Hi Piscatorian thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Yes indeed - on this day it seemed like we caught Yelloweye at every spot we tried! I haven't tried the greenling but perhaps I'll give that a shot this season. I'm assuming they are pretty tasty. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Hi Peeling Line thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Yes indeed - they are like huge goldfish... always a cool surprise when you bring one (or more!) of these up! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Awesome trip and great result Captain Zac, a few good looking fish that we don't have in Down Under, thanks for the trip and greetings from New Zealand,, Tony.
Hi Tony thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! They certainly are an odd looking fish! I appreciate the kind words - all the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Another fun trip. Lots of yellow eye, that's quite the day. Thanks for sharing your adventures Captain Zac. Good luck, have fun, and be safe out there my friend.
Hi David thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye footage! I appreciate the kind words. Usually Yelloweye are hard to come by but this day we couldn't avoid them! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Zac, Great job on the video. Looked like a fun day of fishing with a mix of things being caught. Really hit a patch of the Yellow Eye there. Too bad they all had to go back. I hear they are suppose to be good eating. Heading up to Sitka the end of the month to visit my wife who is working there. Not sure if any fishing will be going on but it will just be nice to head to Alaska for the week. Good luck and tight lines.
Hi Mark thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Yes indeed I can confirm that Yelloweye are amazing to eat (from the days you were allowed to keep 1 per year). How cool that you are visiting Sitka next month! There are winter/feeder kings here in Juneau along with decent crabbing so hopefully you'll get into some action over in Sitka. The halibut fishing will be slower this early in the season but not impossible. I'd love to hear how it goes! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi John thanks for tuning in (congrats on the first comment haha!) and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! I agree it is a shame you can't keep them - Yelloweye are fantastic to eat. They grow so slow that the average age on these larger Yelloweye is crazy old! They've got restrictions in place here in Alaska as well to protect them. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
GREAT video good sir!! I'd love to move up to Alaska. I've had multiple job offers as a Helicopter Mechanic, but the pay isn't quite right just yet.. Cost of living up there isn't like it is here in Yuma, AZ. Haha.. I hope to make it up there at least to do some fishing and hunting! You have a new subscriber!👍👍
Hi Ryan thanks for watching and I'm glad you are enjoying my videos! I appreciate the sub! Hopefully the right Helicopter job will come along and you can make it up here to Alaska - I totally hear what you are saying about cost of living... can be crazy at times! With tourism on the upswing this year perhaps that'll improve the job offers. Even if not for a job, hopefully you are able to visit for fishing and/or hunting sometime soon! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Angling Spiders thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye footage! Yes indeed - survival rates of rockfish released with a deepwater release have been shown to be very high. It is remarkable that they return to normal after being so bloated at the top of the water. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Curt thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this mixed bag action! Yes indeed - cod are delicious and that flaky mild white fish makes a great fish taco! YUM! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey Zac, great video with a wide variety of fish. Just wondering with the Yelloweye Rockfish why do you need to do a deep water release? Even when things don't go as planned you seem to always have a great attitude and enjoy your day of fishing anyway.
Hi Ben thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! The reason a deep water release is required is because the swim bladder fills up with air (you can actually see it poking out of their mouths along with their eyes getting puffy) when a rockfish reeled to the surface from very deep water (over 100'). This extra air makes them buoyant so if you released them right away they would struggle to get back to the bottom (often getting eaten by an eagle while struggling on the surface). Thus, attaching a deep water release provides the extra weight to carry the fish back to the bottom - as it goes back down, the air in the swim bladder and eyes deflates, and the fish resumes normal activity once at the bottom. Haha thanks re: the positive attitude! There is so much cool stuff going on while fishing in Alaska - even if things don't go exactly as planned, there is almost certainly something very enjoyable to focus on during any given trip! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thanks for your explanation to my question. I did notice on some of the fish that their eyes where puffy and you could definitely see the swim bladder. It is absolutely amazing to think of all the different varieties of fish and how they differ.
I can't believe you caught/released 6-7 yelloweye! In my limited rockfish experience last year in Southeast, yelloweye were just as common as any legal retention rockfish species. I don't fully understand why they had to be closed down a couple years ago.
