It was at least 80 pounds—no, 90. And I fought it for a solid hour with nothing but a bent spoon, a twisted line, and pure Kenai grit. Just me, the fish, and a seagull heckling from a spruce snag.
Or… maybe it was 35 pounds and took 10 minutes. But where’s the fun in that?
Here in Alaska, fish stories aren’t just stories—they’re rites of passage. Whether it’s your first salmon or your hundredth halibut, every catch has a tale. And at Jolly Wally’s, we say: if you’re going to tell it, tell it right.
So in the spirit of laughter, legacy, and just a splash of creative license—we’re launching our first-ever Tallest Fish Tale Contest (more on that below). But first, let’s break down the art of spinning a fish yarn that sticks.
🎣 Tip #1: Embellish the Drama, Not the Core
It’s not about lying—it’s about adding flavor. Maybe the fish was real, but the “hurricane” you braved to land it was more of a drizzle. That’s fine. Make us feel the tension. Add a rogue wave, a barking sea lion, or a broken net if you must. Just don’t claim you caught a halibut in a tree.
🐻 Tip #2: Add an Unexpected Character
The best stories usually involve someone—or something—that shouldn't have been there. A bear on the bank. Your buddy who dropped the net. Your grandkid who reeled it in backwards. Give us characters we’ll remember.
🧭 Tip #3: Set the Scene
Every great fish tale has a sense of place. Was it a foggy morning on the Kenai? Was the water so clear you could see the fish’s smirk before it bit? Describe it. Let readers smell the river and feel the chill in the air.
🧊 Tip #4: End with a Punch
Don’t just say, “And I caught it.” Tell us what happened after. Did your rod snap? Did your cousin scream? Did the fish get away—but you still swear it winked at you first?
Tall tales are about the journey, not the size on the scale.
🏆 Think You’ve Got Alaska’s Tallest Fish Tale?
Prove it.
We’re hosting our first Tallest Fish Tale Contest, and the winner gets a $500 Jolly Wally’s Seafoods gift card—enough to feed your family and fuel your next story.
Here’s how to enter:
🗨️ Step 1 – Head to our Facebook page and find the pinned contest post
✍️ Step 2 – Comment with your best (and most entertaining) fish story
👍 Step 3 – Get your friends to like your comment (votes = likes)
🎉 Step 4 – On July 1, 2025, the comment with the most likes wins
Rules? Just one: keep it clean, family-friendly, and full of that good ol’ Alaskan heart.
We’ll announce the winner right here on the blog—and maybe even feature a few honorable mentions. So dust off your memory (or your imagination), fire up that Facebook account, and get ready to tell it like only an Alaskan can.
And remember: if your fish wasn’t actually that big... just say it had a big personality.
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