Alaskan RV Adventure: Kenai - Halibut (Big ones, and Eagles everywhere)

6 July - Leaving Anchorage

We departed Anchorage with some improving conditions and hopes that it will continue to improve for our upcoming halibut fishing trip in Ninilchik. The first part of the trip down to the Kenai was along the Turnagain Arm where we had driven the day before but this time it was a little clearer and more beautiful. We stopped at many turn-outs to admire the views and take some photos.

Turnagain Arm

Culpepper Duo

Beautiful Drive - Turnagain Arm

Our plan for the day/night was to make it to the Captain Cook State Park up near Niniski which is north of the towns of Soldotna and Kenai....we did make it there but decided not to stay. I had read on another post describing the park and what we found was not as described or expected. The girls would have nothing of staying in that park and Ed and I were not impressed either. After doing a drive by and decided to continue on in search of a place to set up camp for the night.

     We noticed a beach road on the map that ran along the Cook Inlet coast from Kenai to Kasilof, in the direction of Ninilchik which is where our fishing charter reservations were in a few days time. The beach road was a good (condition) road but did not offer the views or camping opportunities we had hoped....as we arrived in Kasilof we found a state recreation area called Johnson Lake that we decided to stay. It was a boondocking site (no water or electric) but we were prepared.

     We had a pot luck dinner while it rained outside and we decided to play cards for the first time this trip. We played hand and foot, like normal- the guys against the girls. I told them before the game if the girls won it probably wouldn't make the blog - so, you guessed it - Ed and I came back in the last hand to win by only 5 points. That is worthy of the blog, right?

     As we looked at the map we realized that we had driven to within about 20 miles of Ninilchik (closer than we planned or expected to do that day) when we arrived at Johnson Lake. So, with check-out not until noon the next day we rode to Ninilchik the next morning without campers to do a little recon on the camping opportunities there and stop by the charter company office.....I told them we wanted to "interview" our boat captain and the girls wanted to see the bathroom onboard.

     While riding around we found the perfect spot directly on the Cook Inlet called Deep Creek Recreation area....it is a first come, first serve campground (no reservations) so we needed to arrive pretty early on the 7th of July.

Our Ninilchik campground - Wonderful Place!

7 July - Deep Creek (Ninilchik)

We left Johnson Lake and drove to Deep Creek arriving mid morning. As we pulled in (before setting up camp) we noticed Eagles everywhere....one was even sitting on a large rock near the road just posing....really beautiful.

Guarding the Campground

The campground is directly on the water with magnificent views of snow covered mountains/volcanoes across the bay. The views are constantly changing with the clouds/fog and the mountains peeking in and out constantly. Between the eagles and the scenery views we are taking many more photos here.

Deep Creek campground view (Cook Inlet)

Cook Inlet view

We went for a long walk on the beach where the deep creek empties into Cook Inlet.....another area with huge tidal changes. We saw many more eagles on the walk, some in or near the water eating fish. It looked like as the tide went out it may catch fish in small pools which makes them easy picking for the eagles.

Eagle having lunch - looked like salmon

He ordered Halibut

Flaps down - coming in hot!

As we photographed the birds we learned (at least I didn't know) that the juvenile eagles were not born with bald (white) heads.....they are still majestic looking but they look different than the older birds. We also saw a nest near the road and I have gone there several times to photograph the birds on the nest and no one home.....when I ride by without the camera they are there.

Juvenile Eagle in flight

Juvenile Eagle Landing for lunch

Ed and Kay grilled a great steak for dinner and we enjoyed sitting out with the weather getting nicer (upper 50's with sun). After dinner, since it doesn't get dark, I went out by the water where eagles were soaring overhead and seemingly playing games to try to capture some of that on film.....not much luck with my new telephoto lens but I met another photographer who shared some tips with me that seem to help.

