I caught close to 200 bright, beautiful chums on Monday and Tuesday way out in the middle of the Strait of Juan de Fuca (by the "R" buoy). The weather was lousy, blowing 15-20 knots from the east the whole time. On Monday night I anchored off of Dungeness spit, which was the closest protection from the weather. Since it was blowing from the east I anchored outside of the spit on the straits side. It was a rolly nights sleep, but the guys who anchored on the other side of the spit had it even worse with the eastern wind beating them up.

On my very first set I put my new silver salmon revival box to the test. I caught a big, beautiful wild silver that was lethargic from hanging in the net for a while. Bruce put the fish in the revival box, directed the flow of the water down his throat, and held him in place until he was once again fresh and feisty. Then I did something I thought I'd never do--I threw this beautiful 15-pound silver overboard, and watched him swim away. It just about killed me!

 

This whole survival box deal is new to me although it has been a requirement for over five years.  I just haven't fished for chums in the San Juans at this time of year.  The box is not required when we fish next week because the silvers will have gone upstream to spawn till they die and become food for the ecosystem.