Wayne Smith and Andy Martin pose with Salmonzilla
After what must have been some very nervous moments, guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing slipped the Beckman under the beast, which according to Martin, is the largest salmon of the year on the Oregon Coast (duh!) and one of the largest ever from the Chetco River.
All I can say is WOW!!
Travis Michel says
The Trinity River Guides Assoc that I am a board member of has been trying to get Cal fish and game to clip all salmon on Trinity and as far as we can tell the only reason they are not doing it is because the Hupa Tribe does not want to lose 2 jobs. Wild Salmon are paying the price, we need to band together and get cal fish and game to clip all hatchery salmon. Can you help us out JD, maybe get a online petition to clip all hatchery salmon in CA?
Filthyphil says
Beeutiful!!
Erik says
I agree, it would of been nice if it were released. I’ve always been big on catch and release and I only keep enough salmon to have a little in my freezer for when I want some unlike the guys who keep 2 a day and theyre out fishing productive holes 2-3 times a week all season, that’s just bad for the run too. I have a hard time understanding why someone could kill something so amazing, and an even harder time when I see someone catch a huge fish and kill it and the fish was so dark it’ll probably taste like river coming out of the smoker.
Larry Ellis says
With a 135-percent predicted return of fall Chinook to the Chetco, I see no reason why a person couldn’t keep a fish of a lifetime. Some people estimate that 20-year-average percentage may have been underpredicted. People who constantly remark about releasing hawgzilla’s might have a wee bit of pee-green envy running through their blood.
Larry Ellis says
Where do I get my information?????? Every year ODFW has a pre-season forecast for all the coastal rivers. I happen to know for a fact, and you cannot dispute this, that ODFW predicted the Chetco to have 135-percent of the 20-year average. They were indeed expecting a lot of 5-year-old fish, even perhaps the ocassional and rare 6. The Chetco got what ODFW predicted. I stopped counting 50-pound fish after a dozen and I know that there were at least three 60-pound kings caught, most likely more. So ODFW’s prediction was spot on! Bogus information? I think NOT. You better get your information straight before making statements like that. By the way, who is this Elk River Hatchery person that made that remark. I am not afraid to put my real name on this website to back up my statements.
Eric Mann says
Mr. Ellis is very well respected in our community and is known for being truthful and knowing the facts when he puts pen to paper. If Mr. Ellis tells us that the figure is 135% of the fall predicted run it is a given that Larry has done his home work and consulted with the knowledgeable employees of the ODFW. We can also be assured that Larry has not has not consulted with his Brother in law, some tackle store flunkie , conducted some sort of a dock side survey, or fabricated a false story to fit the purpose as is the case with other local writers.
What is really the real issue here as I stated below is Mr. Smith caught the fish and it is Mr. Smiths to do as he sees fit. Congratulations Mr Smith and Andy There will always be 60 pound fish in the river and I hope there is many more 60’s on the horizon for you to take and do with as you see fit. Have a good day.
jay k. says
Hey….you might remember my 60+ lb Skeena king I caught and released earlier this fall, I have to say watching the Beast swim- off was just as amazing as trying to catch it!!….Unfortunately here we have something that is quote un-qoute “legal” and an example of what is harming our fisheries mainly from lack of education. We have been taught that Salmon is a meat game and our government even promotes it. That dude did nothing wrong from what he knows. We were trained to do the same but have wised up to do different.
If Andy had the choice himself this fish would have been up-river swimming right now. So we can’t dis-credit him as guide and a fisherman, he worked hard to bring this fish to the boat!!! and I hope tomorrow he gets one even bigger so we can read about it on fishwithjd and be jealous, I mean inspired!! nice one you Andy Martin!!!!!!!!!!!
JD says
ATTENTION: Due to the fact that I have been threatened in the past with a lawsuits from an individual regarding comments made about them by another commentor (not me!), we now have a zero tolerance policy in terms of trash talking here. We can have intelligent exchanges of ideas here…and I strongly encourage the debate, but I will either spam or edit any comments that cast others in a negative light.
Sorry it has to be that way, but that’s how it is in today’s kooky litigious society. Gotta protect myself, ya know? So, if you have noticed your comments about this and future posts are missing something or completely gone…well…you know why. Now, on with the discussion…
Richard Behrens says
Andy’s a class guide. I wish all local guides showed his class.
jerry krohn says
now that’s a smoker! if it’s your only catch go for it.
it’s good to release the big female.
if your on the elk you may release 10 a day!
Alick says
Take a picture then let it go. Guides should kindly encourage it at least. Other wise it is up to the client. It is a big deal to catch a 10″ trout in some parts of Europe, I wonder why?
Jeremiah says
It ain’t from over sportfishing.
David Engler says
There have been several fish in the 60’s this season , one on the Smith and two on the chetco , all three were rleased to do just what SV stated, to spread their genes around. I love to fish and watch people catch fish but enough of always wanting to kill something for the sake of vanity!
Take a picture and let it go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Beautiful fish yet what a shame
JC says
Don’t hate SV! Easy for you to say you’d throw it back, you didn’t catch it!!
Jeff LaShell says
…or Andy’s head. It just occurred to me that I’m not sure which one is which (sorry fellas).
sV says
good thing it was killed, cant go ahead and let that thing spread its genes around!!!
JD says
Interesting point, SV. Here on the West Coast, we covet wild steelhead yet wild Chinook don’t often get the same respect. They should both be revered and released…which brings me to a toatlly different point: If we had all hatchery Chinook, coho and steelhead adipose clipped (California is way behind the times on this one), we could make pretty basic rules: Keep two clipped fish of any variety and let the rest go).
Regarding the 65 pounder, I can honestly say that had I caught that fish on a fun fishing mission with buddies, it would have absolutely been released. However, and this is obviously hypocritical, there’s a high probability that it would have gone into the box if it was one of my guiding clients who caught it…I am a huge catch & release advocate but, ultimately, it is the angler’s choice.
David Engler says
Yeah! That would be a terrible thing to have one of your grandkids catch one equal to that one eh! Have a great Thanksgiving
Eric Mann says
He caught the fish the fish is his to kill if he wants. Personally I think you should be able to take two fish by any means available like shooting them from a bridge or using a 2 inch treble hook, conditions call for the method that one has to use to get a fish. I could care less if my grandkids ever catch a fish, after me they come first. There will always be big fish in the rivers, mother nature will see to that and hatcheries will make up the difference.
JD says
WOW!
Jeff LaShell says
I’m not sure if it was intentional for the photo, but I like the fact that Wayne’s head fits nicely inside that monster’s mouth.
fishbird says
Is that the biggest one any body seen south of canada this year???!!!!!! I bet that battle was epic Great Fish Wayne Bro……
Michelle Peters says
Salmonzilla is right, WOW!