Unfortunatly I don't know the best way to load pictures yet (do I need a web site first?). Caught this fish at 9;30am after only 30 minutes on the water. Followed UMRULES advice -green/glo and hootchie- thanks. Can anybody tell me why this size fish would still be in this area? I would not consider this a blackmouth especially as it had sea lice. Seems like a large fish for this time of the year. Am I wrong? Anyone want to go fishing thursday or friday morning give me a shout.

Could it be a springer?

Holy Smokes....way to go. I look forward to seeing the pics (sorry, don't know how to post them).

I have fished north of this area for years, a 17# fish is big. But I have had them up to near 30#..A king that is ging to be in the 45 to 50 # is still growing most likely it is a very nice blackmouth that would of been that large. Was the fish a white king?

Where is the picture at? I can help you. I would reallly like to see that fish.

Can you email the picture to me? I can post it in the Forum then.

Easy Limits, tried sending you a personal message, but said you were full. Maybe you can let me know how to git ahold of you. Want'd to talk to you anyway.

doesn't matter if it had sea lice or not. if it was in the saltwater it will have the lice.A couple ways to tell blackmouth from kings are the scales don't come off easily on a king like they do on a bm, they are "set". Also when you clean it the bm will be VERY sexually immature, like eggs would look trout sized, an adult, even a springer would have bigger eggs,(or milt sacs if a male). I also notice bm smell different than adults but that is pretty hard to describe on the computer.

EASY LIMITS check your e-mail

Smell different? Maybe we need "click and sniff" software.

Yes the eggs were very immature. I was trying to remember what the difference was between the king/blackmouth as to the black spots on the body or tail. Does any know?

There is definitly a difference is the smell.....
Kings smell like fresh fish....blackmouth have a real 'metallic' smell.
It may be tough to describe but the difference is real.
I like the way a king smells.....not real hot on the blackmouth smell.

I am always willing to share my knowledge of fishing. I think of it as a give and take thing. People share their knowledge with me and I share with them. That is how we become better fisherman.

As far as posting pix goes, there are several steps involved.

1. Once you have the pix on your computer you will need to shrink the photo, with Photoshop or other photo editing software, so it is small enough to upload to the Upload Center. The photo has to be smaller than 104K in file size.

2. After you have successfully uploaded the pix you will need to remember/copy the URL. The URL should look something like this, http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/UP2026.jpg. The only difference will be the picture # will be different than what is show above. The (UP2026.jpg) is the picture number. This part, http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/ will always be the same.

3. If you have WIN XP, right click on the image after you see the SUCCESS screen and highlight COPY IMAGE LOCATION.

4. In your post hit the IMAGE button at the bottom of the post screen and PASTE the URL of the image.

That's it.

Let me know if you need any more help.

BTW, I tried to email you, it would not let me. I think something is screwed up with ATTBI.COM. right now.

Here is the beast.

very nice!

With the adipose missing i would say its probably a springer?

Now that's a keeper Good job, get's me excited for the weekend

WOW!!!! Glad my advice didn't steer you wrong. I've caught some nice fish out there, but nothing like that this time of year!! Here's a question though.....If in fact this is a spring run Nookie...what the heck was it doing up in Manchester?? I don't know of any Spring fish that run through there. I know Seacat knows this area a lot better than I do, and if he sees this post maybe he can shed some light on it, but WOW! Nice going Juggernaut!!

Hey!!! That's my boat! Honey is my boat in the yard???

Nice fish !!!! It's a biggin' for this time of the year. Great job!!!! What part of Manchester/Southworth area did you get her in? Yukon Harbor? Fuel Pier, Southworth? Or Blake Island?

If the eggs are small, it's a Blackmouth. Remember... that BM are immature Kings.
Not to mention- it's clipped. I believe the White River run is all wild.

Did you get a stomach sample? Curious to know if there were any horse herring in there?
It would be a good sign if there was.... Bigger fish moving into the area... Area 10 might be the spot this weekend!

Downriggin'

Stomach was empty. Hooked up between Yukon harbor and Blake Island in 130ft. of water. Fish made some awesome runs. More fun than some of the 30+ lber's I caught last year.

Really nice fish!

Makes me ask myself, "stand in an empty river this weekend?" or "Talk Kingfisherman to finnally getting his boat on the water?"

Starting to sound like a no brainer...

I also want to add that you Blackmouth fishermen on this site are awsome, the way you post tips and hot areas is really cool, thank you...
Makes me wish I had a bay boat, because I'd be right out there with you...

Keep em coming....

Right on Juggernaut!

I'd say you hooked into a prized wintertime blackmouth. The Manchester area is a transit zone for blackmouth through the winter months into the spring months. They may linger for a while due to the large amount of bait in the area, but they will definitely move out to other areas sometime in the next 2-3 months, like to Possesion, Mid Channel and the strait.

Usually, it's a hit or miss fishery in that area this time of year and learning a few other nearby honey holes can pay off when you can't seem to locate them where you found them 'yesterday'.

