Category Archives: Fishing

Final Pack for Alaska Fishing Expedition and Photo Some Brown Bear

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Packing for my Alaska Fishing Adventure at the end of next week on the Kenai Peninsula, Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay and Brown Bear Watching/Photography. Should be great fun. Stay tuned, I’m bringing you with me. I can fit you in my suitcase just fine. 

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The crazy part is you never know what the weather will be so I packed at least for cool to cold ocean rainy fishing weather.
Can there be some sun shine? Sure! I can at least dress down.
Yes, I have three cameras. Lots to photo and plant in my memory and share.
I will be fishing for halibut that can run in size from 20 pounds to well beyond 100 pounds like the picture above and salmon that run in the 10 to 50 pound class.
I can’t bring a pistol but the mates on halibut boats often shoot the really big ones with a 9mm or a slug shotgun like a 410 because they thrash so violently on the deck.  
Alaska Fish and Game wisely put limits on your catch and size so that we all get a chance to partake.
In addition, I will take a float plane inland to fish for salmon and photograph brown bears along the river (from a safe distance).
And I get to bring my fish processed, frozen and vacuum sealed and will come home with me for summer cookouts with family and friends.

Countdown to Alaska Fishing Adventure

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In just 19 days I will be flying to Alaska for my halibut and salmon fishing adventure and brown bear photography fly-in.

Alaska is a place sportsman’s dreams are made of. And I’ve been dreaming of  Alaska for a very long time. You too? 

Below is Homer Alaska, Halibut Capital of the World and Kachemak Bay.

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The trip has another purpose, in the development of my someday wild game cook book, to create simple, yet delicious, wild recipes for salmon, halibut, rock fish and cod recipes to accompany and balance my delicious wild game recipes.

 I get to bring home my catch, frozen and labeled for me to experiment the best yet simple recipes. I’m thinking lemon, lots of butter, herbs, sea salt, cheese and garlic, cracker crumbs, Panko too. OMG my mouth is watering already. Of course I had a head start by purchasing some Alaskan halibut and salmon a few months ago. Click below.

Alaskan Fresh Fish? Ordered Halibut and Salmon to Experiment and Chef

Get ready because I am bringing you with me. I’ll make a spot in my luggage for you! 

Fun Stuff!

My Alaska Delivery of Halibut and Salmon Arrived In New Hampshire

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As I wrote  a few weeks ago, I purchased some Alaskan Salmon and Halibut from Tanners Alaskan Seafood.

My 24 hour Alaskan delivery arrived frozen, as promised. Here are the fish packs below.

I made a baked pistachio crusted halibut with butter herbs and lemon. It was spectacular. Looking forward to a Sockeye Salmon dish soon!

Yes, it is expensive but in June I will catch some myself and bring many pounds home.  Gotta get my Omega 3’s! Below my dishes, pistachio crusted halibut and sockeye salmon w/herbs and lemon. So fresh and delicious. 

More soon…

 

 

My Twister Arm Trainer Progress for Halibut Fishing – One Month In

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I love this arm and hand trainer for $30 on Amazon. When I received it, I tried to close it like the woman below. I got it almost half closed/collapsed on one try. Today, I just did 10 reps fully closed. Wow!

On the hand grip, I did twenty closed grips last month. Today I can do an easy sixty.

My arm and shoulder muscles are growing and strengthening very well.

The secret of using these devices is that they can be used anytime, especially when I watch TV. 

Secondly, at home, reeling a deep sea rod and reel with 10 to 15 pound weights on the line and the drag set to just lift these weights is a great to mimic a real halibut.

I will work up to 20 pounds at some point. It is not easy, that’s for sure but will simulate catching a fish near to 100 pound class. That’s my strength goal and to keep fishing for more big fish on the same trip.

