float tube in the salt water

[fishinChristian]

Been doing it off and on for decades, but like the guys said: Know your tide charts, current charts, and waters, and carry signal gear. The waters range from nice and easy (Freshwater bay up north) to deadly (Deception Pass whirlpools, where you'd be better off stuffed in a commercial washer or dryer!). Pontoons and kayaks are actually easier, safer and more fun, but there's just something about being dragged about by a big fish when you're halfway into their environment. Halibut and sturgeon are the toughest, followed by shark, but salmon and bottomfish are a kick, pun intended. If you have some healthy paranoia, it's a lot of fun. I'd suggest starting with flounder or some such, and you can tow a second device with extra gear without much noticeable difference in propulsion/maneuvering. Careful of bleeding fish though. That can get scary, depending on where you are. Try not to imitate a bobber!

[sickbayer]

each to his own mate, I admire your drive to get out there post a report!

[natetreat]

You guys are talking about a belly boat right? An inner tube and kick fins. That's scary. Get caught in a current, woosh! A toon with adequate oars or a trolling motor is another story. I kayak on the sound, you can move. But legs dangling, fish on stringer, flopping fins... sounds to me like seal bait.

[MarkFromSea]

I have spent the last 12 years on crab deck I think ill be fine I like adventure and I have been reading and float tube r a good way to get access to fishing in hard spots but im gonna try and see but I went and got me a kayak because of the load capacity I can take my crab pots and shrimp pots I know that shrimp r deep I set up rod with 350ft lines for my shrimp and crb pots

Ahhhhh..... hold my tongue, hold my tongue, hold my tongue..... be nice markfromsea.... LMAO..... "you're gonna need a bigger boat"...

I have, since last year's adventure, thought of taking a float tube with me in my boat to fish for tuna... just so I could say that I've done it....What a wild ride that would be! In a float tube hooked up to a 20 pound tuna! Who wants to be my driver in said adventure? Only frequent forum participants may apply.

[fishinChristian]

Tuna sounds like fun! Sturgeon were my ultimate, but they aren't quite as fast. They do last a while though!

Nate's comment is right if you dangle the fish. Part of why I suggest the second floatation device with ice chest: No blood in the water, or scent trail! I never used a stringer out there. Ever!

[MarkFromSea]

Tuna sounds like fun! Sturgeon were my ultimate, but they aren't quite as fast. They do last a while though!

Nate's comment is right if you dangle the fish. Part of why I suggest the second floatation device with ice chest: No blood in the water, or scent trail! I never used a stringer out there. Ever!

Sage advice! I better listen to that if I follow through with this bizarre tuna by float tube thing, blue sharks. Wouldn't want em mistaking my leg for a caught tuna. Sturgeon, float tube, would be a kick! Way to get em FC!

[16reddevil20]

Thanks well I tried chambers creek today on incoming tide and I didnt fish closed till tomorrow it took a little bit to get the used to mving water but all is well ill be there in the morning first day see how I do

[sealegs]

Sounds like a risky trip but probably worth the time and effort to just get out in the elements!

[lost360]

We float mud bay and Kennedy creek when the chums are in message me around that time you can float with us
This weekend we are floating nisqually to that boat launch if its open lure beach ? I'm not a elbow to elbow fisher

[fishinChristian]

How'd this all turn out?

[MarkFromSea]

I chickened out of the float tube with the sharks to catch tuna. I got into a good bunch of tuna in July and August, some of the tuna I hauled in were already bled out from the shark bites! No effing way I'm getting in that water with sharks that hungry and fast enough to catch a hooked tuna.

[fishinChristian]

Wisdom instead of Whiz-dumb. I like it.

[BARCHASER10]

Possible but risky. The tides are very strong. Pick a day with mellow tides. I have seen kayaks launch and fish at Picnic Pt and you are right in the midst of some of the best Silver fishing. You could paddle out to say 60-80 feet and dangle a plug cut. I have caught Silvers in some pretty shallow water there. You might think about a small anchor and 80-90 feet of rope. Just be very aware of what the tides doing. If the tide washes you away it could be a long walk back once you paddle to shore.

http://snohomishcountywa.gov/Facilities ... nt-Park-72" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BARCHASER10]

Oh one more thing, lots of furbags around there. If you get a fish and a sea lion clamps on it, things could get stressful. Bring a knife to cut your line. I lost two fish there last year to furbags, one to a seal and one to a sea lion.

[fishinChristian]

Good advice. I'd change the 80-90 to 200' or more. In current you need that much to anchor in 80'. Sometimes you have to wait out a tide. Kayak is much easier, and I've been doing that for about 40 years. Halibut are fun and provide great travel speed.

[Jerry H]

If you are anywhere south of the Narrows Bridge (Chambers Creek) you might want to go to one of the parks or out looks where you can see the water under and on either side of the bridge. Go during a tide change! It might change your mind about doing the float tube. The water flows like a river complete with whirlpools. As a kid I had a 12ft boat stored at Point Defiance with a 10hp motor. We used to go down to Salmon Beach. Just north of the bridge. When the tide got moving good we would be just able to hold our own or make a little headway. When they were building the new bridge WDFW lost one of their brand new boats down there when it got sucked under a barge. It's not a place for float tubes.

[lost360]

Defiantly don't try by the bridge it rips there

[fishinChristian]

Saw a 14' or 15' boat sucked under during a big tide change at Deception pass about 20 years ago. Never did find out if there were survivors. I doubt it. Not a thing to try in unknown waters. The tuna thing I'm glad was discarded, but there are some areas that one can survive and be effective.