope to get on some decent fish this spring. Kentucky fishing isn't quite as exciting as FL or AK. You guys have to be loving all that quality meat! Keep posting dude that video is legit!
Awesome sounds like a successful hunting season! I was back in PA this fall doing some whitetail hunting as well - 2 doe and buck with my bow (cross bow) and another doe in rifle... some venison to bring back up to Alaska! Do you have good trout fishing in KY? Those can be a lot of fun and tasty to eat!
Hi Jeremy many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! Solo trolling for kings can certainly be a challenge with all of the moving parts - the stars definitely aligned this day and the fish hit the net! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Greg many thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! This was a special fish and I was fortunate that all of the stars aligned and this salmon made it to the net! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac when i was a boy my folks would take me and my brother to westport wa fishing for kings evry summer, lots of great memories! My mother landed a 63lb king by herself and it won the derby that week and with da winnings we were able to stay and fish another week! So your video really brought back that day! I now recide in southwest Missouri and love trolling for walleye. Thanks again 😁
@@gregwhittet7234 Wow that's incredible I can't even imagine how excited you all must have been battling and finally landing that 63lb king! Trolling for walleye sounds like a blast - hard to beat fresh walleye fillets! Some of the best eating fish around!
Hi Frederick thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the positive comment and couldn't agree more about Alaska's splendor. Were you king salmon fishing up in Soldotna? Congrats on the awesome sail fish (on your channel)! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac You're welcome! Yes we were and for other salmon, ie, silvers, humpies, etc. My dad caught a 30lb King. We were just talking about going back this year but the flights and car rental cost is unreal. Oh thanks! That was a fun time in Mexico. My first! Tight lines to you as well!!! Enjoy!
Great work Captain Zac it's a full on job landing an awesome fish like that by yourself and filming at the same time . This is the first video of yours that I have seen but it won't be the last .
Hey @ianpaterson3092 many thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! Welcome to the channel - I hope you enjoy my other salmon and halibut videos as well! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Ha! Hi stingray4540 many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words - I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Excellent!! It’s a pleasure to watch someone who truly knows how to handle a boat. Seeing that fish reminds me of past years when we would see those bigger fish here in Sitka. Well done. Thanks for sharing
Hi SEKAF thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the kind words. I was fortunate that all of the stars aligned during this battle and the fish ended up in the net. Yes indeed - I've fished out of Sitka before and always been impressed at the awesome salmon runs. I wish there were more larger fish these days - the king salmon fishery seems to have declined across Alaska in recent years (e.g., significant season closures). Have you seen a big drop off in larger kings near Sitka? Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Leo thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! That's awesome it sounds like you had some GREAT salmon action down on Vancouver Island! It is such as rush where are trolling and that rod goes down and then pops the clip - GAME ON!!! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi DIDI Allen thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the very kind comment! I was fortunate that everything worked out in my favor during this intense salmon battle! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks -Elevateflyzzz-! With all the different things that can possibly go wrong when fighting a king salmon, I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish made it to the net!
Hi Wen thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! Many thanks for the kind words - this was a special fish and I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net! Calm seas & tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi AbdulKerim thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Yes indeed - this fish was bright and shiny... just an amazingly beautiful salmon! All the best! Captain Zac
Hi @joedennehy386 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the positive comment - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks Kayakguy406 Lauer! It is great when a game plan comes together and the gear all delivers when the big one bites! Are you into salmon trolling? Perhaps kayak fishing (given the name haha)?
That's awesome! Sounds like you have tons of great fishing action between the salmon and steelhead! In the off-season I live in PA and the steelhead run off of Lake Erie is a blast. Would love to see what you are catching down there - feel free to share any "bragging board" pictures across! captainzac@fromrodtotable.com
Nice fish! What do you think of the downriggers you're running? Looks like the cannon optimums? I was thinking about getting a pair and was curious if all the additional features were worth it over the magnums
Hey @lukebryant6523 yes I like these units. I really enjoy the auto up. They have positive ion control which seemingly contributes to better strike ratios. I occasionally use the cycle feature to run the bait at different depths every 30 seconds or a minute, however, I only do small cycles so I don't have to adjust the rods. I don't use the bottom tracking feature which is probably more popular when trolling in the great lakes for lake trout or king salmon within feet of the bottom. All together, I'm a fan of these units. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Zac, The years of experience on being able to do three things at once allowed you to Net that lovely Salmon. Do you outfit salmon fishing trips out of Juneau .?
Hi fasx56 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Yes indeed trolling for king salmon is the definition of multitasking! I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this gorgeous fish hit the net. Although I do have my Charter Captain's License from the US Coast Guard, I am not currently running a paid charter service. Just friends and family at this point. Are you local to Juneau or planning to visit anytime soon? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Octavio! Many thanks for watching and I am glad that you and your wife enjoyed this salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words - it was a big relief when the fish made it to the net successfully! All the best and thanks again for watching! Captain Zac
Thanks Notorious Citydiffrerent! You are exactly right - it is crazy how often you land a big fish just to see that it is barely hooked! I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Michael many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the kind words! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi uslsuspect - thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Yes indeed, my arms were burning after landing this king! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks for watching Ryan and I am hoping that some of this luck rubbed off on you! Did you end up getting on the fish during your trip? Would love to hear that you landed a lunker! Tight lines my friend!
Thanks William! I appreciate the kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle. The rear helm makes it easier to fight and steer at the same time for sure. Are you a salmon fisherman as well? Any luck this season? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Do you have a dock or moorage, or do you launch every time. I know this is an old one but it shows your determination. It's so Alaska. Love your videos, keep them coming.
Hey Mike thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this one! I appreciate the kind words! I do have moorage during the season which makes it very easy to jump on the boat and get on the water. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this battle! It was a blast to fight as this fish ripped across the top of the water - a special fish for sure. Good luck out there on the water and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi barfly1382 - thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed this battle! Up here in Alaska we are only allowed 1 rod per angler so it makes solo trolling a little easier (still plenty of variables though!). Where are you trolling? Any salmon success this summer? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Captain Zac, you are a very skillful fisherman. I've never seen a guy text his wife, fish, operate a boat, dance around the fishing platform, and net all at the same time. Amazing. Beautiful fish too. I saw why you like the down riggers you chose: the ball came up and stopped on a dime.
Hi David - many thanks for the kind words! Landing this fish was certainly a dance and I am very fortunate that all the stars aligned. So many things can go wrong when fighting a big king - luckily, this fish made it to the net! This was indeed a beautiful fish - bright chrome! The downrigger's auto-up feature that zeros out at the waterline makes it very easy to focus more on the fish battle and less on clearing the gear. Tight lines my friend!
great job, and solo fishing too. You have my respect. I usually fish alone too, and It can be a job especially on a windy day and dealing with a double ! I find myself letting go the bigger ones now 25lb. plus, for the sake of the gene pool. There just are not that many left around in that weight range. :(. Thanks for the video !! enjoyed it !
Hi Ron many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Yes indeed - solo fishing for kings can be a little tricky when multiple variables start going wrong (wind, downrigger gear, fish direction, etc.). Wow I can't even imagine dealing with a double! Here in Southeast Alaska we are only allowed 1 rod per angler so I only get doubles when I have others on board. Agree it is sad that the number of larger fish seem to be declining rapidly - a number of factors account for this but the end result is very upsetting. Hopefully this trends turns around in the coming years / decades. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Derek thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words - this was a special fish and I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned during the fight and landing. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Yorty2112 many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Yes indeed - these larger fish are harder to come by these days, especially so far inward in Southeast Alaska (i.e. not like fishing the open ocean near Sitka). All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Mike again, OK, I know this is an older video, but what do you think of a suicide knob for the aft wheel? Makes steering a lot easier in a pinch and doesn't cost too much. Regardless, a great video.
Hi Mike great suggestion! I didn't realize these were referred to as suicide knobs but after looking into it I know exactly what you are talking about. You are right - this would make those sudden large corrections a much easier. Thanks for the tip and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Fishing Around - thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed this battle! Looks like you do some pretty cool fishing around Sacramento - good luck and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi JabberCT thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Haha I appreciate the kind comment - I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish ended up hitting the net! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Steve thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. Yes indeed - it tasted great! I had it smoked with alder wood and still have some in my freezer today (giant fillets!). All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hahah thanks dedatchie! I suppose you can't please everyone but I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks Steve I appreciate the kind words and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Given all the things that can go wrong when trying to land a big king, I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Gerald many thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Your first guess was correct - they are Lamiglas Redline series rods. 10' 6" model - www.lamiglas.com/collections/redline-composite-series. These are purpose fit salmon trolling rods that work great for trolling kings and cohos up here around Juneau! I would recommend these rods if you are in the market. Are you fishing in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks Tony! Yes indeed this was quite a fight! I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this salmon battle. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Really fun watching this. I use to catch 20-35lbs on the Rogue, Smith and Mad River in Humboldt county when I went to college up there. Brings back memories.