Since it doesn't get dark (completely) it is difficult to go to bed early and awe are always questioning what time it is. Just before going to bed this night Kathy noticed the sun setting behind the mountains and I went out to try to capture a few photos of that scene...it was 11:30 to 11:45 and it still did not get dark outside.

Cook Inlet Sunset

8 July - Deep Creek (Ninilchik)

     This is the day before our scheduled fishing charter and we decided to go to the company (Reel 'Em In) and watch the arriving fishermen from that day and just get a better idea what to expect for us. Hey, with a name like Reel "Em In, how could you go wrong.

     A nice group of folks were there unloading, weighing, and cleaning their fish so we had a nice chat with them. We even took some photos of ourselves with their fish....just practicing :-)

     After that we decided to take a ride down the coast looking at the beauty of it and ultimately ending up in Homer, Alaska where we had lunch on the spit. We wanted to check it out as that is our next destination, probably one overnight there and hopefully with full hook-ups.

     Getting back early and having an early dinner are important because we need to be at the fishing charter company by 5:45 A.M. the next day. An early night was necessary. We grilled out, readied our gear for the fishing trip and all went to bed early.

9 July - Reel 'Em In

     Arrived at the charter fishing office at 5:30 ready to go. Met our captain "Eric" and loaded up the gear. We expected to be on a boat with two others but turns out it was just the four of us.....nice!
Some notes about the fishing operation:

Boats are all aluminum V-Hull boats with twin outboards. Ours was 28 feet but many were larger
Boats are towed to the launch area where passengers board the boats via step ladder (still on the trailer) and a large tractor is used to push the boats down to the water (and retrieve them). Not sure if this is primarily because of the huge tide?
Fishermen are limited to two halibut per day - one large but one has to be under 28 inches
Fished with 3 or 5 lb lead weights (bottom fishing), 16/0 hook size, and large baits (salmon heads, herring, cod, and other cut baits

Deep Creek Boat Launching

The two previous days the bay was slick like a lake and we thought we'd hit a homerun if it would just hold one more day. Well, the weather wasn't bad (about 50 degrees and a little overcast) but the water was not as calm as the two previous days. Luckily we had our sea sick patches with us and were smart enough to use them. Seas were a little choppy going out (about 18 miles offshore) and once there, they were rolling 2 foot (estimated) swells. We survived the day without anyone getting sick.

First Fish Caught

When we checked on the boat operations the day before the girls were more interested in what the bathroom facilities onboard were like than anything else.....as it turns out there was not one....only a little portable toilet. So, although I could not believe it, Kathy and Kay neither one used the bathroom for the entire trip (six hours). Ed and I had no problem :-)

The Bets:
A lot of talk about who would catch the first and biggest fish led us to place a bet on each. We didn't have baits in the water too long before Ed hooked and landed the first fish....estimated weight 40 lbs. Things were a little slow (waiting on the tide to turn) before Kay latched onto the first very large one - 81 lbs so she is in the running for the biggest fish. Kathy was next and bettered Kays weight by landing one that turned out to be the biggest of the day at 98 lbs. That left me, with pressure mounting and everyone watching....first about a 30 lb fish....the skipper (Eric) said we are on big fish, let's let that one go. You know you're having a good day when you throw back 30 pounders! A short time later I got maybe a 35 lb fish on one line and another one biting....we were holding the 35 lb fish at the boat until we could determine if the other line had a bigger fish. Both ended up getting off. Then after a long dry spell I finally landed my big one of the day...maybe 25 lbs. Hey, I caught MORE fish than anyone else but we didn't bet on that!

Biggest fish winner (98 lbs)

cell phone photo

Then we move to another area where we will most likely catch the smaller fish. We were probably not there 30 minutes and all four of us caught them.....again they were waiting on me to catch mine.

Back ashore and at the charter company site we hang fish and take photos with our own fish..... we look better in those photos anyhow! Eric also has the task of fileting the fish and we have them vacuum packed and prepared to ship home but not before we take several pounds for our RV freezers. Fresh grilled fish was on the menu tonight and it was good.