2012 Westport Salmon Fishing

[MarkFromSea]

Having satisfied my early season trout fetish, it's time to direct my efforts elsewhere for the fish I truly love to catch! Westport Salmon! From what I've heard, this is supposed to be a great year for catching salmon off of our coast.
I'm a little behind in getting the boat prepped for the season but after reading some recent reports of the charters out of Westport I'm anxious to pull that trigger. A quick glance at protides for Westport shows good tides for this week launching in the a.m. and retrieving in the p.m. Winds look light. Crossing the bar shouldn't be bad this week as long as you time your crossing accordingly. There is a lot of water moving through!
While fishing out of Westport in the past, I've noticed it's difficult to find co-ordinates for where the fish are concentrated at that time. Not surprising since they are every where and always moving. I haven't reviewed my notes of the last few years yet. I guess the fish are somewhere west of the the jetty. LOL I find that I traditionally head to the NW, work an area, if the fish aren't there, then I'll pick up, head south a bit, work it, head south, work it, head south, changing depths as I go.
From another site, BD, I noticed one guy monitors channel 42 while out there, anyone else know of or have a channel preference out there?
BD is a bloody mess when it comes to organized reports and information. I prefer to use WaLakes. The last couple years has been great using the Ace Hi Fly. Depths usually aren't that deep, 20-60' in about 140 feet of water I believe. I usually get around to fishing Westport later in the season when the fish are bigger but this year, I hope to get out earlier and more often. It appears an out of state job has fallen through so it's time to fish!
So, how about it, any regular Westport salmon fishermen out there? I could use some pointers, tips on a few things and I'm happy to share what I know. Which isn't much right now! LOL

[MarkFromSea]

Bad mouth them in one post and recommend an article I found over there the next. LOL
Worth reading, keep in mind, last years season dates and such.
http://www.bdoutdoors.com/article/catch ... on-how-to/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MarkFromSea]

Here's a handy link, weather, tides, bar condition, for planning a trip to fish Westport: http://www.westportwa.com/other/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

extra info: June 9th - June 23rd Chinook only Bag limit-2 Chinook (selective/clipped) 7 days per weekQuota-8,000 Chinook Coast-wide
June 24-September 23 All Species Bag limit 2 (only 1 Chinook) 5 days per week (Sunday-Thursday) Coho selective (Chinook non selective) Quota=25,800 Coho, 25,600 Chinook

[Mike Carey]

Think of it more as praising the way our reports are set up, not bad-mouthing another site. Forum-based report systems just don't have the flexibility and functionality of a data-based system. It's a lot more work, which is why you don't see many sites using data-base systems.

(just ask Aaron how much work is involved!)

[natetreat]

It sounds like a lot of fun! I don't know anything about it though.

[MarkFromSea]

Think of it more as praising the way our reports are set up, not bad-mouthing another site. Forum-based report systems just don't have the flexibility and functionality of a data-based system. It's a lot more work, which is why you don't see many sites using data-base systems.

(just ask Aaron how much work is involved!)

Absolutely praising WaLakes! It's not only the best organized fishing reports/forum, it's WA grown.

Here's some handy intel from FB: Charter fleet is fishing right off of Grayland's beach! Gotta love it!

Added: This photo was taken today.......

[MarkFromSea]

Opening weekend, mon and tues, awesome fishing! By Wed, fish became scattered and the bite was off. I fished Mon and Tues out of my boat trolling, picked up 29", 31" and 2 32" hatch nooks rather quickly. Bar was light, outside was a bit rougher but doable each of the 2 days. The fish were so close in, 2 days of fishing used less than 5 gallons of gas, Honda 90.

Wed: Robyn was feeling up to riding along on a charter but not fishing. Mostly natives were caught and released, some shaker coho. A few lucky or better fishermen/women ended up with limits of good sized hatchery chinooks. LOL I wasn't one of them...

A season launch pass can be had at the marina office for $50, daily launch $5.

[MotoBoat]

Mark, how large a boat are you fishing out of with a 90 horse on it. Must be 17- 19ft? Wow that is impressive! I would not have considered taking that size boat out there. Are there many other boats of that size amongst the fleet? Tell me there aren't any 12ft aluminum's out there!!

[MarkFromSea]

Mark, how large a boat are you fishing out of with a 90 horse on it. Must be 17- 19ft? Wow that is impressive! I would not have considered taking that size boat out there. Are there many other boats of that size amongst the fleet? Tell me there aren't any 12ft aluminum's out there!!

I think there were a few my size but mostly bigger. It's definitely a weather and bar game out there. Wind waves, swell, water exchange on the bar,,,,, With the links above you can take a look. It also has to do do with what you are comfortable doing. I don't like beating myself up slamming along on top of the swell and waves but I am comfortable in my safety. I'm certain my boat was mostly airborne way more than once or twice. It's not for everyone!