Hi Paul thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Wow - sounds like you had some awesome king action on the rivers in Humboldt county! Nothing beats the rod-bending run of a chrome king salmon ready to battle! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Magwa Magwa - thanks for the kind words! Great point about never knowing when the big one is going to strike. Staying positive and always believing that big bite is right around the corner is the key to being ready when those rare opportunities come along. Thanks again for watching this video and I am glad you enjoyed it. Tight lines!
Hi Todd many thanks for the kind words! I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! With all the things that can go wrong when fighting a big king, I am very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Kaye and Remo - thanks for the kind words and I am glad you enjoyed the video! It was certainly an intense battle and I am very fortunate that all the stars aligned and the fish made it to the net. Thanks again and tight lines!
Hey John many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the very positive comment - this was a special fish and I'm very fortunate that all the stars aligned it ended up in the net after all that chaos! haha Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I hooked a 50 lb and honestly thought I got into a Seal. Took me up stream and back to the mouth of the river and ironically the Sea Lions chased him back up. This was about 15 years ago but now days your lucky to see a 30 lber.
Hi NFiltr8Red thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Wow that 50lb king must have been an intense fight! That is awesome the sea lion chased your big king back towards you! CONGRATS on landing such a great fish! I wish there were more 50lb kings swimming around these days. Did you catch that in Southeast Alaska or up on the Kenai Peninsula (Kenai or Kasilof)? Tight lines! Captain Zac
Captain Zac , Northern California.....Klamath River. My computer crashed and lost my pics but it’s all in my memories only. Just last year I caught a 30 some lb. out of the Mad River and that’s so so so rare I heard. Catch and Release! We need to practice it more when we can though.
Hi Rich S thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Many thanks for the kind words! Yes indeed - I was pretty pumped when this big king hit the net after such a crazy battle. So many things can go wrong when landing a king salmon... I was very fortunate that all of the stars aligned for me that morning. Do you enjoy salmon trolling as well? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Bill - you are exactly right. It is such a shame to watch the king salmon fishery degrade each year. Let's hope things turn around soon. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Eric thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the positive comment! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Beckett many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Haha good luck fishing for kings this year! Hooking and landing a big king is hard enough but when you add the kiddos it becomes even more of a challenge. Best of luck and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi DeltaProMaster Lauj! Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle. Yes - I have a Hewescraft Sea Runner 21ft Full Hard Top Extended Transom with a 225 Honda main and 9.9 Honda kicker. Check out a more detailed review here: ua-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/v-deo.html All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
I loved your recent video. I noticed your boat is a small boat compared to the larger party boats. What boat do you have, and how does it usually handle on the ocean? I also have a small 20” Hewes Craft River Runner that I have only taken it out on lakes and rivers. I haven’t tried the ocean yet. After watching your video I am thinking maybe I should give it a try. Maybe hire someone to show me how it’s done first before I try it solo. Again loved your video. Keep posting.
Hi Richard thanks for watching and I'm thrilled to hear that you are enjoying my videos! Many thanks for the kind words! I have a 21' Sea Runner with a hard top and extended transom and I really like how it handles in the salt water in Southeast Alaska. Check out my boat review for more specifics and let me know if you have any questions: ua-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/v-deo.html The water is MUCH calmer within the inside passage as compared to the open ocean. Most folks out on the coast (like Sitka) who fish the open ocean use 30ft or more boats due to the heavy seas. You can get away with a much smaller craft on the inside waters which are much more protected. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
We take an 18' bayrunner boat out into the ocean in southeast Alaska and have not had any issues. Obviously you'll want to watch the weather closely and be prepared to call of the trip if it looks bad. Most of the waves in the ocean are larger swells and they have a longer spacing between waves so it really just makes it feel like your going up and down small hills. The surface chop can get a little nasty sometimes but it's usually not much more than what you can get around the inside waters. Obviously, try all of this at your own risk but I would personally be thrilled to have a 22' searunner to go out with instead of the center console 18'! Haha
Hey Capt! I am moving up by Wrangell on Etolin Island in a few months. Any tips for someone from the lower 48? I subscribed and liked the video! Excited to watch more. Take care!
Hi Cooper many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! How cool that you are heading up to Etolin Island soon! Sounds like an amazing adventure. In terms of fishing tips I'd start with my halibut & salmon fishing tips on my site: fromrodtotable.com/fishing/halibut-fishing-tips/ fromrodtotable.com/fishing/salmon-fishing-tips/ Feel free to drop me a line if you have more specific questions or would like to chat at some point. captainzac@fromrodtotable.com All the best Cooper! Captain Zac
Hi Azar thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Size 12 is probably too small for trolling but you could fish for salmon in a stream with these hooks - perhaps using salmon eggs when the water is low and clear. Wow - 900 hooks is a lot! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks Nigel I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! While I did choose to harvest this fish I certainly appreciate and respect your view towards catch and release. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks Nigel I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! While I did choose to harvest this fish I certainly appreciate and respect your view towards catch and release. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Eddie thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Multi-tasking indeed! Given everything that can go wrong when battling a big salmon, I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Haha thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the video (or the workout!!!). Fighting this fish was a total blast and I am very fortunate that everything fell into place and this fish made it to the net - so much can go wrong when trying to land a king salmon! Tight lines and thanks again for watching!
haha hi Alistair many thanks for watching and I appreciate the kind shout out! Multi-tasking is a great way to describe the complicated dance of activities that have to occur to successfully land a solo king salmon! Do you enjoy trolling for salmon? What area are you fishing? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Duane many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this footage of the king that almost got away! Yes indeed these Cannon downriggers are fit for purpose when it comes to slaying salmon!!! Do you use Cannons as well? All the best and right lines my friend! Captain Zac
Huge fish for sure! How long did it actually take to land that big boy? I just caught a 25 inch King near Excursion Point by Juneau that I had to release last month. I could immediately tell something different was on the line compared to Pink and Chum I had been catching. How much harder the King fought!
Hi Dale thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I showed the full battle in this video without any edits so you are seeing the full time it took me to land it. Ah too bad that feeder king you caught last month wasn't 28 inches - yes indeed those kings seem to pull on a totally different level than the pinks and chums! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks Vern! I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! I did harvest this fish and actually smoked it - so I have lots of pieces of delicious smoked king to share with family and friends! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Second time watching your fight, on a different account, they're just heading into the bays down here and all rigged up with the kayak! What an inspiration 🎉
Hi Bones 805 many thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! While I know this could be the fish of a lifetime, I'm hoping to raise the bar even higher one of these years! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Question: When operating the boat at you aft steering station on the starboard side, would it be best to mount the downrigger and rod holder on the port side for better view of both in your perefeal view. Seems like you are having to turn around to check action on your rod?
Hi Neil thanks for watching and I appreciate the comment. Your point does make sense from a field of vision perspective. I believe it is a tradeoff - although it is a little harder to both steer and check the rod on the starboard side, having the steering and the downrigger on the same side when fishing solo is helpful in terms of landing the fish. It allows me to quickly clear the gear and adjust the speed/steering as needed to position the boat (without having to cross the fishing deck). Perhaps I'll give your suggestion a try one of these times and report back on the results! Do you ever troll by yourself? If so I'd love to hear any tips you've picked up along the way. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Capt. Zac. thank,s for the comment. I troll by myself quite a bit also in the Sitka area. My aft station is port also. My rigger and gear is starboard. When I get hanapa'a (fiah on) I try to land the fish on port by pivioting the boat or leading the fish that direction if can. Reason is to prevent issues with starboard rigger, cannonball, leader clip and cable out of the way for landing easy if possible My net is also port for easy access (no option there). Anyway let me know what you think.
