Cool Hunting Experiences You Have Had

[para bellum]

Chasing tuna off Puerto Vallarta, the damn booby birds kept taking my cedar plugs. I couldn't keep a plug in the water that day, lol.

 

[Concerned American]

Fishing story. I lost a tug of war with a sea lion over a nice king salmon once. This was off Viscari Rocks in Sitka Sound. I hooked the salmon and was bringing him to the boat. Decent fish, about a 30 pounder.

I was working him, not too hard- just taking my time, tiring him out. Wasn't sure how good I had him hooked, when the sea lion hit him.

Immediately started stripping line off the reel, so I tightened my drag and leaned back on him. Then he tossed the fish about 6 feet in air and let him splash down in the water. I reeled like hell- I had the fish skipping on top if the water, and bam! Sea lion takes him again, more line strips off my reel, I'm pulling back, and he threw him up in the air again!

Again, I reel like a madman- determined to get my fish, but that damn sea lion was faster. This went on 4 or 5 times. Each time he would throw the fish I would gain back some line, then he would take the fish, and I would lose everything I had gained in the last run.

I had him hooked good, but finally the gills tore out of the fish. He got the fish, and I reeled in a perfectly intact and complete set of gills, and nothing else.

I was pissed, lol, but I guess they have to eat too, lazy bastard.

Fishermen off of central CA's coast have been known to shoot the sea lions--violation of the law, because they steal the catch. They can be a problem. I was scuba diving off of Monterey in slightly murky waters when one came out of the murk. Scared a year's growth out of me. I thought I was shark bait for a moment. LOL

 

[para bellum]

Fishermen off of central CA's coast have been known to shoot the sea lions--violation of the law, because they steal the catch. They can be a problem. I was scuba diving off of Monterey in slightly murky waters when one came out of the murk. Scared a year's growth out of me. I thought I was shark bait for a moment. LOL

I have shot seal lions in my time. My dad was a commercial fisherman and we had what was called an "incidental mammal kill license". We could legally shoot seals, sea lions, and porpoises if they were interfering with our fishing.

We kept a .30 carbine clipped to the hayrack in the troll pit. Whenever a sea lion would take a fish from the line, they would always stick their head up about 50 feet behind the boat and just look at you and laugh. That's when you pop'em!

We bought cases of seal bombs. 72 for $40. 1/3 stick of 40 grade TNT with a waterproof fuse. They were labeled "California Seal Protection Agency", lol. Great fun.