The area you hooked this fish in has produced many BM for me over the years. Usually, the bigger ones are 10-15#, so a 17# is a fine catch indeed, but I have seen 25#'ers come out of there in the winter too. But most BM won't weigh over 10# and you'll be challenged to repeat that fine accomplishment. I'd also agree that this fish was going to a biggun', probably over 30# at maturity.

I've been telling UM and DD that there are nice ones out there, right in our backyard, and you proved that in spades!

I'd call it a Winter Blackmouth also. The straits put out fish like that allot. They move through our area chasing bait. Big fish are regular acourding to my Father in Law. I have got a few in the low to mid teens last year in December. Last year around Christmas we didn't keep a fish less than 10#. Nobody has been able to fish Manchester in December and January for a few years but back in the day they (old timers) say there were lots of big fish this time of year.

Seacat, I think your assessment is right on the money.
I, for one, believe you would hear alot more about the presence of these large BM , as uncommon as they are, if more people fished for BM. Today, with regs and other fishing opportunities available, that just isn't going to happen. I think even Mr. Nelson would have to agree. 20-30 years ago when people stayed closer to home to fish and seasons were wide open you heard and saw more of these fish. They were often referred to "springs" and folks believed they migrated in (and out) with the large winter squid populations. They were generally found in the mid sound areas in deeper waters (JfHd, MidCh, NoPt, AllenB ,etc.) but my fishing mentors always said to be ready cause you never knew when one would pop up. Last year, I was fortunate enough to have C&R a similar size BM that I caught in a closed to salmon area (Klaus Rocks) in January in only 40 ft of water in the bright midday sunshine while puttering around with a friend. I got a pic somewhere in this dump. I have also taken them near Pt Monroe, Jeff Head and the Agate Pass area over the years (we're going back now).
But, then again I've also wondered if these fish could be late maturing local BM too. Just as there there are precocious jacks in salmon populations that return a year early, why couldn't there also be a few late maturing (1 year later) adults in the population. Especially since many Puget Sound hatchery chinook are released later by design to promote local habitation. If they are still doing such a practice. Any fish biologist know what the drill is with the hatchery BM program these days?
Anyway, one thing is sure, although these hogs are few and far between (just like 20+ Steelhead), they are definately out there. And with all due respect to a hard charging spring chinook or mamouth ocean king, I still believe BM, small or large, pound for pound may be the spunkiest fighting salmon around. Anybody else agree or disagree? See you off Apple Tree.

I knew that picture was around here somewhere. Not much to reference size though other than the jig is a large Pt Wilson Dart (approx 6-7"), 25-30 test Ande and the high gunnel and oarlock of my DB in the foreground. Anyway it was a chunk. Gave me that snort and indignant look when I sent him packing. The Lord was good to both of us that day.

Yes, I agree with you mooch. I do believe that these may be fish that are 1+ years older than the shaker class that is out there now, decendents of the delayed release hatchery effort. They have escaped from their class as small BM and survived the summer run season and are carryovers from last year.

I also have seen some beautiful winter fish caught up at PNP and Possesion, 25+ #ers. It's possible that some of these may be springs, but I think that in the Manchester area, these are blackmouth that are generally moving north with the bait out of the south sound. I've also fished the Fox Island area for BM in the winter too and it's possible to hook into one of those beauties down there too, so that makes me think that these are BM, not springs.

Rambling now...I think that if we raised the minimum length to 24" like the Canucks, we would see even more of these nice ones.

Nice pic too Mooch. I can see that he is a nice little brutus, lot's of spunk in that fish!

Great fish!

Wow, that's really cool symbiosis. I guess it really is tough to know what's being hooked up on out there! Wish a few more of those strays would come a little further south....

I don't remember where I saw the reference, but if memory serves me correct (PSA Page??):

Blackmouth:

2 1/2 year old fish- 22"- 4#
3 - 3 1/2 year old- 24 to 26"- 8 -10#
4 years+ 15#+

There was a plus/minus factor due to location and amount of bait for specific areas of the sound (would like to know how they came up with this).

I am in concurrence with you Seacat on the majority of the bait moving North. Sekiu (and surrounding areas) normally has a ton of bait in Feb. On the other hand, I know of a few locations of spawning in area 13 where these fish follow the herrring around.

I would say, the majority of the fish follow the bait North. Which in turn is why we hear of "nice" catches up North more often than the Sound South.

I believe in the early 80's we had a 24" limit. Sure made a lot of folks mad however, made for a great Spring/Summer fishery though.

Haven't heard the lastest on the release program since Percival Cove was closed. However, the last time I heard numbers was two years ago. 2.2 million fish released.

Downriggin'

Wow nice fesh
It sounds like a nice BM to me too. Although there could be springs in the sound by now. Someone asked where they go to? I know the White has a small wild run, as did the Puyallup and Nisqually, the Skagit gets a good number and possibly the Snohomish system, not sure. Also the Minter hatchery raises supplementation fish for White River, and I think they clip those fish, and the tribe may clip some or all fish from the White River Hatchery. Point is though if it is an early Spring it does not necasarily have to have developed eggs as it will not even enter the rivers for another 3-4 months and not spawn till August, could also be a summer Chinnok, just a little early too.
Either way, very nice fesh......

NEN

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