Voices of Prois...Worth Every Soggy Layer
By: Prois Staffer, Roanna Snebbold
I didn’t come to sightsee. I came to fishand the Pacific answered back with absolute units, screaming reels, and a day I’ll be bragging about forever.
Up early.
Too early.
Layered up like a human marshmallow Prois head to toe warm, comfortable, and deeply questioning all my life choices while heading to the dock. But excitement was already maxed out, so off we went: me, Zach, Gina, and Dave.
We loaded the boat with Chris and Nick from Outer Limits out of Depoe Bay, Oregon. Chris owns the boat and always runs our trips. By now, it’s less “fishing trip” and more floating comedy show. Lots of laughs, easy conversation, and just enough trash talk to keep everyone humble. Always a good time.
Heading out of Depoe Bay is beautiful.
And also mildly terrifying.
Smallest harbor in the world. Narrow as heck. Crossing the bar is always a full‑body clench for me equal parts anxiety and excitement. Like a roller coaster you paid to be on but slightly regret once it starts moving.
Here we gooooo.
Tight lines coming soon… hopefully.
We head out a bit, the boat starts to turn, and you know what that means.
“Head to your space.”
The captain calls the depth.
Time to jig.
And then
“FISH ON!”
Back to back to back.
Rain is pouring down like the ocean personally took offense to us being out there. Didn’t matter. We were catching fish like the jigs owed them money.
Honestly, it doesn’t even matter whose fish it is once they’re coming over the rail, everyone’s hyped. Group celebrations for slimy sea creatures? Absolutely.
Last year, I had already limited out and then caught a massive blue lingcod…
that went right back into the ocean.
It broke me inside. Ugh.
But THIS year?
I caught and kept my first blue lingcod.
Serious disbelief. Excitement. Pride. A little internal screaming. And a whole lot of FUCK YEA.
I did it. I caught one.
I am clearly a professional now. LOL.
Cloud nine.
Everything felt perfect. I looked around at the water, the fish, the rain soaking me to the bone. My head was clear, my body felt light, and my mood was somewhere between zen monk and victory dance. Honestly? Ready for an 8:30 a.m. cocktail.
Then my brain checked me okay, stop over‑celebrating, get your shit together and keep fishing.
Line back down.
Jig.
Re‑drop.
Jig.
Suddenly
SNAG.
It happened so fast.
The reel screams and my first thought is, Holy shit, I caught the reef. Am I about to lose my lucky jig?
Is this even a fish?
Then the rod tip bends HARD. A slight rise… and back down again.
Wait…
Nope.
That’s a fish.
And not just a fish.
That’s a TOAD.
My husband yelling, “LET’S GO—GET IT, GIRL!”
The captain: “Oh yeah… oh yeah.”
Me, all smiles, thinking don’t lose this fish LET’S GOOOO.
Another massive lingcod. Absolute unit. Three‑footer energy. The kind of fish you usually watch other people catch while thinking must be nice, politely high‑fiving while internally chanting me me me me me…
Come on, sweet Pacific pick MEEEE.
And now?
It was ME.
The ocean said, “You? Yeah, you.”
Uncontrollable noises coming from me—
WHOOO! HELL YEAH! OMG WHAT IS HAPPENING?!
High fives. Kisses from Zach. Photos taken like this fish was a newborn baby. That dopamine hit? Straight to orbit.
I eventually pulled myself together.
Line back down. Jigging again.
And then
BOOM. ANOTHER ONE.
No.
Way.
At this point, I’m convinced the Pacific chose me. It said, “Hey you it’s your turn. Be ready.”
I’m on fire. Dialed in. Absolutely feeling myself. I came to fish—and I FISHED. I am fishing. I am slaying it. Pinch me. Is this real? Looking down at my fish, looking at my husband in pure excitement I watched, I felt, I tried, and I conquered.
Nope. This is real.
And wow… it felt good.
Mission accomplished.
The rain kept coming. I was soaked, freezing, probably smelled like fish and happier than ever.
The ocean is wild, unpredictable, beautiful and that day, it felt like showing off, and I got to be part of it.
Honestly, I’m still lost in a daze of disbelief. So thankful for this experience. These are the stories we live to tell.
Six keepers, a couple leavers and memories that’ll stick forever.
What a day. Worth every soggy layer. 🎣💙
