Fish Princess Wins 11 & Under Division of Vashon Pink Salmon Derby!

We launched at Pt. Defiance at about 0515 (a little late for the party yet still respectable). Started on the troll along owns beach and clay banks to see if we could coax a first light Chinook. No bites after an hour so headed over to Vashon side and switched up to pinkie gear with the game plan to troll until an hour or so before the tide change then go jig off Neill Point.

Had one rod working with a pink delta diver and red fire brined plug cut herring (hoping a stray coho might also come out to play). The other side had typical 8" white flasher and pink mini hoochie. No takers so I switched the delta diver rig out for a White with pink splatter Gold Star dodger in size 0 followed by a pink mini hoochie. The dodger got a bit of pro cure anchovy sticky gel and the hoochie got some Mike's Glo-Scent shrimp gel. Ran this set up back about 35' and down to 30' on the wire.

I went to the cooler to grab an OJ and grab my breakfast out of the dry bag thinking I would get a bite while I was not paying attention to the poles. This precipitated a quick look back and everything was still fishing along with no signs of action. So I grab the juice and food and head back toward the stern and I notice the starboard pole has released...drop the victuals, grab rod, reel down and set hook - YES, head shakes! Holler for Fish Princess to quit dreaming about fish so she can catch the one we have on the line. She's groggy but pretty quickly the adrenaline kicks in and she's fully engaged in the battle. I got the downrigger ball up and out of the way and cleared the gear on the other side of the boat and grabbed the net. She played him to the surface and up to the boat and after a few passes into the net and onto the derby board she goes!! Couldn't have had a more solid hook-up, either. Our new guest had the bottom hook firmly affixed in the cartilage at the hinge of his mouth and the top hook in one nostril and out the other. Barbless hooks or not this one had little chance of slipping the hooks.

Got our gear fishing again and fished our way back from Dalco toward Neill without any additional take downs. Spent an hour or so jigging the shallows along the beach at Neill Point and didn't catch anything but a flounder and several bullheads all of which went back in the water. Spent our last 45 minutes or so on the troll again toward the point of Maury Island. Still no bites so we picked it all up and headed for Dockton Park to weigh-in. Fish Princess took her prize to the weigh-in table where it came in at 4.25 pounds which put her at the top of the 11 and under bracket. She earned $9.99 plus a brand new Ambassadeur bait caster reel.

Adult division winner was 6 pounds and change. Seemed like the top fish on the adult board all came from Browns Point and several were already forming pronounced humps.

After enjoying the festivities and some lunch we headed out of Quartermaster Harbor and back to open water. Put out the trolling gear and ran deep as sun was full on the water. Trolled through the tide rips near Point Dalco and headed back toward Point Definace marina. Was stopped and checked by the Coast Guard along the way. All was in good order except my boat registration was in my truck, not in the boat. Thankfully, they sent me on my way with a warning. Word to the wise - make sure you have a current registration in your boat. We made sure to take care of this business as we prepped the boat for the trip home.

Had a great time with the Fish Princess despite less than red-hot fishing and she came home with more fabulous fishing prizes for the effort.

Good luck and tight lines to all!

Fish Dawg

<")))))>{

---