Bill and I fished in Port Hardy again this year with Mike Pearson. I hauled up a big ugly halibut last year that weighed 105 lbs. and Mike admitted that it was the biggest fish in his boat in 2008. I think my biggest spring last year was 38 lbs. The first day fishing this year was a bit slow but picked up as the day went along. On our second day, it was very foggy at the fishing grounds and Mike had to be careful of "other" boats [you had to be there to understand this]. The first and second springs were regular size for me but my third was special. I did exactly as Mike instructed me while he steered the boat and my fish threw me back and forth, but I hung in there. It was strength against strength and with my fingers still glued to the rod, look what I reeled in!!

Apparently Corey Hayes would have called this a 'waller'. It is 44" in length; 29.25 " at the girth; and weighs 52lbs. Bill has blown up a picture and it is on my wall in my office.

As far as I understand from Mike, most springs who return to spawn do so then die as nature has planned their destiny. Every once in a while, however, the odd one swims back out, begins his 'second' life and continues to grow. The ones who make it back to the fishing grounds around PH are not as big as the ones who make it out in the Charlottes and Alaska. I believe they grow anywhere from 60 to 80lbs. So this little fish is big for Port Hardy. Being competitive I took this fish for granted and immediately thought about catching a bigger one next year [maybe that's just darn greedy]. So many people have commented that they, or people they know, have fished all their lives in the hope of catching one of these guys. It took me 3 weeks to realize that this is a pretty big fish.. And I look at it totally differently now. I am very grateful to Mike for this experience.

On the way back to the Quarterdeck Marina the sun broke and it was a beautiful afternoon. In talking to Mike he mentioned that for two years in a row I caught the biggest fish for his boat. So I looked at him and asked "What are we going to do next year?" He looked right back at me and instantly said "Sharks!!" He doesn't know it, but I am game for anything.

Oh and Bill did catch some fish too!!