Hi Neil this sounds like a great setup and makes perfect sense. Good idea to pivot the fish from starboard to port so that the gear is clear of landing the fish. Since my aft helm is starboard, I could try the opposite of your approach. Set the gear port and then land the fish starboard. Thanks for the tip! Are the cohos running hard in Sitka? We had a pretty hot bite saltwater trolling in Mid/Late August and now the cohos are stacked up at the freshwater estuary waters and hatcheries. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks Ricky! I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle and agree it would have been way harder to land this fish if this relatively small area was stacked with boats! For now I'm sticking with friends and family but maybe at some point in the future! Hopefully see you out there on the water! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Caleb thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the very positive comment! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi AlaskaFishin thanks for stopping by - I'm using a Shimano Tekota line counter reel on a 10' 6" Lamiglas Redline Composite trolling rod. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks Jon! I appreciate the kind words and am glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! There are certainly a lot of things that can go wrong when fighting a big King and I am very fortunate that all of the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Morning Capt. I have been following you for a few years now and am finally going to get the chance to fish up thru Oregon and Washington. My wife and I are headed to AK for entire spring, summer and part of the fall. I need gear recommendations. I’m looking for a salmon fishing rod and reel combo. Can you recommend something? Trolling and casting.
Hi Chris thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon footage! Congrats on your upcoming seasonal move to Alaska - how exciting! Where will you be in Alaska? I'd recommend the setup I was using in this video - a Shimano Tekota (line counter which is helpful for trolling) paired with a Lamiglas Redline Composite rod (www.lamiglas.com/collections/redline-composite-series). I use the 10' 6" models since I primarily troll and use this rod to drift eggs also. I still do cast with this rod and it works fine, but if your primary purpose is casting you may want to consider the 9' 3" model as well which may be a little more manageable for all day casting. Hard to go wrong with 25 or 30lb Maxima Ultra Green line. Some prefer a spinning rod for all-day casting (especially if conditions are windy - less to worry about with backlashes). Your experience level with a baitcaster will inform your choice here. I'd love to hear how your trip goes! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
In over 50 years of fishing every river in oregon for kings I've only caught a handful over 40 lb.s. In 1992 I fought a salmon for over an hour on the Umpqua river at reeds port oregon. That fish weighed in at 51 and a half pounds after sitting in the fish box for over two hours. If I'd had a scale in the boat that fish might of been 55 lb.s or bigger considering hydration and bleeding it before I got to the dock an fish an wildlife wanted to weight it. It was a fish of a lifetime and I was by myself but a river guide did jump from his boat into mine once he saw that fish roll on the surface and he netted the fish . I'm 72 and that's a memory I'll always cherish.
Hi @william6526 wow it sounds like you've had some incredible salmon adventures over the years! Thanks for sharing these awesome memories! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Pro Fishinjr thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! Me too - Alaskan halibut and salmon fishing is the BEST! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
My biggest was 54.3 pounds. Bamfield BC 30 years ago. Took an hour. Also the only one I know who ever had a sockeye halibut double header. Unless someone else knows someone? How do you like your big Honda?
Hi Doug thanks for watching. CONGRATS on your 54.3 pound king!!! Ha - I would love to see a sockeye / halibut double! I've never heard of that so I suppose you still hold the crown for being the only one to accomplish that feat! I love the 225 Honda - super quiet and has the power to quickly step up on plane when needed! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Douglas thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words - this was a special fish and I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks for your message I have never had a Coho or a Chinook (King) take the line around my boat I don't think ?? I do tend to keep a good semi tight line on them leaving the drag set a bit on the slip side so I don't lose them hopefully? Lol I love your set up with the Boat and 2 Honda outboards you can't hardly beat that when fishing for most anything especially on the Sound or Ocean as you are up in Alaska!? Do you ever guide or offer to have someone go out with you that helps split the costs of the trip? Just curious? I just retired a couple years ago and have been thinking long and hard on heading up to Alaska, Sitka or wherever and spend a week up there Salmon fishing and sightseeing as well. I have heard so much about Alaska and all it has to offer with regards to fishing and outdoor recreation ect ect . Have any suggestions ? I'm all ears ? Thank you for your videos I watched this one 3 times already and sent them out to my fishing pals and Son in Ohio. Thanks again . Steven
Hi Steve thanks for the follow-up and I'm glad to hear you are enjoying this video and sharing with friends and family! The fish in this video actually ran around the boat (which caused me to have to lift my rod above all the other rods in the holders!). Thanks for the kind words about my boat - I like having the two Hondas which are very reliable. Alaska is definitely worth a visit - so much wildlife, natural beauty and of course world class fishing! I still have a day job which makes it tough for me to connect with many others for trips - I take some friends and family throughout the summer when I can get time off but I struggle to plan very far in advance due to work. Sitka has some great salmon fishing as well. If you come to Alaska in August the Cohos will be running and you can fill a few fish boxed full of fillets in no time! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thanks Zac I am with you on having 2 Honda motors for Reliability. Doesn't get any better than that. Yamaha is another Reliable outboard ! Enjoy your fishing adventures I look forward to watching more of them? P.s. what's your day job ? Lol have a great week chat at you again soon. Steve
Totally agree - Hondas and Yamahas are both solid reliable options! I have a corporate job which means I'm on my laptop a lot (conference calls and emails) and travel as needed - thus far it has provided the flexibility to be in Alaska which I'm happy about! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Luke - thanks for watching this battle and I am glad you enjoyed it. In Southeast Alaska, you are only allowed to fish 1 rod per angler. Thus, if I'm out for a solo trolling session, one rod is all I've got! I used to live in Chicago and know how intense some of the Lake Michigan trolling setups can get! With a few people on board and 3 rods per angler, you can quickly end up with double stacked downriggers, dipseys, flat-lines, planer boards, etc... Do you ever end up tangled when a big one bites and runs across the entire setup? Up here we are mostly trolling herring and hootchies behind 11" flashers - what is your rig of choice down on Lake Michigan? Tight lines!
Beautiful catch. I know the thrill and excitement of it all. From Michigan here, been on Lake Michigan many times alone and had the fun of catching and running the boat at the same time. But of course not the size fish like this. Biggest here for me is 28 pounds.
Hi @fishin11 thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon action! Congrats on a 28lb Lake Michigan King - that is an awesome fish! Yes indeed it is a special challenge to hook and land king salmon while "solo trolling" - so many stars have to align for that fish to hit the net! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Uncle Josh OTFC Josh's Bladesmithing thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! I caught this on a Shimano Tekota reel with a line counter on a Lamiglas Redline Composite Series trolling rod (10' 6" model). All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Rinda thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon video! I appreciate your very kind words. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I needs to go to Juneau to fish! I went fishing in the ocean in Sitka, the wave was rough! Got seasick threw 20 tines and didn’t even get to fish! Is the water calmer there?!
Hi sinjin le thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed this king salmon footage! Sorry to hear the water was so rough over in Sitka during your trip. You weren't able to fish at all? How frustrating!!! Yes - the water is generally calmer anywhere on the inside passage (Juneau, Petersburg, etc.) vs. the open ocean where Sitka is located. There was a pretty bad stretch of weather a few weeks back with multiple days in a row of heavy winds - I wonder if this is when you were up there? Sorry once again - Alaska is a majestic place but it can also be quite fierce at times.
I caught a 55lb King on Sheep Creek north of Anchorage when I was up there in 1994. Would love to go back again some day. Awesome catch man...hope I’m up there catching them with ya some day soon.
Hi Thomas thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Wow - CONGRATS on the huge king up near Anchorage!!! That must have been an incredible fight! Definitely let me know if you are in the Juneau area - would be cool to cross paths. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks Oden! It was certainly an adventure navigating all the possible things that can go wrong when battling a king. Your point about staying positive is really important. Sometimes even when it seems like all hope is lost (and the fish runs under or around the boat or near the engine), staying calm and optimistic can help ensure a successful outcome! Plus, even if a big one does get away, it just becomes a great fish story about the "monster that got away" - which surely would have weighed at least 60lbs!!! Thanks for watching this video and I am glad you enjoyed it. Best of luck out there on the water - tight lines Oden!
Hi MisfitsFiendClub thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! Yes indeed you are correct - I'll never forget the day I encountered this 43lb king as long as I live! I appreciate the positive comment - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks for the question @dcat of6 and thanks for the reply @Paul Moresi @Paul Moresi is exactly right. The down rigger has a heavy weight that drops to a specific depth, and the fishing line is attached to the down rigger line with a clip. When the fish bites, the line "pops" from the clip and the fish battle begins. To make sure that the line does not get tangled while trolling, it is important to have a lot of tension in the line, which is why the rod is bent over so much. These trolling rods are very long a limber so they are meant to bend like this. I appreciate both of you checking out this video - glad you enjoyed this battle! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Thanks Scott I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle and appreciate the kind words! Landing a nice king is always an adventure and I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi thanks for stopping by - I have a 2019 Hewescraft Sea Runner 210. Check out the detailed review here: ua-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/v-deo.html Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi stoweman34 many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon footage! I appreciate the kind words! As luck would have it, I have already created a detailed video on my boat - overview, pros/cons, detailed walkthrough, etc. Please check it out and let me know if you have any further questions. (link below) ua-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/v-deo.html Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zac Thanks Capt! Just bought my first boat yesterday...2010 Raider 185 Pro Fisherman... and am trying to figure out what the hell Im doing :) I just built a place in Oceanside, OR and have Tillamook Bay about 10 miles away. Your vids are inspiring! I’ll check out your boat vid next...