Definitely not 12 foot alums out there Mon-Wed. The outside water was rougher than I like, but, for me, it was doable. The bar was light. Mine is a 17' Silver Streak built by Barry Marine in Canada. It has about a 2' extension/platform behind the transom that the motor sits on. It's 15-18 years old.... I can't recall right now....

Below is the two 32" chinooks that feed my addiction of Westport .... Since I have probs catching in the rivers, I'll stick with Westport the rest of the year.

[MotoBoat]

I would feel comfortable with it. The few times I have been out there, it was a loooong time ago. Never seen anything small out there during those few outings. Nothing small in the marina where the charters were parked. Unless there is a older picture, there are crab pots in the boat! How did those produce?

[MarkFromSea]

The interior of the boat picture was from crabbing the San Juans last year. Last year was awesome for crab for us but the opener was wet weather, LOL, we got drenched camping but we were stuffed with fresh caught/cooked crab.... I did drop a pot in a fairly protected area at Westport last week, bait disappeared, pot was empty.... ????? IDK ?????

Gotta replace an anchor light wire, repair a down rigger, check the weather and such. Thinking of another trip this week but the bite is off/fish scattered according to FB charter boat and BD reports. Spoons and herring are producing for those with an idea of where to go..... Fish checkers, something about 3/4 fish per angler>>>>>OUCH!!!!!!

[MotoBoat]

The interior of the boat picture was from crabbing the San Juans last year. Last year was awesome for crab for us but the opener was wet weather, LOL, we got drenched camping but we were stuffed with fresh caught/cooked crab.... I did drop a pot in a fairly protected area at Westport last week, bait disappeared, pot was empty.... ????? IDK ?????

Gotta replace an anchor light wire, repair a down rigger, check the weather and such. Thinking of another trip this week but the bite is off/fish scattered according to FB charter boat and BD reports. Spoons and herring are producing for those with an idea of where to go..... Fish checkers, something about 3/4 fish per angler>>>>>OUCH!!!!!!

What was the average fish per angler, during the time you went Mark? Is Robin up for this weeks trip if it materializes, or your headed out solo?

While chatting it up with a neighbor, the subject of catching Halibut came up, can they by caught out of Westport?

You have got me considering a Westport Charter trip. How long is the season or is the season based on a quota?. I haven't caught a "king" in............many years! Check that, memory just kicked in, and I know recall releasing a king with one to many fins, last year in Puget Sound.

[MarkFromSea]

The opener, Sat-Tues was HOT! I expect it was close to the allowed limit of 2 hatchery chinook per angler. The charter guys had a lot of natives to release. Some sporties had similar, I hooked into only one native each of the 3 days, Mon-Wed.

Robyn had chemo on Thurs, she's not feeling well at this time but may turn around by late Mon. We hit Yakima/Wapato yesterday for a family graduation party, that took a bit o wind out of her sails but she enjoyed it. Those Filipinos know how to party! IDK if Robyn will make it this week to vacation in Westport while I fish. I just asked her, she said she'll go. I'll be fishing solo though.

Halibut can be caught out of Westport! Very short season though. Rumor has it that it'll be down to just 2 days for next years charters. IDK the sportee regs, weather is usually too rough for my boat in May.

It is season and quota, from above: extra info: June 9th - June 23rd Chinook only Bag limit-2 Chinook (selective/clipped) 7 days per weekQuota-8,000 Chinook Coast-wide
June 24-September 23 All Species Bag limit 2 (only 1 Chinook) 5 days per week (Sunday-Thursday) Coho selective (Chinook non selective) Quota=25,800 Coho, 25,600 Chinook

I was told verbally, 17% of this early season quota had been met in the first 3 days........ Now, it is only 6 days left of the early season 2 hatch king season..... the bite was off for ALL for 4 days... I read, second hand, a few minutes ago the charters did better today, Sunday, 1.5 fish per angler off of the charters. But they are running south over 20 miles to get them. I'm just guessing, there is plenty left in the quota for the remaining 6 days of this early season.

Here's last Mondays fish:

[MarkFromSea]

Posted in the reports section but figured it's just as easy to add it in here:
Westport Salmon June 20-21
Hit the ramp Wed about 8-8:30, dropped a couple pots and headed out to south of the Jetty. It took quite a bit of time but I managed to get 2 13 pounders on a couple coyote spoons. I had a tug of war with one submerged pot, I got my ball back but it kept my flasher and lucky seasoned spoon. Fished from the buoy off of the submerged jetty down to the windmills. Zero wild fish! Back to the ramp about 5:30 where the fish checker and sherrifs deputy said only a few limits had been brought in while they were there.

