We started out exploring for fish in Sitka. When we found we were extremely low on oil in one of the engines, we went back to the docks for oil and subsequently some more gasoline. So we arrived late to the happy hunting grounds. The day was overcast turning to a haze. The wind felt out of the SW at about 4 miles an hour. It was 10:10 am and at about 120 feet, coming up, I felt small nibbles on my bait. I set the hook, although it didn't feel like much of a fish. Got it up to the boat, in fact it came up fairly fast. Fairly close to the surface it ran straight out. It pulled hard, but not fast, and it was still in control. With firm pressure it came back to the boat. One could see 8 – 10' into the water. I was sure when I set the hook that it was in the mouth, but the hook was in the right side of the fish about in the mid-portion where the tail meets the belly. As we went to net the fish, it dived into the briny. It was a big king salmon, estimated 35 – 43 lbs. I would haul it up 20', then it would go down 10.' Finally, it would get up to the boat, but when it saw the net and the side of the boat it would dive back to the bottom. I worked it up again. By this time I had my full rain gear on and was sweating profusely. I took my hat off just to wipe the sweat off as it was starting to get in my eyes from each side.

The fish came up again after little over an hour of fighting with the rod bent more than 45+ degrees. It was a few inches below the surface, a little higher than before. it started to go to the net. I was at the very bow, and the fish was on the port side where the net lay in waiting. The rod curved 50 – 53 degrees. I did everything possible to bring this tough, stubborn fish out away from the boat. I couldn't. It saw the net and dived down, but this time if first went toward the boat. It must have then turned downward and away from the boat where Mas was fishing. It tangled into his line. He tried, to no avail, to untangle, and the skipper grabbed Mas' rod and kept it loose for me. The fish didn't head that far "south," so I was pulling him back up when my line broke. That was a sinking feeling. The skipper gently reeled Mas' line and found the fish was still on and handed me his pole. The fish proceeded to the bottom.

I was a little careful but put increasing pressure as the fish rounded near the bottom. I was asking Mas if he could help me with removing my jacket. He said noooo, you have to keep on fishing. After a long while of fishing it was time to finalize this epic one way or another so I started to haul even a little more. The fish got up to the surface, away from the boat. I heard "there's a little halibut swimming near." It had hooked on Mas's herring and I had to fight that fish also. We guided the salmon into the net and brought both the 40 lb. king salmon and the 11 lb. halibut on board at a fighting time verified by Mas at 1 hr. 45 min. He keeps track of those things. Once in the net Mas's line slipped freely off my leader/sinker by itself. If you don't think salmon skin is tough, the hooks were in only ½" of skin. My T-shirt was wringing wet and because I took so long the rest of my friends had eaten all the food. Good thing the sandwiches were not made up yet!