Northwest Fishing Reports

I'm heading out after some kings in Elliott Bay this weekend for the first time. I'm wondering if anyone can give me any pointers or wise words. As I keep my boat not a mile upstream from Todd Pacific I'm looking forward to easy access and being able to hit the water very early in the AM.

Anyone make it out last weekend??? I heard it was a fairly strong start.

i have had my best luck from the don armeni ramp troll south past saltys and the waterways
I had luck on hoochies at 45 and 55 feet down in 120 fow
I like to fish 90 to 150 fow
spoons work well in white lighting and so does plug cuts

couple things, If your not at the launch at 3am, you will be waiting for a while. Traditionaly, way early morning fishery 3-6am. Theese are tips that have been shared with me from several old timers and have contributed to some success.

Early in morning(while still dark) work in a north-south direction under the lights of the cranes on Alaskan way, from mouth of Duwamish to the ferry terminal.

As it starts to get light, take your pick, Mooching west waterway next to Todd Shipyard or 2 different trolling paths. From west end of the west waterway to the fueling depot for the tugs and ferrys (basicly infront of Todd Shipyard), or from Duwamish head south to saltys. Don't waste your time trying to troll from satltys to the waterway, long way and not highly productive.

Don't be afraid to fish deep (up to 175-200ft) especially if there is alot of sun and boat/ship traffic

Thats what the old dudes have taught me, now my personal input. I have two go-to outfits. In morning, I like a green/glow flasher with a double glow hoochie 42". I will head pin a fire cracker herring to that. In the evening, I will use the same flasher but then use an army truck coho killer 42".

Hope that helps

Thanks for the great info! Lucky for me my boat is already in the water at the Jim Clark Marina on harbor island, so not launch line:compress:

Want an early morning king? Fish in front of Saltys restaurant.Fish near surface until the sun pokes through then deep after sun comes up.

So who hit it this weekend and howd you do?

There is only one way in Elliot Bay. Find the bait and stay on it. Start before light.

Fished Saturday morning 4:15-7:00 and evening 8:00-9:45 and got the big old skunk. In the morning there were alot of boats out, but only saw one hookup the whole time. Looked like a blackmouth and he lost it at the boat....

Try again next weekend I suppose.

Bro-Rando wrote:Fished Saturday morning 4:15-7:00 and evening 8:00-9:45 and got the big old skunk. In the morning there were alot of boats out, but only saw one hookup the whole time. Looked like a blackmouth and he lost it at the boat....

Try again next weekend I suppose.

I am planning on hitting it Friday morning. Hopefully things will work out for me. If not, 9 opens and the oil docks were very promising last season.

If I were you Matt, I would hit the oil docks. I saw a blog where all weekend only 2-3 kings and a handfull of blackmouth in E-BAY for over 300 boats. E-BAY usually gets going twords the end of the month. I'm making the haul to Port Townsend for the opener.:bounce:

Give it another week guys the nookie will start improving.

wintersteelhead wrote:If I were you Matt, I would hit the oil docks. I saw a blog where all weekend only 2-3 kings and a handfull of blackmouth in E-BAY for over 300 boats. E-BAY usually gets going twords the end of the month. I'm making the haul to Port Townsend for the opener.:bounce:

Hmm, that might b a good plan since those fish haven't seen the pressure Ebay has gotten already.... Decision time, hehe.

Will Salmon hit a 6" curly tail grub in the sound? Or should jigging be kept to Pt Wilsons?

I will concur with fishing in front of Saltys working south. Here's an article from a few years ago, it's field test article so forgive the product plugging (which is a good product, BTW)

Elliot Bay Kings

set the riggers for 85 and 95 in 120 ft of water. fresh herring and purple haze hoochies. i have been out in area 9 prefished it and 7 hook ups 6 fish to the boat.

curado wrote:set the riggers for 85 and 95 in 120 ft of water. fresh herring and purple haze hoochies. i have been out in area 9 prefished it and 7 hook ups 6 fish to the boat.

Considering its been closed since April you shouldn't have been fishing it...

we were right on the line inbetween area 10 and 9. the game warden we talkto siad we werent in the wrong.

Planning to hit the Bay on Friday morning. Any other spots to hit close by for the Area 10 opener if things are slow? What about for coho?

Bro-Rando wrote:Planning to hit the Bay on Friday morning. Any other spots to hit close by for the Area 10 opener if things are slow? What about for coho?

Area 9 opens on Friday and has not been fished recreationally since April. I would suggest checking out a few areas up that way. Bait box, Pt. No Pt., and Oil Docks may all be good bets to name a few. Most areas holding kings should also have resi coho lingering around (find the bait, find the fish), although they are generally found a bit shallower. At this point I would say it is way early to be seeing any migratory silvers.