@@stoweman34 Wow that's awesome CONGRATS on the sweet rig!!! Sounds like an amazing location in OR with some great fishing potential - now you can fend off the "winter blues" by getting geared up for some salmon and halibut action this summer! Glad you are enjoying the videos and thanks again for watching - much more coming in the future!
Captain Zac Now that’s a boat review! I was looking at the Hewescraft Pro V 200 but I think your Sea Runner (especially with the hardtop and increased deadrise), is a much better boat for the money ($10-15k difference). FYI; that cutout in your rear bench seat is for a porta potty. I’ve liked & subscribed! Keep’m coming!
Hi Captain Zac, that is a truly beautiful fish and as you say in comments below it tasted delicious after being smoked. Keep hunting these magnificent fish and tight lines in the future.Regards Jimf
Hi Jim many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! Yes indeed this fish did smoke up very well - I'm actually just finishing up the last few pieces of smoked fillets from that fish these days! Do you enjoy salmon fishing? Do you prefer to smoke the salmon or keep them as fresh fillets? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Hi Zac, I’ve had 3 trips to BC, fishing the Fraser and Harrison rivers over the years and had terrific sport, unfortunately health issues have curtailed my salmon fishing and I’m now restricted to trout fishing which I find enjoyable, I smoke them and really enjoy eating them. That Tyee of yours was really special, keep them coming buddy. Regards Jimf
@@jimflynn466 Hi Jim sorry to hear about the health issues but it sounds like you had some amazing BC trips and now have a cool passion for trout fishing! Trout are a blast to catch and taste wonderful smoked! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi William thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Sure - I caught this using a downrigger trolling a blue label herring (7-8 inches) with a pro troll chartreuse head clip behind an 11 inch pro-troll flasher (Green / Chartreuse / Silver) in around 40 feet. Does this make sense? At some point I'll make a video that more clearly explains this rig. Tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Please do. Ok, i fish for salmon in rivers, not to deep with flies and spinners. So this type of fishing is beond me. I really would like a tutoriol on your method. Are the fish resting in lies or moving thru ?
Hi William sure I will definitely create a "how to" video explaining how I troll for salmon up here. I'm trolling in the salt water (not in a river) under a few different scenarios - some fish are "stacked up" returning to spawn near a hatchery or river while others are "passing through" known areas where schools of salmon travel. I've caught kings in shallow coves in less than 20 feet and cohos near the top of the water column in 600+ feet of water! River fishing with flies and spinners is a blast - sounds like a lot of fun! All the best! Captain Zac
Hi Steve thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the kind words and the sub! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zac shows his relief and success with that huge catch. Congrats.
Thanks @goutvols103! I'm glad you enjoyed this video and appreciate the kind words! You are exactly right - it certainly was a relief when this fish was safely in the net! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
A time to pause and to reflect is something we all tend to miss in life. You’re a class act. Thank you so much.
Hey Mike many thanks for the kind words! More than anywhere else, I find that Alaska helps one gain perspective at every turn. Something about the big mountains, sprawling ocean scapes and abundant wildlife reminds folks to take a pause and reflect. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Wow that's a beautiful salmon. I'm glad that you were able to get him in the boat because he really put up a good fight. Once he was in the net, and on the boat you can tell that he was dead tired because he didn't even move. Great catch
Hi Patrice thanks for watching this video! It certainly was an intense battle all the way to the end. Between me and the fish, I'm not sure who was more exhausted!
The way he looks at the camera and whisper-yells HUGE FISH gets me everytime😂 good job dude
Haha hey there peadey mclovin (awesome screen name!) thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Yes indeed - I knew this was a nice fish when I was fighting it but I was totally thrilled when it hit the net and I saw just how massive this king salmon was (especially for Southeast Alaska)! Thanks again and all the best my friend! Captain Zac
Well done. That was quite a circus act doing it all by yourself, running the boat and downrigger, dancing around other rods, keeping the line free from the motor, netting the fish, etc. Lotsa ways that fish could’ve gotten free, but it didn’t because you played your cards right. Absolute beast of a fish! Amazing specimen, and you did it all to bring her in.
Hi Geoff - Thanks for the kind words and I am glad you enjoyed the video! It certainly was quite a battle with many things that could have gone wrong - a healthy combination of experience and luck made all the difference! Tight lines!
Captain Zac .
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Capt. Zac, please tell this possible fish trip person that you ate that beautiful fish?!
Never caught anything edible that size, fish are juicing just eating mackerels? Guess dissolved oxygen percentage in cold? 🥶 👍🏻
Zac what an amazing fish and battle! You need your own show man ! Keep 'em coming
Hi Brent many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the kind words re: my own show... someday!!! I hope all is well on your end - are you doing much fishing these days? Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac I've actually been doing more hunting than fishing. Have a deep freezer full of Venison, but hope to get on some decent fish this spring. Kentucky fishing isn't quite as exciting as FL or AK. You guys have to be loving all that quality meat! Keep posting dude that video is legit!
Awesome sounds like a successful hunting season! I was back in PA this fall doing some whitetail hunting as well - 2 doe and buck with my bow (cross bow) and another doe in rifle... some venison to bring back up to Alaska! Do you have good trout fishing in KY? Those can be a lot of fun and tasty to eat!
Best solo Fishing I’ve ever seen in my life good job buddy
Hi Jeremy many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! Solo trolling for kings can certainly be a challenge with all of the moving parts - the stars definitely aligned this day and the fish hit the net! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Absolutely a awesome real to the bone fishing video !! Made my day! Great job all around video! Thanks for sharing with everyone.
Hi Greg many thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! This was a special fish and I was fortunate that all of the stars aligned and this salmon made it to the net! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac when i was a boy my folks would take me and my brother to westport wa fishing for kings evry summer, lots of great memories! My mother landed a 63lb king by herself and it won the derby that week and with da winnings we were able to stay and fish another week! So your video really brought back that day! I now recide in southwest Missouri and love trolling for walleye. Thanks again 😁
@@gregwhittet7234 Wow that's incredible I can't even imagine how excited you all must have been battling and finally landing that 63lb king! Trolling for walleye sounds like a blast - hard to beat fresh walleye fillets! Some of the best eating fish around!
Great job, especially solo! Alaska is truly heaven on earth. Been to Soldotna twice and it never disappoints.
Hi Frederick thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the positive comment and couldn't agree more about Alaska's splendor. Were you king salmon fishing up in Soldotna? Congrats on the awesome sail fish (on your channel)! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac You're welcome! Yes we were and for other salmon, ie, silvers, humpies, etc. My dad caught a 30lb King. We were just talking about going back this year but the flights and car rental cost is unreal. Oh thanks! That was a fun time in Mexico. My first! Tight lines to you as well!!! Enjoy!
Great work Captain Zac it's a full on job landing an awesome fish like that by yourself and filming at the same time . This is the first video of yours that I have seen but it won't be the last .
Hey @ianpaterson3092 many thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! Welcome to the channel - I hope you enjoy my other salmon and halibut videos as well! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Watching you work that fish solo was straight up stressful. You are super human. Fantastic fish.
Ha! Hi stingray4540 many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words - I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Excellent!! It’s a pleasure to watch someone who truly knows how to handle a boat. Seeing that fish reminds me of past years when we would see those bigger fish here in Sitka. Well done. Thanks for sharing
Hi SEKAF thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the kind words. I was fortunate that all of the stars aligned during this battle and the fish ended up in the net. Yes indeed - I've fished out of Sitka before and always been impressed at the awesome salmon runs. I wish there were more larger fish these days - the king salmon fishery seems to have declined across Alaska in recent years (e.g., significant season closures). Have you seen a big drop off in larger kings near Sitka? Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac yes. Huge drop. 30lb fish now is considered big
@@sekaf4125 Yikes - hopefully the kings make a comeback! Tight lines!
Reminds me of being a kid on a boat with my dad on Vancouver Island, trolling for salmon. Gotta love it! Thanks for sharing and nice catch!