Hi Patrick thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this yelloweye action! Some spots definitely tend to hold more yelloweye than others - so perhaps you were fishing in a yelloweye hotspot (kind of like the spot in this video). Overall, the Alaska Fish & Game have put additional rockfish restrictions in place over the past few years to protect certain species since they grow very slowly (a large yelloweye can be decades old!). All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Also had to laugh at calling pcod good halibut bait. We love eating the cod, almost more than halibut (certainly when we're sick of the hali - never thought I'd get sick of them but you do after 2-3 months of eating halibut every day).
Hi Patrick thanks for stopping by and glad you got a kick out of the pcod reference! I agree they are very tasty eating also - I never mind adding a pcod or two to a nice mixed bag day. Super mild and flaky fish! First world problem to be sick of all the fresh halibut fillets!!! haha (but I totally get what you are saying!) Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hi Charles thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! This was late August last year - certainly seemed to be a lot of cod around and in my experience this spot in particular is especially flush with nice cod. I was hoping that these nice cod would attract an 80lb halibut! haha Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey Zac! Nice video, beautiful yellow eyes. How did you get your boat to Petersburg? Seems like that would be quite a trip in your Hewescraft. Started getting my boat ready for spring king fishing - took the tarp off, put the batteries back in, put the downriggers on, added most of the fishing equipment. Maybe I can get an early trip in the next couple of weeks.
Hi Kim thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Believe it or not I actually drive my boat down to Petersburg - I bring a few extra fuel jugs and watch the forecast like a hawk. Some of the most amazing places on earth en route! Where the Stephens Passage meets the Frederick Sound is absolutely awesome. That's great to hear you are gearing up for the 2022 season! I'm getting the itch as well - I'm likely dropping my boat in the water within a few weeks as well. Here's to getting on the water soon! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac amazing! It looks to be 120 - 140 miles, what an epic trip in a small boat.I would want to stop and fish a few dozen spots along the way. There is an epic fishing/birding site in south Cook Inlet that we’d like to go to - the Barren Islands. About 100 miles round trip. I’m just not comfortable with the big water out there. Some of the Homer halibut charters go there regularly, supposed to be great.
Yes indeed it is quite an adventure! I've made the trip 3 times so far and there is always a cool surprise (breeching whales, brown bears, etc.) along the way. There are more good halibut spots en route than I can count but I do try to stop at a few along the way to break up the commute and wet a line. I'll have to look into the Barren Islands - sounds amazing! I'll check this out on my charts. I hear you about the big water. Luckily the Inside Passage is protected enough that a Hewescraft can manage a longer-range trip with proper planning. Do you ever overnight on the water in your boat? Tight lines!
@@CaptainZac Sounds like great fun! We have not tried overnighting on our Hewescraft, mostly because we have the older model that does not have the bench seats that come together to form a bed. Our bench seats are just plain old bench seats. While there is enough room in the fishing area of the boat to sleep, it is open to the elements and, as one might expect, not always clean and dry! My wife would love to take a trip to Seward and back, which would be an epic trip, but it is quite a distance and the south side of the Kenai Peninsula is open to southwest winds, which are common. So, we remain day-trippers so far.
Sounds like some awesome adventure nonetheless! Plus, it is sometimes nice to enjoy a great day on the water and then sleep in your own bed (that isn't rocking because of an unexpected wind gust!). Perhaps one of these days you'll get a perfectly flat sea and be able to make it all the way to Seward. I just checked the charts and that is quite a long haul (140-170miles or so)! I see why a southwest wind would mess up your day!
Wow, yellow eye city! Those were some nice greenling, I love eating them. Looked like a fun action filled day!
Hi Piscatorian thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Yes indeed - on this day it seemed like we caught Yelloweye at every spot we tried! I haven't tried the greenling but perhaps I'll give that a shot this season. I'm assuming they are pretty tasty. All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Those yellow eye are so cool looking. Like saltwater goldfish. Nice variety this day. 👍
Hi Peeling Line thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Yes indeed - they are like huge goldfish... always a cool surprise when you bring one (or more!) of these up! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Awesome trip and great result Captain Zac, a few good looking fish that we don't have in Down Under, thanks for the trip and greetings from New Zealand,, Tony.
