Potential Record Kenai King Salmon Caught & Releas

[Sushihunter]

http://www.fieldandstream.com/photo...as-kenai-river-coughs-one-massive-king-salmon

Potential Record Kenai King Salmon Caught & Released

On July 17, Kansas angler Joe Atchison reeled in what may be a world-record king salmon. Though we'll never know for sure because this brute was released back into Alaska's Kenai River to fight another day.

Atchison was guided to the beast by veteran salmon hunter John Whitlatch, who estimates that the fish weighed between 85 and 92 pounds. That weight is based on a measurement of one of the more slender parts of the salmon's girth (it was kicking too much to get it around the thickest part), so 91 pounds is a bare minimum. Whitlatch claims this was a very fresh fish, about seven miles up the river from the salt and still heading higher to spawn, so by not killing it, there is no telling how much giant genetic material was left in the river.

The world-record king weighed 97 pounds and was also taken in the Kenai back in 1985. Visit out Field Notes blog for more coverage, and keep clicking to see more shots of this monster salmon.

Photo by John Whitlatch



Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250

 

[Karma-Kazi]

I let that sucker go in sooke a few weeks ago [] figured id let the Genetics continue! LOL What a Hog, Now everyone knows What the Hog that got away looks like []

-Steve

 

[SnapperAttacker]

good on lettin that thing sperm some more eggs up.

 

[blindpig69]

Fresh??? That things a boot. Don't think it would have tasted too good anyway. Might smoke up ok but good call on lettin this one try to find some eggs.

 

[Red Monster]

Thanks for the post. My buddies and I are actually going fishing on the Kenai next year at the exact time of year (July 16 to 22) this fish was caught! [8D]

Of course I sent the story link to my buddies to get them pumped up a bit more.

Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."

 

[sharkbait]

Totally agree....if that is a fresh fish then I would hate to see what they call a river seasoned fish....the rotting corpse?



sharkbait

 

[Hoghunter]

quote:Originally posted by blindpig69

Fresh??? That things a boot. Don't think it would have tasted too good anyway. Might smoke up ok but good call on lettin this one try to find some eggs.

Actually I wouldn't be at all surprised if that fish was less than 24 to 36 hours in the river. It's not unusual for those big Kenai kings to color like that right out the gate. I've caught them with sea lice still on them in the mouth that were that color.

 

[spring time]

didn't some tourist on the skeena a couple of years ago caught one that they figured was 98 or 99 lbs.

 

[Bear Cove]

Hard to believe that it would taste that good. Even better that they let it go, hope to have some of it's off spring back in a few years

www.bearcovecottages.ca

 

[spring time]

they sure go for that kind of thing I guess if the spawnig river isn't that long they will turn quick. I was watching a hunting show and they were in under the falls fishing sockeye and they were red but they were living it up