Hi Leo thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! That's awesome it sounds like you had some GREAT salmon action down on Vancouver Island! It is such as rush where are trolling and that rod goes down and then pops the clip - GAME ON!!! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Perfect fish control, while driving the boat, the division of labor is detailed, no panic. what a perfect video！
Hi DIDI Allen thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the very kind comment! I was fortunate that everything worked out in my favor during this intense salmon battle! Thanks again and tight lines! Captain Zac
Most amazing solo catch I’ve ever seen!
Thanks -Elevateflyzzz-! With all the different things that can possibly go wrong when fighting a king salmon, I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish made it to the net!
You’ve never seen me catch a king with a broken reel and had to basically handling the fish in
Ross Cox and still be able to watch and comment on a UA-cam video without any cell signal or internet
Good job, gorgeous fish. Looks to be natural run fish. Do you bleed your catch? IkeJime?
Guys catch 300lb Marlin single handed bro
Exhausted watching you catch that behemoth, King. Smashed my pb. Way to power thru, keepin' it tight. Congrats!
Hi Wen thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! Many thanks for the kind words - this was a special fish and I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net! Calm seas & tight lines! Captain Zac
just how beautiful that fish looks, glitters like gold
Hi AbdulKerim thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Yes indeed - this fish was bright and shiny... just an amazingly beautiful salmon! All the best! Captain Zac
Skilled work brother, great catch. Thanks from New Zealand
Hi @joedennehy386 thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the positive comment - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That was awesome! Thanks for sharing. By the way great boat setup all around, the boat, Downrigger, lamaglas rod... dude really nice job!!!
Thanks Kayakguy406 Lauer! It is great when a game plan comes together and the gear all delivers when the big one bites! Are you into salmon trolling? Perhaps kayak fishing (given the name haha)?
Captain Zac you know it brother. Live in the PNW and salmon and steelhead are second to none!!
That's awesome! Sounds like you have tons of great fishing action between the salmon and steelhead! In the off-season I live in PA and the steelhead run off of Lake Erie is a blast. Would love to see what you are catching down there - feel free to share any "bragging board" pictures across! captainzac@fromrodtotable.com
Nice fish! What do you think of the downriggers you're running? Looks like the cannon optimums? I was thinking about getting a pair and was curious if all the additional features were worth it over the magnums
Hey @lukebryant6523 yes I like these units. I really enjoy the auto up. They have positive ion control which seemingly contributes to better strike ratios. I occasionally use the cycle feature to run the bait at different depths every 30 seconds or a minute, however, I only do small cycles so I don't have to adjust the rods. I don't use the bottom tracking feature which is probably more popular when trolling in the great lakes for lake trout or king salmon within feet of the bottom. All together, I'm a fan of these units. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Zac, The years of experience on being able to do three things at once allowed you to Net that lovely Salmon. Do you outfit salmon fishing trips out of Juneau .?
Hi fasx56 thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Yes indeed trolling for king salmon is the definition of multitasking! I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this gorgeous fish hit the net. Although I do have my Charter Captain's License from the US Coast Guard, I am not currently running a paid charter service. Just friends and family at this point. Are you local to Juneau or planning to visit anytime soon? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Wow. My wife and I got caught up in this video. So happy you landed it after the effort. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Octavio! Many thanks for watching and I am glad that you and your wife enjoyed this salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words - it was a big relief when the fish made it to the net successfully! All the best and thanks again for watching! Captain Zac
Amazing fish! Its so funny how almost every big fish catch is just bearly hooked!
Thanks Notorious Citydiffrerent! You are exactly right - it is crazy how often you land a big fish just to see that it is barely hooked! I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
What an amazing adventure young Sir. Thank you for sharing it! Poty Mouth Mike, San Antonio Texas.
Hi Michael many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the kind words! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Arms probably feel like Jell-O. Excellent!
Hi uslsuspect - thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Yes indeed, my arms were burning after landing this king! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
I’m watching this the day before I go fishing. I hope to have the same luck 👍👍🎣🎣
Thanks for watching Ryan and I am hoping that some of this luck rubbed off on you! Did you end up getting on the fish during your trip? Would love to hear that you landed a lunker! Tight lines my friend!
Captain Zac I caught a 14.5 lb chinook. I was fishing in Puget Sound, so it was a decent hatchery fish for the region🤷♂️🎣
That's awesome Ryan - CONGRATS on the great fish! I bet that put up a fun fight! Just great when a nice salmon hits the net! Nice work!!!
Bravo, well done brought in by the tip of the lip. How awesome is that. Renal Sound some nice kings in that water.
Hey @TheBuzz222 I appreciate the positive comment and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac WOW it works well.
Nice boat handling, Zac! Well done in all respects!
Thanks William! I appreciate the kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle. The rear helm makes it easier to fight and steer at the same time for sure. Are you a salmon fisherman as well? Any luck this season? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Do you have a dock or moorage, or do you launch every time. I know this is an old one but it shows your determination. It's so Alaska. Love your videos, keep them coming.
Hey Mike thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this one! I appreciate the kind words! I do have moorage during the season which makes it very easy to jump on the boat and get on the water. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Them shaky heads while weighting says it all🔥👊🏼! You got my support bro! 👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this battle! It was a blast to fight as this fish ripped across the top of the water - a special fish for sure. Good luck out there on the water and tight lines! Captain Zac
Captain Zac im already getting ready for the river steels 😂! Gluck this fall bro👊🏼🔥
Black mouths are my favorite. The power and fight in these fish are simply amazing.
Thanks @justsaynrush9689 I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon footage! Yes indeed the power and fight are definitely amazing! Tight lines! Captain Zac
From someone else that salmon fishes solo...well done!
Hi barfly1382 - thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed this battle! Up here in Alaska we are only allowed 1 rod per angler so it makes solo trolling a little easier (still plenty of variables though!). Where are you trolling? Any salmon success this summer? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Captain Zac, you are a very skillful fisherman. I've never seen a guy text his wife, fish, operate a boat, dance around the fishing platform, and net all at the same time. Amazing. Beautiful fish too. I saw why you like the down riggers you chose: the ball came up and stopped on a dime.
Hi David - many thanks for the kind words! Landing this fish was certainly a dance and I am very fortunate that all the stars aligned. So many things can go wrong when fighting a big king - luckily, this fish made it to the net! This was indeed a beautiful fish - bright chrome! The downrigger's auto-up feature that zeros out at the waterline makes it very easy to focus more on the fish battle and less on clearing the gear. Tight lines my friend!
great job, and solo fishing too. You have my respect. I usually fish alone too, and It can be a job especially on a windy day and dealing with a double ! I find myself letting go the bigger ones now 25lb. plus, for the sake of the gene pool. There just are not that many left around in that weight range. :(. Thanks for the video !! enjoyed it !
Hi Ron many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Yes indeed - solo fishing for kings can be a little tricky when multiple variables start going wrong (wind, downrigger gear, fish direction, etc.). Wow I can't even imagine dealing with a double! Here in Southeast Alaska we are only allowed 1 rod per angler so I only get doubles when I have others on board. Agree it is sad that the number of larger fish seem to be declining rapidly - a number of factors account for this but the end result is very upsetting. Hopefully this trends turns around in the coming years / decades. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
We all should focus on releasing more of the big prime breeders for the future of the fishery.
Great video mate and congratulations on catching this beautiful fish🎣
Hi Derek thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words - this was a special fish and I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned during the fight and landing. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That's a really nice king. They're hard to find that big these days.
Hi Yorty2112 many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Yes indeed - these larger fish are harder to come by these days, especially so far inward in Southeast Alaska (i.e. not like fishing the open ocean near Sitka). All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Mike again, OK, I know this is an older video, but what do you think of a suicide knob for the aft wheel? Makes steering a lot easier in a pinch and doesn't cost too much. Regardless, a great video.
Hi Mike great suggestion! I didn't realize these were referred to as suicide knobs but after looking into it I know exactly what you are talking about. You are right - this would make those sudden large corrections a much easier. Thanks for the tip and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That salmon is huge, great job bring it in. 👍👏
Hi Fishing Around - thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed this battle! Looks like you do some pretty cool fishing around Sacramento - good luck and tight lines! Captain Zac
This is multi-tasking at its finest lol. Great catch!
Hi JabberCT thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Haha I appreciate the kind comment - I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish ended up hitting the net! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Would like to have a go at that , and it looks beautiful. I bet that salmon tasted great
Hi Steve thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. Yes indeed - it tasted great! I had it smoked with alder wood and still have some in my freezer today (giant fillets!). All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
at the time of me watching this upload, there were 61 people that did not like fish, haha, thanks for the upload man, beautiful fish
Hahah thanks dedatchie! I suppose you can't please everyone but I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Good luck my friend .You deserve It.