Hi Tony thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! They certainly are an odd looking fish! I appreciate the kind words - all the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Another fun trip. Lots of yellow eye, that's quite the day. Thanks for sharing your adventures Captain Zac. Good luck, have fun, and be safe out there my friend.
Hi David thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye footage! I appreciate the kind words. Usually Yelloweye are hard to come by but this day we couldn't avoid them! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Zac, Great job on the video. Looked like a fun day of fishing with a mix of things being caught. Really hit a patch of the Yellow Eye there. Too bad they all had to go back. I hear they are suppose to be good eating. Heading up to Sitka the end of the month to visit my wife who is working there. Not sure if any fishing will be going on but it will just be nice to head to Alaska for the week. Good luck and tight lines.
Hi Mark thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Yes indeed I can confirm that Yelloweye are amazing to eat (from the days you were allowed to keep 1 per year). How cool that you are visiting Sitka next month! There are winter/feeder kings here in Juneau along with decent crabbing so hopefully you'll get into some action over in Sitka. The halibut fishing will be slower this early in the season but not impossible. I'd love to hear how it goes! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
First! Wish we could keep yellow eyes here in Oregon. Thanks for the vid and TIGHT LINES!
Hi John thanks for tuning in (congrats on the first comment haha!) and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! I agree it is a shame you can't keep them - Yelloweye are fantastic to eat. They grow so slow that the average age on these larger Yelloweye is crazy old! They've got restrictions in place here in Alaska as well to protect them. Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
GREAT video good sir!! I'd love to move up to Alaska. I've had multiple job offers as a Helicopter Mechanic, but the pay isn't quite right just yet.. Cost of living up there isn't like it is here in Yuma, AZ. Haha.. I hope to make it up there at least to do some fishing and hunting! You have a new subscriber!👍👍
Hi Ryan thanks for watching and I'm glad you are enjoying my videos! I appreciate the sub! Hopefully the right Helicopter job will come along and you can make it up here to Alaska - I totally hear what you are saying about cost of living... can be crazy at times! With tourism on the upswing this year perhaps that'll improve the job offers. Even if not for a job, hopefully you are able to visit for fishing and/or hunting sometime soon! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Have you been to AK for a visit? It would be worth the pay cut. Do it while you are young. My 2 cents.
Great video, I had no idea that you could do a deepwater release and they would survive after their air bladder pops out like that.
Hi Angling Spiders thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye footage! Yes indeed - survival rates of rockfish released with a deepwater release have been shown to be very high. It is remarkable that they return to normal after being so bloated at the top of the water. All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Looks like a great day. We love cod for fish tacos.
Hi Curt thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this mixed bag action! Yes indeed - cod are delicious and that flaky mild white fish makes a great fish taco! YUM! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Hey Zac, great video with a wide variety of fish. Just wondering with the Yelloweye Rockfish why do you need to do a deep water release? Even when things don't go as planned you seem to always have a great attitude and enjoy your day of fishing anyway.
Hi Ben thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! The reason a deep water release is required is because the swim bladder fills up with air (you can actually see it poking out of their mouths along with their eyes getting puffy) when a rockfish reeled to the surface from very deep water (over 100'). This extra air makes them buoyant so if you released them right away they would struggle to get back to the bottom (often getting eaten by an eagle while struggling on the surface). Thus, attaching a deep water release provides the extra weight to carry the fish back to the bottom - as it goes back down, the air in the swim bladder and eyes deflates, and the fish resumes normal activity once at the bottom. Haha thanks re: the positive attitude! There is so much cool stuff going on while fishing in Alaska - even if things don't go exactly as planned, there is almost certainly something very enjoyable to focus on during any given trip! All the best and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac Thanks for your explanation to my question. I did notice on some of the fish that their eyes where puffy and you could definitely see the swim bladder. It is absolutely amazing to think of all the different varieties of fish and how they differ.
I can't believe you caught/released 6-7 yelloweye! In my limited rockfish experience last year in Southeast, yelloweye were just as common as any legal retention rockfish species. I don't fully understand why they had to be closed down a couple years ago.