Alaska is on my mind… 

 

My Exercise for June Alaska Halibut Continued…Adventure Takes Preparation

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Some visiting Alaskan halibut fisherman get the shock of their life when a really big halibut bites their line and zaps every ounce of strength from their arms and body trying to land such a creature. Fisherman have to stop fishing on the trip just to recover as their arms ache and are like jelly. I watched a video of a 40 year old stout fisherman reeling up a huge fish. He need a 10 minute break so one of the mates took over for a bit. They strapped a fishing belt on him and took 30 to 40 minutes of unbelievable struggle to get the beast to the surface where they shot it twice. It took 4 men to bring it over the gunwale. That is why I am preparing. 

I am in week 3 of my halibut fishing exercise routine. Having said that, I feel great. I had to return to the Gym today and moving forward, I did some treadmill cardio, stomach and our many shoulder muscles to strengthen besides my many home exercises. 

Besides, another snow storm or two or three is headed our way in New Hampshire. I need muscle strength everywhere for that. The most recent storm dumped 16 inches overnight this past week. In and around Boston, some older men had heart attacks etc. Pace yourself and research things you can do like exercise in advance. 

My exercises have also got me to think about the quality of my food and its nutritive value for my body and mind. You too! Some YouTube research enlightened me on super foods for brain and body like salmon, blueberries (especially wild) and eating eggs for breakfast. 

Having a fishing, hunting, hiking etc. goal in front of me helps keep me in better shape.

Good Health Takes Effort on Our Part. 

Big Alaskan Game Fishing Like Halibut Requires Conditioning and Upper Body and Arm Strength

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As an older sportsman, without conditioning to fight trophy size fish, I have an opportunity to seriously damage my upper body, shoulders and arms if I am not in shape for reeling in say up to 100 pound halibut pulling him up from say 200 to 300 feet.

Or catching numerous lesser fish from similar depths and then hooking a whopper.

Accordingly, core conditioning and working my upper body and arms is essential before the trip. It will take me at least 3 months or more to get in shape and stay in shape. It’s all about stamina as I will be on a fishing rod every day for hours. 

Below are some exercises that will aid in building stamina and muscle strength. 

I have a rowing machine for cardio, stomach, back and arms. Below is my inexpensive $179 Yosuda Machine that I have been using for this past year. I like it for my daily exercise, quality and price (some assembly required).

But that may not be enough . Hand and arm strength is essential. Below, I bought a “Twister Arm Trainer” set from Amazon for $25 dollars. I love it because I can exercise while watching tv or news. 

 

In case of muscle cramps and lactic acid buildup, I purchased some Theraworx® Muscle Cramp and Lidocaine roll on products to test before my trip. If they work, I will have them in my tackle box. 

Ultimately, I want to be very prepared mentally and muscle wise for multiple Alaskan adventures in just a week. I eat well and daily take Balance of Nature fruit and vegetable capsules (I swear by these for their positive effects on my overall health). 

Don’t let your older body keep you from being at your best in the outdoors. Some say check with your doctor if unsure of these exercise thoughts. I say as President Trumps says, Fight, Fight, Fight!

Good Fish Hunting!

 

 

My Alaska Fishing Adventure Booking Just Happened

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Life is too short. I have a bucket list and Alaska is on it.

Physical Map of Alaska. It shows the physical features of Alaska including its mountain ranges, rivers and major lakes.

I get email invitations from hunting and fishing outfits now and again, and found one that works for me.  Fishing Alaska is achievable on my bucket budget.

I booked 6 days with a large well established outfit along the Kenai River (Alaskan Fishing Adventures www.alaskafishing.com ). I have no personal experience with them at this time but expect the very best. 

I will surely write and video on my trip in June 2026.

I will be fishing primarily for halibut and salmon as we encounter them.

Just Some Of The Species That You Can Catch On Our Boats.

Yellow eye is a deep water rockfish that is a prized catch as well. All fish are filleted, vacuum sealed and frozen for return to New Hampshire.

One such trip includes a fly-in to fish salmon and view the neighboring brown bears fishing near us.

 

 

We catch fish with rod and reel… brown bears catch them with teeth.   

Needless to say lots of pictures and video. 

My Job is to get in shape, especially my arms, to reel in these huge fish. 

Good Fishing!