More big kings hit the dock than any May in AU’s history while at the same time fewer total kings were landed than any May in recent memory.
The tough fishing reflected the overall down-cycle with king salmon up and down the West Coast. A nasty storm for the Women Gone Fishin’ event and a howling Northwesterly blow toward the end of the month added to the challenge.
In between the two weather events, AU’s anglers experienced king fishing that was decent for numbers and exceptional for size.
We inducted two members to the Tyeeee Club – with Paul Fillon’s (assist to Stan Jackson) 50 pounder landed on May 19 and Jim Reed’s 52 pounder landed on May 24. AU anglers landed or released an even dozen kings between 40 and 50 pounds and 21 kings between 30 and 40 pounds this May.
Halibut fishing mirrored the kings – some grand slams including Mike Draper’s 280 pound monster on May 18 along with fish of 60, 82, and 87 pounds for the rest of his party. However, there were stretches when halibut were very hard to find. AU added a total of 12 new inductees into the Big Butt Club (halibut over 100 pounds) – which is extraordinary for May. Lingcod and rockfish provided solid action also during throughout the month.