Hi Patrick thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this yelloweye action! Some spots definitely tend to hold more yelloweye than others - so perhaps you were fishing in a yelloweye hotspot (kind of like the spot in this video). Overall, the Alaska Fish & Game have put additional rockfish restrictions in place over the past few years to protect certain species since they grow very slowly (a large yelloweye can be decades old!). All the best and tight lines! Captain Zac
Also had to laugh at calling pcod good halibut bait. We love eating the cod, almost more than halibut (certainly when we're sick of the hali - never thought I'd get sick of them but you do after 2-3 months of eating halibut every day).
Hi Patrick thanks for stopping by and glad you got a kick out of the pcod reference! I agree they are very tasty eating also - I never mind adding a pcod or two to a nice mixed bag day. Super mild and flaky fish! First world problem to be sick of all the fresh halibut fillets!!! haha (but I totally get what you are saying!) Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
What time of year are you fishing here, catching those beautiful pacific cod? Thanks for sharing!
Hi Charles thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! This was late August last year - certainly seemed to be a lot of cod around and in my experience this spot in particular is especially flush with nice cod. I was hoping that these nice cod would attract an 80lb halibut! haha Thanks again and tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Very Nice!
Hi Ethan Price Outdoors many thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
Pretty fish.
Hi Sean thanks for stopping by and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Tight lines! Captain Zac
Hey Zac! Nice video, beautiful yellow eyes. How did you get your boat to Petersburg? Seems like that would be quite a trip in your Hewescraft. Started getting my boat ready for spring king fishing - took the tarp off, put the batteries back in, put the downriggers on, added most of the fishing equipment. Maybe I can get an early trip in the next couple of weeks.
Hi Kim thanks for tuning in and I'm glad you enjoyed this Yelloweye action! Believe it or not I actually drive my boat down to Petersburg - I bring a few extra fuel jugs and watch the forecast like a hawk. Some of the most amazing places on earth en route! Where the Stephens Passage meets the Frederick Sound is absolutely awesome. That's great to hear you are gearing up for the 2022 season! I'm getting the itch as well - I'm likely dropping my boat in the water within a few weeks as well. Here's to getting on the water soon! Tight lines my friend! Captain Zac
@@CaptainZac amazing! It looks to be 120 - 140 miles, what an epic trip in a small boat.I would want to stop and fish a few dozen spots along the way. There is an epic fishing/birding site in south Cook Inlet that we’d like to go to - the Barren Islands. About 100 miles round trip. I’m just not comfortable with the big water out there. Some of the Homer halibut charters go there regularly, supposed to be great.
Yes indeed it is quite an adventure! I've made the trip 3 times so far and there is always a cool surprise (breeching whales, brown bears, etc.) along the way. There are more good halibut spots en route than I can count but I do try to stop at a few along the way to break up the commute and wet a line. I'll have to look into the Barren Islands - sounds amazing! I'll check this out on my charts. I hear you about the big water. Luckily the Inside Passage is protected enough that a Hewescraft can manage a longer-range trip with proper planning. Do you ever overnight on the water in your boat? Tight lines!
@@CaptainZac Sounds like great fun! We have not tried overnighting on our Hewescraft, mostly because we have the older model that does not have the bench seats that come together to form a bed. Our bench seats are just plain old bench seats. While there is enough room in the fishing area of the boat to sleep, it is open to the elements and, as one might expect, not always clean and dry! My wife would love to take a trip to Seward and back, which would be an epic trip, but it is quite a distance and the south side of the Kenai Peninsula is open to southwest winds, which are common. So, we remain day-trippers so far.
Sounds like some awesome adventure nonetheless! Plus, it is sometimes nice to enjoy a great day on the water and then sleep in your own bed (that isn't rocking because of an unexpected wind gust!). Perhaps one of these days you'll get a perfectly flat sea and be able to make it all the way to Seward. I just checked the charts and that is quite a long haul (140-170miles or so)! I see why a southwest wind would mess up your day!
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Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed this yelloweye footage! Tight lines! Captain Zac