A Big Fish Story

Ketchikan, located in southeast Alaska, is a good place to fish for halibut. Sally and John Balch live in Ketchikan and have a favorite spot nearby to halibut fish. It's a secret spot, so don't ask where it is.

The Balches were fishing there one Sunday and having good luck landing cod and halibut, so they decided to stop about mid-morning. Sally started pulling in her gear and felt a tug on the line.

It was more than a tug, really. Sally said that she thought she had snagged the bottom of the ocean. Sally reeled in the line with all her strength, tired, and turned the rod over to her husband.

John and Sally fought the halibut over the course of the next hour. They reeled it to the surface three times, but each time the halibut regained strength and swam back down to the bottom of the ocean.

After more than an hour the tired Balches were successful in subduing the halibut, and after another hour were able to bring the halibut into their boat.

Back in Ketchikan the Balches towed their boat over to the local lumber yard where John works and used the fork lift to unload the halibut from their boat. A crowd gathered to listen to repeated tales of the adventure, and the Balches filleted the fish and gave away pieces to anyone who wanted a piece.

They had plenty. The halibut was 7 feet long and weighed 323 pounds. And Sally caught the large halibut with a bargain $39 Penn rod and reel combo.

*****************************

Garry Gamber is a public school teacher and entrepreneur. He writes articles about real estate, health and nutrition, and internet dating services. He is the owner of http://www.Anchorage-Homes.com and http://www.TheDatingAdvisor.com.

Latest News


GAO: Dolphins, whales lack protection from fishing
The Associated Press - 2 hours ago
... by law to more than a dozen marine mammals potentially at risk of death or injury due to commercial fishing, congressional investigators said Wednesday. ...

Illegal fishing charged; tons of rockfish seized
Baltimore Sun, United States - 17 hours ago
It was the second time in less than a week that officers had charged Jack C. Colbourne, owner of Colbourne Seafood Inc. in Secretary, with illegal fishing. ...
Police board fishing vessel; three men cited Examiner.com
Maryland Today Frederick News Post (subscription)
all 10 news articles

DNR: Ice-fishing conditions continue to improve
MLive.com, MI - 1 hour ago
Detroit River: Boat anglers are launching at Metro Park and heading up to Gibraltar and fishing for perch in the canals. Most of the fish are not big, ...
Anglers enjoy a fine ice fishing weekend Petoskey News-Review
Wegman to host ice fishing seminar Georgina Advocate
Anglers encouraged to stay safe on the ice Sault This Week
all 7 news articles

Teenage girl, a rarity aboard fishing boats, lands giant yellowfin ...
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 hours ago
That's because women are a rarity and girls are essentially nonexistent aboard San Diego long-range fishing boats, which spend up to 18 days at sea. ...

MLive.com

Fishing away through the holidays
MLive.com, MI - 4 hours ago
"We were fishing for steelhead earlier today in the Paw Paw River, but they weren't biting," said Smith, a 31-year-old angler from Parchment. ...

Ice fishing traditions passed on
Fort Mills Times, SC - 6 hours ago
"This is his first time ice fishing," Brian said between drilling holes through the lake's ice. The younger Teskey is starting ice fishing at about the same ...

Ultimate Fishing Show Returns
WXYZ, MI - 8 hours ago
(WXYZ) - The Ultimate Fishing Show returns to the Detroit area Thursday, January 8 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. ...
Michigan's Ultimate Fishing Show starts Thursday Port Clinton News Herald
all 2 news articles

Fishing report for Thursday, Jan. 8
Alameda Times-Star, CA - 50 minutes ago
Fishing is good for anyone using Power Bait, nightcrawlers and Rapalas. Chartreuse is the magic color. (209) 274-4739 CAMANCHE: Water releases from Lake ...

AlaskaReport

Search suspended for lost fishing boat crewman
Fort Mills Times, SC - 2 hours ago
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard has suspended the search for a missing crew member of a fishing boat. The search was suspended Wednesday for 43-year-old ...
Coast Guard crew seeks missing fisherman Anchorage Daily News
Coast Guard searching for lost crab fisherman KIAL
Crab fisherman missing in Bering Strait Seattle Times
Fort Mills Times - Anchorage Daily News
all 21 news articles

SFist

Hundreds remember BART shooting victim with joy and tears
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 59 minutes ago
Eugene Carter, a church deacon, recalled a fishing trip in Tracy in which Grant carried a bucket. Carter wondered what was inside and came face to face with ...
1000 people mourn man who was shot and killed by BART officer San Jose Mercury News
all 521 news articles

Resources