Thanks Steve I appreciate the kind words and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Given all the things that can go wrong when trying to land a big king, I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Captain Zak
What downrigger rods are those? Are they the redline series from lamiglas or are they the CFC 1064?
Hi Gerald many thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Your first guess was correct - they are Lamiglas Redline series rods. 10' 6" model - www.lamiglas.com/collections/redline-composite-series. These are purpose fit salmon trolling rods that work great for trolling kings and cohos up here around Juneau! I would recommend these rods if you are in the market. Are you fishing in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska? All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Oh my gosh bro what a battle you had
Thanks Tony! Yes indeed this was quite a fight! I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this salmon battle. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Really fun watching this. I use to catch 20-35lbs on the Rogue, Smith and Mad River in Humboldt county when I went to college up there. Brings back memories.
Hi Paul thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Wow - sounds like you had some awesome king action on the rivers in Humboldt county! Nothing beats the rod-bending run of a chrome king salmon ready to battle! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
what a toad and what a day ... you never know when the big ones come.. congrats...
Hi Magwa Magwa - thanks for the kind words! Great point about never knowing when the big one is going to strike. Staying positive and always believing that big bite is right around the corner is the key to being ready when those rare opportunities come along. Thanks again for watching this video and I am glad you enjoyed it. Tight lines!
Your an inspiration to us all Capt Zac. Hats off to ya. Cheers
Hi Todd many thanks for the kind words! I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! With all the things that can go wrong when fighting a big king, I am very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Such an amazing catch and great execution!
Hi Kaye and Remo - thanks for the kind words and I am glad you enjoyed the video! It was certainly an intense battle and I am very fortunate that all the stars aligned and the fish made it to the net. Thanks again and tight lines!
Congratulations best fish and boat handling single handed landing ever watched . The light hooked on lip proof of you skill. ❤
Hey John many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the very positive comment - this was a special fish and I'm very fortunate that all the stars aligned it ended up in the net after all that chaos! haha Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I hooked a 50 lb and honestly thought I got into a Seal. Took me up stream and back to the mouth of the river and ironically the Sea Lions chased him back up. This was about 15 years ago but now days your lucky to see a 30 lber.
Hi NFiltr8Red thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Wow that 50lb king must have been an intense fight! That is awesome the sea lion chased your big king back towards you! CONGRATS on landing such a great fish! I wish there were more 50lb kings swimming around these days. Did you catch that in Southeast Alaska or up on the Kenai Peninsula (Kenai or Kasilof)? Tight lines! Captain Zac
Captain Zac , Northern California.....Klamath River. My computer crashed and lost my pics but it’s all in my memories only. Just last year I caught a 30 some lb. out of the Mad River and that’s so so so rare I heard. Catch and Release! We need to practice it more when we can though.
Wow - too bad the computer crashed but I'm sure those memories will last a lifetime! Tight lines!
Great video! Great catch! That smile as you hold him up says it all.
Hi Rich S thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Many thanks for the kind words! Yes indeed - I was pretty pumped when this big king hit the net after such a crazy battle. So many things can go wrong when landing a king salmon... I was very fortunate that all of the stars aligned for me that morning. Do you enjoy salmon trolling as well? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
A Sea Lion chased a 4 footer past me a few days ago when I was on a bike ride! I did not even know they got so HUGE!!!
Sad...I remember fishing the Kenai when a trophy King started at 80#...
Hi Bill - you are exactly right. It is such a shame to watch the king salmon fishery degrade each year. Let's hope things turn around soon. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
This was a very pleasant video! I really enjoyed it! I like your style sir 👍 keep up the hard work!
Hi Eric thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the positive comment! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Noice I hope I will catch one this year it’s literally been 5 years and I have never even hooked one thanks to “ kids fishing” at the elkutna
Hi Beckett many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Haha good luck fishing for kings this year! Hooking and landing a big king is hard enough but when you add the kiddos it becomes even more of a challenge. Best of luck and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Looks like you have a hewescraft ocean boat? Searunner/Ocean pro?
Hi DeltaProMaster Lauj! Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle. Yes - I have a Hewescraft Sea Runner 21ft Full Hard Top Extended Transom with a 225 Honda main and 9.9 Honda kicker. Check out a more detailed review here: ua-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/v-deo.html
All the best and tight lines!
Captain Zac
Captain Zac nice, here in Northern CA, Hewescraft has taken over the waters for som reason it’s getting super popular
I'm a big fan of Hewescraft - a total fishing machine! Perfect fishing platform for the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska!
I loved your recent video. I noticed your boat is a small boat compared to the larger party boats. What boat do you have, and how does it usually handle on the ocean? I also have a small 20” Hewes Craft River Runner that I have only taken it out on lakes and rivers. I haven’t tried the ocean yet. After watching your video I am thinking maybe I should give it a try. Maybe hire someone to show me how it’s done first before I try it solo. Again loved your video. Keep posting.
Hi Richard thanks for watching and I'm thrilled to hear that you are enjoying my videos! Many thanks for the kind words! I have a 21' Sea Runner with a hard top and extended transom and I really like how it handles in the salt water in Southeast Alaska. Check out my boat review for more specifics and let me know if you have any questions: ua-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/v-deo.html
The water is MUCH calmer within the inside passage as compared to the open ocean. Most folks out on the coast (like Sitka) who fish the open ocean use 30ft or more boats due to the heavy seas. You can get away with a much smaller craft on the inside waters which are much more protected. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
We take an 18' bayrunner boat out into the ocean in southeast Alaska and have not had any issues. Obviously you'll want to watch the weather closely and be prepared to call of the trip if it looks bad. Most of the waves in the ocean are larger swells and they have a longer spacing between waves so it really just makes it feel like your going up and down small hills. The surface chop can get a little nasty sometimes but it's usually not much more than what you can get around the inside waters. Obviously, try all of this at your own risk but I would personally be thrilled to have a 22' searunner to go out with instead of the center console 18'! Haha
Awesome 👍🎃
Thanks ImaMonaKnight! I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! All the best! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thanks Sweetie..Nice To See You Having Fun..Loads Of Love🍀💋💚
Hey Capt! I am moving up by Wrangell on Etolin Island in a few months. Any tips for someone from the lower 48? I subscribed and liked the video! Excited to watch more. Take care!
Hi Cooper many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! How cool that you are heading up to Etolin Island soon! Sounds like an amazing adventure. In terms of fishing tips I'd start with my halibut & salmon fishing tips on my site:
fromrodtotable.com/fishing/halibut-fishing-tips/
fromrodtotable.com/fishing/salmon-fishing-tips/
Feel free to drop me a line if you have more specific questions or would like to chat at some point. captainzac@fromrodtotable.com
All the best Cooper!
Captain Zac
You are an expert
Thanks Tarar Support! I appreciate the kind words!
@@CaptainZac are you only allowed 1 line per person?
Hi my last question is size #12 hooks can very large salmon be caught with them as I have 900 qty of them
Hi Azar thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Size 12 is probably too small for trolling but you could fish for salmon in a stream with these hooks - perhaps using salmon eggs when the water is low and clear. Wow - 900 hooks is a lot! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Would love too have seen it returned, especially when you had already landed fish. Well done getting it in tho.
Thanks Nigel I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! While I did choose to harvest this fish I certainly appreciate and respect your view towards catch and release. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks Nigel I appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! While I did choose to harvest this fish I certainly appreciate and respect your view towards catch and release. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac cheers bud and tight lines!!
Ps you got my sub👍
Thanks Nigel!
wow...great catch Cap't !!! Now that is what I call muti-tasking. See you in 2021
Hi Eddie thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! Multi-tasking indeed! Given everything that can go wrong when battling a big salmon, I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Holy cow amazing catch im getting tired watching this!
Haha thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed the video (or the workout!!!). Fighting this fish was a total blast and I am very fortunate that everything fell into place and this fish made it to the net - so much can go wrong when trying to land a king salmon! Tight lines and thanks again for watching!
WOW. Outstanding. A monster.
Who said men cant multi-task ?
A busy man, videoing himself, fishing, driving the boat and netting the fish himself.
haha hi Alistair many thanks for watching and I appreciate the kind shout out! Multi-tasking is a great way to describe the complicated dance of activities that have to occur to successfully land a solo king salmon! Do you enjoy trolling for salmon? What area are you fishing? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
That's old school Cannon downrigger. Your doing an amazing job doing everything,Great fish.
