July 8 Homer the Monsons

 I'll actually back date a little.  We know officially have the band back together. Thursday night Shane and Deanna picked up Amanda and Travis, and Shane very kindly picked up Matt a 2:00 a.m. Nice to have all the kids here because it feels like we're officially starting the second vacation. We had a pretty quick overnight in Anchorage at a nice wooded city park. We headed out on Friday after a good night's sleep. We stopped in the wonderfully funky cool town of Girdwood AK (it was on the route). The 48th annual Girdwood Forest festival was happening and glad we stopped.

We timed it perfectly and had a nice stop. We ended the day on the Spit in Homer at the Heritage RV park. An amazing view of the mountains behind us. 

Saturday started off early to make our chartered trip with Captain Drew and deckhand Dave on the Patriot. We met another nice retired couple from Wisconsin.  After a pretty choppy ride out to deeper water we started hitting the Halibut hard...hard! I think our Midwestern friends kicked off with a Large 60 lb Hali.  it then it was one after the other till everyone had either a halibut or a rockfish. My personal best was a Halibut so large I needed Erik to help hold the rod while I reeled. ( 90 lb and my arms are still sore). 

We ended the day with 5 rockfish, 8 halibut, 2 salmon, and a monster called a ling cod. The Whites also had a great day but with lots of sea sickness. Their Hall was primarily salmon Three Kings and about a dozen pinks.  we dined one of the king Salmon caught by the Whites. It fed 8 people! Overall, personal best for each Monson.