PORT ANGELES — It was a whale of a good time for nine children from the Port Angeles unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.
Not only did they catch their limit during a salmon fishing expedition last weekend, they also had unexpected close-up views of two humpback whales that passed through their little fleet of boats and took turns feeding salmon carcasses to a harbor seal.
“They’re still talking about it. They’re really excited and really proud to bring home food for their families,” said Ashley Woolsey, director for the Mount Angeles unit, on Tuesday.
The children’s favorite parts were reeling in the fish and seeing the wildlife on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Woolsey said.
The children, who were between the ages of 8 and 14, went out on the water with five fishing boat captains at 7 a.m. Saturday.
They viewed sunrise from the water, and each child was able to catch the limit — two fish each, said Erik Hogenson, who organizes the annual trip sponsored by Anchor Marine, where he works as a marine technician.
The weather was ideal with calm wind and water, and there were far more fish to catch than during the first Boys & Girls Club fishing trip in 2013, the first year Anchor Marine sponsored the outing, Hogenson said.
Hogenson said most of the children had caught their limit by about 10:30 a.m., when the first of two humpback whales was spotted.
“He was no more that 100 feet from our boat,” Hogenson said.
After watching for a few minutes, Hogenson said he realized there were two whales.
Most of the children were on their first boat trip, he said. Catching salmon and seeing a whale simply added to the magic of the morning.
“These kids had an incredible time. And I think the captains had more fun than the kids,” he said.
Tony Dunscome, who captained one of the boats, took the children with their fish to the cleaning station for a lesson in how to fillet.
A harbor seal showed up in the water near the cleaning station, and each child was allowed to throw a fish carcass to the mammal that was just a few feet away from them, Hogenson said.
The children were chosen for the trip by Boys & Girls Club staff as part of a reward system.
Another trip for another group of Boys & Girls Club children is being planned, weather dependent, for early November.
Fishing captains and their crews were Anchor Marine service manager Ryan Mills with Justin Peterson, Tony Dunscome, Jay Barley, Erik Hogenson, Bob Harrison and Mark Steinberger.
Each fishing captain is given discounts on services at Anchor Marine, and Front Street Alibi provided lunches for the captains after the trip.
Children’s life vests were donated by Mark Murray of Murray Motors.
________
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.