Hi Duane many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this footage of the king that almost got away! Yes indeed these Cannon downriggers are fit for purpose when it comes to slaying salmon!!! Do you use Cannons as well? All the best and right lines my friend! Captain Zac
Huge fish for sure! How long did it actually take to land that big boy? I just caught a 25 inch King near Excursion Point by Juneau that I had to release last month. I could immediately tell something different was on the line compared to Pink and Chum I had been catching. How much harder the King fought!
Hi Dale thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I showed the full battle in this video without any edits so you are seeing the full time it took me to land it. Ah too bad that feeder king you caught last month wasn't 28 inches - yes indeed those kings seem to pull on a totally different level than the pinks and chums! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Nice catch 👍🏼did you keep your catch or release it
Thanks Vern! I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! I did harvest this fish and actually smoked it - so I have lots of pieces of delicious smoked king to share with family and friends! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Second time watching your fight, on a different account, they're just heading into the bays down here and all rigged up with the kayak! What an inspiration 🎉
Haha thanks I appreciate the positive feedback! I hope you had some luck kayak fishing! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
CATCH OF A LIFETIME. GREAT WORK AND VIDEO. THANKS
Hi Bones 805 many thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! While I know this could be the fish of a lifetime, I'm hoping to raise the bar even higher one of these years! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Question: When operating the boat at you aft steering station on the starboard side, would it be best to mount the downrigger and rod holder on the port side for better view of both in your perefeal view. Seems like you are having to turn around to check action on your rod?
Hi Neil thanks for watching and I appreciate the comment. Your point does make sense from a field of vision perspective. I believe it is a tradeoff - although it is a little harder to both steer and check the rod on the starboard side, having the steering and the downrigger on the same side when fishing solo is helpful in terms of landing the fish. It allows me to quickly clear the gear and adjust the speed/steering as needed to position the boat (without having to cross the fishing deck). Perhaps I'll give your suggestion a try one of these times and report back on the results!
Do you ever troll by yourself? If so I'd love to hear any tips you've picked up along the way.
All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Capt. Zac. thank,s for the comment. I troll by myself quite a bit also in the Sitka area. My aft station is port also. My rigger and gear is starboard. When I get hanapa'a (fiah on) I try to land the fish on port by pivioting the boat or leading the fish that direction if can. Reason is to prevent issues with starboard rigger, cannonball, leader clip and cable out of the way for landing easy if possible My net is also port for easy access (no option there). Anyway let me know what you think.
Hi Neil this sounds like a great setup and makes perfect sense. Good idea to pivot the fish from starboard to port so that the gear is clear of landing the fish. Since my aft helm is starboard, I could try the opposite of your approach. Set the gear port and then land the fish starboard. Thanks for the tip!
Are the cohos running hard in Sitka? We had a pretty hot bite saltwater trolling in Mid/Late August and now the cohos are stacked up at the freshwater estuary waters and hatcheries.
Tight lines!
Captain Zac
Great job! Do you charter? Lucky the terminal wasn’t crazy as it normally gets....probably due to Covid!
Thanks Ricky! I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle and agree it would have been way harder to land this fish if this relatively small area was stacked with boats! For now I'm sticking with friends and family but maybe at some point in the future! Hopefully see you out there on the water! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hy Capitano du machst deine Arbeit super.
Hallo Eduard, danke fürs Anschauen und ich freue mich, dass dir dieses Video gefallen hat! Alles Gute mein Freund! Hauptmann Zac
Never seen anything like this video before! Amazing vid good work!
Hi Caleb thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the very positive comment! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Gotta sub now!
Hey Capt what your rod and reel setup for king trolling?
Hi AlaskaFishin thanks for stopping by - I'm using a Shimano Tekota line counter reel on a 10' 6" Lamiglas Redline Composite trolling rod. Tight lines! Captain Zac
Capt. Zac- you did an awesome job fighting the fish, handling the boat, and netting that great fish. Good job! (I'm jealous!!!!!)
Thanks Jon! I appreciate the kind words and am glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! There are certainly a lot of things that can go wrong when fighting a big King and I am very fortunate that all of the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Morning Capt. I have been following you for a few years now and am finally going to get the chance to fish up thru Oregon and Washington. My wife and I are headed to AK for entire spring, summer and part of the fall. I need gear recommendations. I’m looking for a salmon fishing rod and reel combo. Can you recommend something? Trolling and casting.
Hi Chris thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon footage! Congrats on your upcoming seasonal move to Alaska - how exciting! Where will you be in Alaska? I'd recommend the setup I was using in this video - a Shimano Tekota (line counter which is helpful for trolling) paired with a Lamiglas Redline Composite rod (www.lamiglas.com/collections/redline-composite-series). I use the 10' 6" models since I primarily troll and use this rod to drift eggs also. I still do cast with this rod and it works fine, but if your primary purpose is casting you may want to consider the 9' 3" model as well which may be a little more manageable for all day casting. Hard to go wrong with 25 or 30lb Maxima Ultra Green line. Some prefer a spinning rod for all-day casting (especially if conditions are windy - less to worry about with backlashes). Your experience level with a baitcaster will inform your choice here. I'd love to hear how your trip goes!
All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
In over 50 years of fishing every river in oregon for kings I've only caught a handful over 40 lb.s. In 1992 I fought a salmon for over an hour on the Umpqua river at reeds port oregon. That fish weighed in at 51 and a half pounds after sitting in the fish box for over two hours. If I'd had a scale in the boat that fish might of been 55 lb.s or bigger considering hydration and bleeding it before I got to the dock an fish an wildlife wanted to weight it. It was a fish of a lifetime and I was by myself but a river guide did jump from his boat into mine once he saw that fish roll on the surface and he netted the fish . I'm 72 and that's a memory I'll always cherish.
Hi @william6526 wow it sounds like you've had some incredible salmon adventures over the years! Thanks for sharing these awesome memories! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I love fishing for halibut and salmon in alaska
Hi Pro Fishinjr thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! Me too - Alaskan halibut and salmon fishing is the BEST! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
My biggest was 54.3 pounds. Bamfield BC 30 years ago. Took an hour. Also the only one I know who ever had a sockeye halibut double header. Unless someone else knows someone? How do you like your big Honda?
Hi Doug thanks for watching. CONGRATS on your 54.3 pound king!!! Ha - I would love to see a sockeye / halibut double! I've never heard of that so I suppose you still hold the crown for being the only one to accomplish that feat! I love the 225 Honda - super quiet and has the power to quickly step up on plane when needed! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
You are quite the fisherman. You ran the boat and did everything on your own to get that fish in the boat, awesome dang job.
Hi Douglas thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words - this was a special fish and I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Thanks for your message I have never had a Coho or a Chinook (King) take the line around my boat I don't think ?? I do tend to keep a good semi tight line on them leaving the drag set a bit on the slip side so I don't lose them hopefully? Lol I love your set up with the Boat and 2 Honda outboards you can't hardly beat that when fishing for most anything especially on the Sound or Ocean as you are up in Alaska!? Do you ever guide or offer to have someone go out with you that helps split the costs of the trip? Just curious? I just retired a couple years ago and have been thinking long and hard on heading up to Alaska, Sitka or wherever and spend a week up there Salmon fishing and sightseeing as well. I have heard so much about Alaska and all it has to offer with regards to fishing and outdoor recreation ect ect . Have any suggestions ? I'm all ears ? Thank you for your videos I watched this one 3 times already and sent them out to my fishing pals and Son in Ohio. Thanks again . Steven
Hi Steve thanks for the follow-up and I'm glad to hear you are enjoying this video and sharing with friends and family! The fish in this video actually ran around the boat (which caused me to have to lift my rod above all the other rods in the holders!). Thanks for the kind words about my boat - I like having the two Hondas which are very reliable. Alaska is definitely worth a visit - so much wildlife, natural beauty and of course world class fishing! I still have a day job which makes it tough for me to connect with many others for trips - I take some friends and family throughout the summer when I can get time off but I struggle to plan very far in advance due to work. Sitka has some great salmon fishing as well. If you come to Alaska in August the Cohos will be running and you can fill a few fish boxed full of fillets in no time! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thanks Zac I am with you on having 2 Honda motors for Reliability. Doesn't get any better than that. Yamaha is another Reliable outboard ! Enjoy your fishing adventures I look forward to watching more of them? P.s. what's your day job ? Lol have a great week chat at you again soon. Steve
Totally agree - Hondas and Yamahas are both solid reliable options! I have a corporate job which means I'm on my laptop a lot (conference calls and emails) and travel as needed - thus far it has provided the flexibility to be in Alaska which I'm happy about! Tight lines! Captain Zac
I fish for kings in Lake Michigan and run 3 rods per person, is it only one in Alaska? Or is that just the only way since it’s just you
Hi Luke - thanks for watching this battle and I am glad you enjoyed it. In Southeast Alaska, you are only allowed to fish 1 rod per angler. Thus, if I'm out for a solo trolling session, one rod is all I've got! I used to live in Chicago and know how intense some of the Lake Michigan trolling setups can get! With a few people on board and 3 rods per angler, you can quickly end up with double stacked downriggers, dipseys, flat-lines, planer boards, etc... Do you ever end up tangled when a big one bites and runs across the entire setup? Up here we are mostly trolling herring and hootchies behind 11" flashers - what is your rig of choice down on Lake Michigan? Tight lines!
