Puget Sound Orcas are pretty much strictly fish eaters. I've been at Possession when Orcas were present in the fall chasing the chum runs. It didn't really seem to phase the seals a whole lot. In the North Sound area the seals have become very dependant on fisherman for their food source. If any of you fished Possession for any period of time you would most certainly experience losing fish to them and see others losing fish to them. It wasn't like this years ago before their population exploded in the Sound. I think the problem is that there are so many of them now that the food source isn't abundant enough for them to support themselves without their poaching habits. They are a certain drain on the resource. It's a fight now days just to get a fish in the boat. I think they need to be thinned out and kept that way.

Hoghunter,
Do your homework! Transcient pods are migratory pods that can eat just about anything -especially sea mammals. They are like the gypsy's of the killer whale clans. They're dorsal fins are slightly different on average. They spend so much time "cruisin" like ships they're fins tend to be more streamlined than our local resident orca pods. Local pods you'll notice have erect upright dorsal fins. Have you ever watched footage of the killer whales in Argentina? Well, Killer whales are cabable of doing just that -eating sea lions/seals at will. Your right about the local pods and neighboring pods they generally tend to eat salmon and other fish in our near shore/inland waters. Transcients are known and can migrate from Mexico/Baja Penninsula up to the Bering Sea depending upon available food, and ocean temperatures. Did you ever see the footage of the orcas eating the gray whale carcas off the California coast? -Pretty amazing stuff!
My two cents$ worth!
Good Fishing, Darin

How do you like this solution?

Salmon, Broads & Beer

Slabquest,

Now that's a good one!
Good Fishing, Darin

Rockfish

No love for the Sea Lions, I just feel we should not go around shooting things that we find an annoyance while fishing, that's all.

Got hit 4 times in one day fishing 8-1 in Nov. Lost 4 whole set ups

Wrist rocket and ball bearings I hear work pretty well??

Maybe someone like the WDFW should conduct a survey/poll or statistical analysis of the sea lion "stealing" factor?
my 5$ cents worth!
Good Fishing, Darin

Steelnerves-
the problem with that is, somehow they'll count it from our quota!

Elkrun,

Huh, you might be right.... That's a damn shame... Hey Elkrun, don't forget to go back to the vandalism post I responded to you.
Good Fishing, Darin

the best way to stop the sea lion problem is thru salmon conservation. by putting an end to all commercial salmon and steelhead we will bring orcas back (resident pods) to the entire sound and they will take care of fat predator-less sea lions in a hurry.... just as god set it up to be. all of you that want to pick up a gun to solve every problem in this country are morons. try picking up a PEN FIRST. believe me it works better than shooting mergansers or sea lions or indians or each other. Its about tight lines not tight faces.

I just looked at my earlier post and I guess it could be a little confusing.

Click on the link to see an interesting technique for retrieving a salmon from a seal.

The post can be read to say that broads and beer are the solution, which I suppose it is.........

I've never lost a fish to a seal or sea lion, but was on a boat at Tillamook a few years ago when a friend lost a 30-pound king to one. Incidentally, there's been a pod of transient killer whales in Hood Canal for several weeks, the kind that eat marine mammals, and state biologists are now estimating they might have eaten as many as 800 harbor seals since they arrived. Last confirmed sighting of the pod was Valentine's Day.

I hope they stop and have dinner here In Port Angeles! I can recommend some good spots! Sea Lion extra rare maybe??

Salmonbelly,

Thanks for the info! Transcient killer whales are fascinating in their behavior. Often they are meager in their conversation unlike local pods. Very rarely do they socialize with clicking and sonar talk because they wish to remain stealthy and anonomous to other mammals like dolphins, porpose, large whales, sea lions, otters --and even other killer whale families.(Which obviously allows them to sneak up on their prey) In fact, from what I know, if they announce their presence to other "local" pods like K & D in the San Juans, they could be subject to a tresspassing violation or perceived as a threat ultimately leading to a war between the two families! Transcients are the "silent - killers"!! We are still learning a lot about these guys. Like nature intended it, they probably pass through various areas when the "grass needs mowing" -or seals etc. need some house cleaning. Kinda like mouse erradication or something...... Hopefully they find some of those local "problemo" sea lions!
Good Fishing, Darin B.

If you do the math it is not hard to estimate even the minimal impact Pinnipeds (Seals/Sea Lions et...) have on the fisheries. If each one of a conservative estimate of 60,000 eats a conservative estimate of 30 lbs of fish per day that is a conservative estimate of 1,800,000 pounds just an average day or 657,000,000 pounds a year. These monsters voracious pigs. Have you wondered why the crabbing has gotten so good in the last ten to fifteen years? I believe one of the big reasons is because these pigs, when they don't have a huge appetite, and maybe just want a little dessert, eat just the bellies out of the fish. The rest goes to the bottom to feed the crabs.
I say we go back to using seal skin boats myself. That would be the natural thing to do.

And numerous bathing Quillbilly's


seriously... anyone know where in the canal and which way they were headed...

I was out in the canal two weeks ago and had a sealion cruise the shore I was fishing. It popped its head out of the water within 20' of me and snorted... I just about crapped my pants...

The thing was damn near as big as my boat and was branded with a "61" on its back...

Anyone have any history on the signifigance of the Brand...

I agree with the seal skin boats idea

King 5 just did a story on Hood Canal and the killer whales there. It might be on later tonight as well. The estimates previously reported on this thread were correct. They said 800-900 seals have thus far been consumed by these top predators. I wonder how many were sea lions? I think the name "lion" is very fitting to their appetite and routine. From the story on King 5 they said locals have been noticing the seals running scared and actually have jumped in a few peoples boats!
Good Fishing, Darin

whats gonna be really cool is when they make there way to the south sound

I hope they're still hungry and turn east when they come out of the Canal. They have a smorgasboard waiting for them about three miles to the east.