Sea Lion Robbery

Expert fisherman, Rob Maxey, tells me an unbelievable story. "Sea lions have gotten extremely bold. To the point where they are following boats and waiting for people to hook up a salmon and then chasing after it. There's nothing more frustrating than to have the rod go down and you are fighting a fish and all of a sudden it just takes off. You have to turn and follow the sea lion that has the fish and if you don't, he's going to break off and you will lose $25 worth of gear. So you instantly turn and chase after the sea lion trying to get back your pole. usually you will get your gear back along with a head. I know people that were losing every other fish to see lions. In August when there are so many boats at Buoy 10 you didn't have that bad a problem. But later on, in September, as the crowds thinned out the sea lions had fewer boats to pick on so it was really easy for the sea lions to see what boats were hooking up fish and they would just go right behind and steal fish. That is all they were doing. It's very frustrating. I know one person who was netting the fish and the sea lion grabbed it and almost ripped him overboard. I think what is going to happen is the sea lions will get even bolder and the requirements for releasing where you can't bring the fish into the boat if it's a native or you have your hands in the water holding the fish and trying to resuscitate it and release it and a 2000 pound sea lion comes and grabs it out of your hand, it's just a matter of time before somebody gets dragged overboard or killed or maimed pretty seriously is my fear.