Wow you are a good fisher I am glad you could do it and I like the king salmon I am always cheering for you
Thanks @GeloBoysGaming I appreciate the kind words! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Beautiful catch. I know the thrill and excitement of it all. From Michigan here, been on Lake Michigan many times alone and had the fun of catching and running the boat at the same time. But of course not the size fish like this. Biggest here for me is 28 pounds.
Hi @fishin11 thanks for the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon action! Congrats on a 28lb Lake Michigan King - that is an awesome fish! Yes indeed it is a special challenge to hook and land king salmon while "solo trolling" - so many stars have to align for that fish to hit the net! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Wonderful job brother. Beautiful fish. What rod and reel did you catch it on?
Hi Uncle Josh OTFC Josh's Bladesmithing thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! I caught this on a Shimano Tekota reel with a line counter on a Lamiglas Redline Composite Series trolling rod (10' 6" model). All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Love your video from LA 😊 you are so great. Great job, doing everything by yourself . A lot of respect 👍
Hi Rinda thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon video! I appreciate your very kind words. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
I needs to go to Juneau to fish! I went fishing in the ocean in Sitka, the wave was rough! Got seasick threw 20 tines and didn’t even get to fish! Is the water calmer there?!
Hi sinjin le thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed this king salmon footage! Sorry to hear the water was so rough over in Sitka during your trip. You weren't able to fish at all? How frustrating!!! Yes - the water is generally calmer anywhere on the inside passage (Juneau, Petersburg, etc.) vs. the open ocean where Sitka is located. There was a pretty bad stretch of weather a few weeks back with multiple days in a row of heavy winds - I wonder if this is when you were up there? Sorry once again - Alaska is a majestic place but it can also be quite fierce at times.
I caught a 55lb King on Sheep Creek north of Anchorage when I was up there in 1994. Would love to go back again some day. Awesome catch man...hope I’m up there catching them with ya some day soon.
Hi Thomas thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Wow - CONGRATS on the huge king up near Anchorage!!! That must have been an incredible fight! Definitely let me know if you are in the Juneau area - would be cool to cross paths. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Beautiful fish, good job maneuvering the boat, and staying positive.
Thanks Oden! It was certainly an adventure navigating all the possible things that can go wrong when battling a king. Your point about staying positive is really important. Sometimes even when it seems like all hope is lost (and the fish runs under or around the boat or near the engine), staying calm and optimistic can help ensure a successful outcome! Plus, even if a big one does get away, it just becomes a great fish story about the "monster that got away" - which surely would have weighed at least 60lbs!!! Thanks for watching this video and I am glad you enjoyed it. Best of luck out there on the water - tight lines Oden!
You'll remember that day the rest of your life. Well done! 👏👏👏
Hi MisfitsFiendClub thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! Yes indeed you are correct - I'll never forget the day I encountered this 43lb king as long as I live! I appreciate the positive comment - tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Anyone explain why the rod is doubled over while trolling?? Never seen that before
Type in "down rigging". That's what he is doing
@@crazypaul3997 thank you
Thanks for the question @dcat of6 and thanks for the reply @Paul Moresi
@Paul Moresi is exactly right. The down rigger has a heavy weight that drops to a specific depth, and the fishing line is attached to the down rigger line with a clip. When the fish bites, the line "pops" from the clip and the fish battle begins. To make sure that the line does not get tangled while trolling, it is important to have a lot of tension in the line, which is why the rod is bent over so much. These trolling rods are very long a limber so they are meant to bend like this.
I appreciate both of you checking out this video - glad you enjoyed this battle! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Great job landing that solo man. So fun to watch!
Thanks Scott I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle and appreciate the kind words! Landing a nice king is always an adventure and I was very fortunate that all the stars aligned and this fish hit the net. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Captain Zac keep doing what you are doing! I’ll be watching for sure!
Hey Zach what kind and size of boat do you have thanks
Hi thanks for stopping by - I have a 2019 Hewescraft Sea Runner 210. Check out the detailed review here: ua-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/v-deo.html Tight lines! Captain Zac
Great effort on both sides of that rod! Can you do a video about your boat? Year/make/model. Things you like and don’t like?
Hi stoweman34 many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon footage! I appreciate the kind words! As luck would have it, I have already created a detailed video on my boat - overview, pros/cons, detailed walkthrough, etc. Please check it out and let me know if you have any further questions. (link below)
ua-cam.com/video/dLTZLOyJOjE/v-deo.html
Tight lines my friend!
Captain Zac
Captain Zac Thanks Capt! Just bought my first boat yesterday...2010 Raider 185 Pro Fisherman... and am trying to figure out what the hell Im doing :) I just built a place in Oceanside, OR and have Tillamook Bay about 10 miles away. Your vids are inspiring! I’ll check out your boat vid next...
@@stoweman34 Wow that's awesome CONGRATS on the sweet rig!!! Sounds like an amazing location in OR with some great fishing potential - now you can fend off the "winter blues" by getting geared up for some salmon and halibut action this summer! Glad you are enjoying the videos and thanks again for watching - much more coming in the future!
Captain Zac Now that’s a boat review! I was looking at the Hewescraft Pro V 200 but I think your Sea Runner (especially with the hardtop and increased deadrise), is a much better boat for the money ($10-15k difference). FYI; that cutout in your rear bench seat is for a porta potty. I’ve liked & subscribed! Keep’m coming!
Hi Captain Zac, that is a truly beautiful fish and as you say in comments below it tasted delicious after being smoked. Keep hunting these magnificent fish and tight lines in the future.Regards Jimf
Hi Jim many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! I appreciate the kind words! Yes indeed this fish did smoke up very well - I'm actually just finishing up the last few pieces of smoked fillets from that fish these days! Do you enjoy salmon fishing? Do you prefer to smoke the salmon or keep them as fresh fillets? All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Hi Zac, I’ve had 3 trips to BC, fishing the Fraser and Harrison rivers over the years and had terrific sport, unfortunately health issues have curtailed my salmon fishing and I’m now restricted to trout fishing which I find enjoyable, I smoke them and really enjoy eating them. That Tyee of yours was really special, keep them coming buddy. Regards Jimf
@@jimflynn466 Hi Jim sorry to hear about the health issues but it sounds like you had some amazing BC trips and now have a cool passion for trout fishing! Trout are a blast to catch and taste wonderful smoked! Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
43 lb is about 20 kg.. was that the heaviest you caught so far?
Thanks @mtloke5732! This is the largest King Salmon I've caught. I've caught halibut in the 200lb range before. Tight lines! Captain Zac
You have a new neighbor in 3, 2, 1.... awesome fish
haha no kidding!!! Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon battle! All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Beautiful fish, well done. Could you show and explain the rig you used, how deep etc ?
Hi William thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this salmon battle! Sure - I caught this using a downrigger trolling a blue label herring (7-8 inches) with a pro troll chartreuse head clip behind an 11 inch pro-troll flasher (Green / Chartreuse / Silver) in around 40 feet. Does this make sense? At some point I'll make a video that more clearly explains this rig. Tight lines! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Please do. Ok, i fish for salmon in rivers, not to deep with flies and spinners. So this type of fishing is beond me. I really would like a tutoriol on your method. Are the fish resting in lies or moving thru ?
Hi William sure I will definitely create a "how to" video explaining how I troll for salmon up here. I'm trolling in the salt water (not in a river) under a few different scenarios - some fish are "stacked up" returning to spawn near a hatchery or river while others are "passing through" known areas where schools of salmon travel. I've caught kings in shallow coves in less than 20 feet and cohos near the top of the water column in 600+ feet of water! River fishing with flies and spinners is a blast - sounds like a lot of fun! All the best! Captain Zac
Amazing brother! Just found your/this video, least to say, I subscribed!!
Hi Steve thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! I appreciate the kind words and the sub! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Impressive you landing it all on your own. 👍🏽 after a catch like that you can call it a day
Thanks @martingaspati8696 I appreciate the positive comment and I'm glad you enjoyed this king salmon action! Tight lines! Captain Zac