The Filomi days weekend takes place in Port Hardy every year on the third weekend of July. The town lights up with live music, beer gardens, activities for children, fireworks, and the Daiwa fishing derby.
Rob and Kolby chose Leisure Suit Charters to take them out fishing for the day, and it was perfect timing for the derby. The boys picked up their derby ticket along with their fishing licenses and met me the following morning bright and early at the boat launch.
This was Kolby’s first time out on the ocean, as he is a river and lake fisherman. The weather wasn’t perfect, but he was all smiles regardless of the wind and sloppy water.
We ended up catching some Halibut, Coho and Chinook salmon, we just didn’t didn’t have the size to make it to the podium. We decided to try a different salmon tack looking for another fish before we head back to the dock. Rob reeled in the last salmon so it was Kolby’s turn to reel the next one. We make our first pass tight to the rocks, using bait (of course) and had the gear fishing for ten minutes when the shallow rod pops off the down rigger and immediately starts peeling line.
Colby grabs the rod and plays this monster like a champ. 15-20 minutes later Kolby has this salmon in the boat. A 36 lb’er had the number one spot when we left the dock, and ours weighed in at 38 lbs.
Kolby holding his hog. Think he was worried about getting slime on his clothes?
Beating 1st place by 2 lbs we now had a fish to bring to the weighing station.
Kolby’s fish is now sitting in first place for the derby. There is still one more day of fishing before we find out who wins the derby.
“And first place in the Filomi Days Derby goes to Kolby!”
Good job on the reels boys, I had a good time fishing with them and hope to see them next season for another day on the ocean. 38 lbs is going to be tough to beat, but I’d sure like a shot at it!!
