Salmon angler challenges sea lion for salmon, loses

SALMON FISHING — After netting his son’s spring chinook salmon, a Portland angler was yanked into the Willamette River when a pinniped made a move to steal his catch, according to a report from The Oregonian .

The sea lion yanked the 62-year-old retired pharmaceutical company manager out of the boat and into the 51-degree water.

Clinging to the gunwale with his right hand, Jan Christopherson held fast to the net with his left but was no match for what likely was a male California sea lion, a species that can grow to 8 feet long and 850 pounds.

Christopherson wasn’t wearing a life jacket. His boots filled with water. He had to let the $150 net and the fish go.

Also gone: His son’s G. Loomis rod and Penn reel, valued at about $500.

But salmon must have seemed like child’s play after that.