Super realistic octopus swim bait from Optimum Baits

Optimum Baits – Magnum Octopus

March 30, 2020

There’s no doubt the new Magnum Octopus swimbait from Optimum Baits will terrorize ling cod and bottomfish on the west coast. Halibut will probably even hit this killer swimbait. I can’t count the times that we’ve found whole octopus or tentacles in the stomachs of ling cod when they are filleted at the end of […]

Rockfish Submersion Devices Required for SE Alaska Charters in 2013

March 13, 2013

One of the regulations that’s been looming for a while for sportfishing charters in Southeast Alaska is the requirement to use rockfish descenders for all rockfish caught that aren’t going to be kept. These devices will be required on all charter vessels for the summer of 2013. That’s me…I’m a charter guy in the summer! […]

Deep Fry Done Easy: It’s What to do with all those bottomfish!!!

May 7, 2012

Spring is upon us and with it lingcod, rockfish and halibut seasons. So, if you’ve still got fish in the freezer… You, my friend have a problem that is probably starting to look more like Styrofoam than fresh fish. Fortunately, there is a much better solution than deeming the contents of your freezer “Crab bait”. […]

Deep fry done easy!

April 4, 2011

Spring is upon us and with it lingcod, rockfish and halibut seasons. So,  if you've still got fish in the freezer…  You, my friend have a problem that is probably starting to look more like Styrofoam than fresh fish. Fortunately, there is a much better solution than deeming the contents of your freezer "Crab bait". […]

Droppin’ the “Hammer”!

July 8, 2009

When we're not mooching for ocean fresh salmon here in Craig, Alaska we're banging the ocean floor for halibut, ling cod, yelloweye, and whatever else happens to climb on. Jigging is by far my favorite technique for catching halibut and bottomfish because it creates a commotion down below that fish can't resist. One of the […]

Lose Less Gear, Catch More Bottomfish!

May 20, 2009

It’s no secret that bottomfish associate with structure on the ocean floor.  When dropping gear onto submerged structure like pinnacles, rock piles, and elevated plateaus it’s easy to spend more time tying on new gear than working productive water and actually catching fish.  I ran into a gentleman in the tackle shop the other day that was loading up […]