Thurs, hit the ramp about 5am, fished the same areas with a few bites and releases but only one hookup with an LDR being the result. I jinxed myself the night before by mentioning to someone, I hadn't lost any fish yet in the last few days of fishing. By 11ish I was ready to bag salmon and head north for some bottom fishing. I plugged some recently acquired coordinates into Larry(Lowrance) and was shocked to see I'd be travelling 27 miles. Ugh! I stopped and trolled a few areas for salmon on the way north, nada. Hit my coordinates for bottom fishing and went huntin. Released a couple baby lings and retained one legal ling. Slipped on another twice frozen stinky a$$ herring and commenced another drag along the bottom in 113' of water. Fish on! Came in like another ling with little fight until it saw the boat! About the time I saw it was a salmon, the nook came unglued! Now, I was only expecting to catch some sea bass and rock fish so I had a 12 pound leader on, the drag was set light. It would have been hysterical to watch the next 15 minutes of chaos while I tried to get that fish in the net. Got him! 10 pound nook on a twice frozen stinky a$$ herring! Intended for bottom fish. I stuck on a fresh(not frozen) herring, did the drift again but no takers which was odd since the old herring accounted for the other lings and the chinook. I headed south, stopped at a place that just looked fishy, dropped the downrigger in, trolled through crab pots and hooked into another zinger! I powered this fish away from the pots then went into my typical hard to port turn to net the fish, another hatchery nook! Limited late in the day! Pulled into the ramp about 7pm. I put 14 hours and about 70 miles on the 17' boat just in the one day but I got to put a couple more punches on my card. I had a grand adventure!

[MarkFromSea]

Just a reminder: The early season, 2 hatchery chinook daily, is now over! We're now in the standard season: June 24-September 23 All Species Bag limit 2 (only 1 Chinook) 5 days per week (Sunday-Thursday) Coho selective (Chinook non selective) Quota=25,800 Coho, 25,600 Chinook... Be safe out there!

[returnofthefish]

Very nice Kings Mark. How long does it take you to land one of those ocean kings?

[MarkFromSea]

Very nice Kings Mark. How long does it take you to land one of those ocean kings?

It's surprisingly fast with the 25 lbs Big Game mainline and 50 pound leader, flasher setup. I fish solo so I use the motor to circle on the fish, controlling it on the the side I want to net him, also shortens retrieval time, opposite side of downrigger. Main motor is constantly in gear. If a fish is particularly hard to get close enough to net when the fish is at the boat, I'll place the rod behind my neck to give my left hand added leverage, net with my right hand. Seems like less than 5 minutes for these shallow water chinooks, 10 minutes tops for the 30 lbs Kings that'll show up in August. My drag is always set light! If they want to run they can and do! Maybe the circling motion of the boat going around them disorients or confuses them. IDK The one fish that bit the bottom fishing gear was just a fluke! LOL Quite fun! I didn't dare power on a 15 pound leader, 15 year old leader, pretie from Outdoor Emporiums original location..... LOL

[MotoBoat]

What was the bar crossing like for your last Westport Journey? If I am understanding your fish landing method. Your constantly circling the fish, in a ever smaller circle as the rod to fish distance decreases and the fish is landed?

[MarkFromSea]

What was the bar crossing like for your last Westport Journey? If I am understanding your fish landing method. Your constantly circling the fish, in a ever smaller circle as the rod to fish distance decreases and the fish is landed?

What bar? LOL But seriously, I just don't go if bar conditions are predicted to be bad. Mon night, there was a 40'(boat length) restriction for boats crossing the bar. I canceled my plan to launch on tues, chose wed and thurs to go instead. For me, wed & thurs bar was easy peasy! NOT flat, but easy for me. I read, fishing reports, that sat and sun were flat conditions...... I called that Westport Coast Guard station once, they were helpful. Also there is a recorded message for the bar/Westport conditions. Avoid the max ebb on extreme tidal exchanges, couple that with swell and wind wave conditions, toss a pinch of salt over your left shoulder and be careful! It's well worth it!

Certainly there are exceptions, but generally I keep the line almost perpendicular, slightly behind, to the side of the boat. For me, this keeps the chances of the fish running the line through the prop much smaller. I'm fishing solo, I gots to be careful! LOL To answer your question, never thought about it the way you put it, yes I do, "constantly circling the fish, in a ever smaller circle as the rod to fish distance decreases and the fish is landed." When the fish is further out, generally my wheel isn't turned as far and when he gets closer, generally it's hard to port or starboard depending on the side I'm using to net. Wind, current and fish is always a factor but generally it works quite smoothly. Wish I had some video......

[MarkFromSea]

http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtbltn ... pzz110.txt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The current bar conditions look beautiful!
GRAYS HARBOR BAR-
842 PM PDT SUN JUN 24 2012
COMBINED SEAS 3 TO 5 FT. BAR CONDITIONS LIGHT. MAXIMUM EBB CURRENTS
WILL OCCUR AROUND 9 PM TONIGHT...845 AM AND 945 PM MON.