Westport Jetty (Swell/Surf Data Interpretation)

[Prest0nC]

A buddy and I are hoping to make it out to the Westport South Jetty this Friday (5/20) to do some fishing. However, I've found that in my preparation I'm having a difficult time understanding the swell/surf reports (we don't want to make the trek out to Westport just to find out that the jetty is too dangerous to fish).

According to swellinfo.com, the swells are anticipated to be 6.7ft @ 10 seconds and the surf to be 4-6ft. The surf is supposed to be "head high W medium period swell" and conditions to be "semi glassy in the morning with SSE winds less than 5mph. Semi glassy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting SW 5-10mph".

For those of you that have experience fishing the south jetty, would you fish the jetty in these conditions? Generally, at what point (swell/surf height) does the south jetty become too dangerous to fish?

Seeing as there has been recent interest in this forum about fishing the south jetty, it might be helpful to get some safety parameters in place so that people have an idea of what to expect on their trip out. Of course, any information in this thread shouldn't be construed as a guarantee of safety and that anyone going out on the rocks assumes the risks involved.

Thanks!

[SeatoSummit88]

If you google (grays harbor bar forecast); click the first link for the NOAA site. I use this for preparation going out anywhere from the jetty to crossing the bar. Typically if you find yourself with a ripping tide; it can accumulate to surges on the jetty with breakers coming up and over the higher rock points; which makes it really dangerous.
Here is what I found for an ocean forecast; which is just from the shore to out 10 miles:
THU NIGHT
W WIND 5 TO 15 KT...BECOMING SW TO 10 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 9 FT AT 11 SECONDS.

FRI
SE WIND 15 TO 25 KT...BECOMING NW TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 2 TO
4 FT...SUBSIDING TO 1 FT. W SWELL 8 FT.

SAT
SW WIND TO 10 KT. WIND WAVES 1 TO 2 FT. W SWELL 6 FT.


Here are the tides:
05/20 Fri 12:17 AM 8.98 H
05/20 Fri 06:42 AM -0.11 L
05/20 Fri 01:13 PM 7.54 H
05/20 Fri 06:37 PM 2.41 L

Some people fish the ebb; some people fish an incoming flood. I have had hit miss days. I have had bad weather luck when it comes to a serious outgoing. I think I would check the conditions Thursday night at the 9pm update, then see if it changes. If it doesn't; I would start around 8am and fish until lunch. then take a break and catch the evening ebb.

If the weather is beating up the jetty bad; you can always fish the more protected fingers by the Westport cottages.

Hope that helped a little bit.?.

[Prest0nC]

SeatoSummit, thanks for your input. It helped a lot.

[SeatoSummit88]

No problem. Glad I could help! Let us know if you made it out and hooked anything!

Although it is more expensive than paying for fuel, bait and beer; you should consider a bottom trip with one of the charter boats. I can give you some names and numbers if you are interested. There are guys that specialize in Lingcod.

[Prest0nC]

So we made it out onto the south jetty last Friday (great weather!) and spent about 9 hours fishing various spots (both ocean and bay side) from half-way out to about 3/4 of the way out. Threw 3" - 5" curly tails with 1/2oz jig heads in chartreuse and white. Lost a lot of gear and only brought in two fish total. We caught one greenling and one 4-5lb black sea bass. After hundreds of casts and losing 30 or so jigs, it would have been nice to catch more. Maybe it was a slow day? Anyhow, I'm just happy we didn't get skunked.

[SeatoSummit88]

Glad you made it out! I guess that's the whole part right? Just to get out and fish! Catching always takes the bad taste from weather or being skunked out of your mouth. I hate losing gear; its frustrating when you cast completely away from that snaggy area; have about a dozen great casts and then that 13th cast comes up with another rock, log or whatever...

Keep trying. Bite has been on for the charter guys and rec boats!