North Dakota man catches 200-plus pound fish in Alaska

HOMER, Alaska — Jason Stafslien is a really skilled fisherman, and his expertise is paying off.

Stafslien together with eight others flew to Homer, Alaska, for a six-day fishing journey on Friday, Aug. 19, and caught a 73-inch halibut on Sunday, Aug. 21, that’s estimated to weigh over 200 kilos.

An angler since he was younger, that is the Jamestown man’s second journey to Alaska to fish within the Cook dinner Inlet.

Attributable to a forecast of tough climate, Stafslien stated the boat journey stayed nearer to shore than they did throughout his earlier journey. Stafslien stated they went 40 minutes exterior of Homer. Stafslien stated the load was estimated based mostly on what the boat captain learn in a ebook on the measurement of the fish. The ebook famous a 73-inch fish is meant weigh roughly 205 kilos.

“We had perhaps a pair others that had been round 60 kilos, we solely did in the future on the ocean,” Stafslien stated.

He stated the captain, who has been a deckhand and a captain for eight years, stated that it was the biggest halibut she’s ever had on her boat.

“This was 73 inches and she or he stated the earlier greatest one was 72, so the captain and the deckhand had been very excited,” he stated.

Stafslien stated the whole means of catching the fish took about 20 minutes.

“We had been in 105 toes (deep water) and instantly when it connected it stayed on the backside, and I simply held it and I simply tried to carry the rod and tire it out by holding it as a substitute of making an attempt to reel and provides again all the road the whole time,” Stafslien stated. “So, for the primary 10 minutes, I primarily simply held it with a whole lot of strain and that factor simply stored digging on the underside after which finally perhaps like 10 minutes into it, I might begin getting some line on it. As soon as it began arising then it wasn’t practically as dangerous so it drained out a bit.”

Stafslien stated consuming the halibut later that day was properly definitely worth the effort that it took to catch it. He additionally stated he will likely be getting a duplicate of the tail mounted to show in his house.

Stafslien stated Sunday was the one day they’ve gone out into the ocean. The remainder of the times are spent fishing for salmon within the Kenai River. He stated he considers it a really profitable journey, catching a number of sorts of fish.

“Two halibut that day after which I’ve gotten a restrict of salmon every day,” Stafslien stated. “On the Kenai River, it’s two a bit, so I’ve had 4 silver salmon from the Kenai after which three silver salmon from a flyout that goes to a special river. I’m undecided what that identify is, we fly throughout the Cook dinner Inlet, and we will hold three over there. I’ve stored seven salmon and two halibut.”