Fishing off of Edmonds Pier

[MikeFishes]

Anyone fished off of the Edmond's Pier? I have a friend who's going to do that and was wondering what to use for bait. (he's not targeting anything specific, just want's to go out fishing with is Father on Fathers Day).

[Dave]

I fished the Edmonds Pier back in the early 80’s all the time and it was great. We used frozen herring and caught Pacific Cod with ease which you can no longer harvest. We used to catch salmon using buzz bombs, and sea bass and flounder were abundant. Today I am not sure how it is there. There is an artificial reef maybe 100 yards out from the dock which I am sure still attracts the fish to live there so my guess is there is still good fishing there. Other baits to consider are; clams or muscles, (muscles are available during low tide attached to rocks, old dock posts, or the ferry dock pilings), and sand worms are available to dig on the beach during an average low tide. These should all work great. If you walk down the south side of the ferry dock, all the way to the end, there used to be a spot there to fish. I used to fish there all the time and once caught a 5 pound Cabazon there. Lots of perch hang there at the end near the pilings because as you can imagine, when the ferry lands, it pushes lots of feed right into the dock area. It used to be great fishing and I never saw anyone else fish there. This was a long time ago but I am guessing it’s still there and open for fishing. The perch love the sand worms, muscles, and clams. If you are not familiar with sand worms, they have a mouth and it isn’t pleasant when they bite you so keep that in mind. I used to just cut the head end off. These worms also stay on the hook very well. Hope this helps.

[Gonefishing]

As Dave said on the baits.

In past years I would fish the pier on a daily basis. Today however was only my second time at the pier this year. Was told that the fishing so far this year has been slow with few Ling cod and fewer salmon so far. We all hope that will turn around. North side of the dock has the artificial lure eating reef about 50 yards or less out.

Some rock fish, cabazon, ling, flounders, sea bass, and perch in the area. Oh and the legendary sunstar.

[MikeFishes]

As Dave said on the baits.

In past years I would fish the pier on a daily basis. Today however was only my second time at the pier this year. Was told that the fishing so far this year has been slow with few Ling cod and fewer salmon so far. We all hope that will turn around. North side of the dock has the artificial lure eating reef about 50 yards or less out.

Some rock fish, cabazon, ling, flounders, sea bass, and perch in the area. Oh and the legendary sunstar.

Well, the sunstar is all that they caught.

I'll have to go with them next time and spend some time digging up some good bait. Thanks Dave for the warning on the teeth on those worms. I'm sure that I'd rather not have them attach to my fingers.

[Dave]

Anytime. And try the ferry dock. It was always a great spot.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

...I'll have to go with them next time and spend some time digging up some good bait. Thanks Dave for the warning on the teeth on those worms. I'm sure that I'd rather not have them attach to my fingers.

Also be mindful of the aggregate limit of "10" for "unclassified marine invertebrates." Basically, you're only allowed to keep 10 worms, or 5 worms and 5 shore crabs, etc.

I don't think the wardens are actively looking for violators if this rule, but ya never know when a gung-ho warden might show up.

[Dave]

Wow. I have never heard of that limit. Very interesting. Almost comical in my opinion. The WDFW Officers are stretched so thin, that I agree with you Shad-Eating-Grin, I doubt they would ever be on the beach looking for someone taking more than 10 worms. That's too funny. No offense to anyone, I just think that's a goofy law. Unless of course sand worms are close to becoming endangered or their numbers are few which I doubt. But I could be wrong.

[AdMagee]

Actually I used to fish desmoine pier a lot and man game wardens are not playing they will site ya and will arrest you if they fell necessary. Sandworms will catch you some very nice flounder if fished right on bottom. I used a egg sinker bead with a about foot and half leader. Also used reel my line vertically about food off the bottom straight down on the pier and nab some pan sized rock fish nothing over about size of my palm though. Oh and yeah that dang 10 rule sure is true I think its 15 though but i cant remember havent fished the salt yet been on the bassin tip lately. Good luck I am thinkin of trying salmon at pier 86 happy hooker never have caught any over 18 inches though there but watched a guy land a 18 pound king there one summer about two anglers down. Maybe this will be my year still cant quiet get how they do it or how the jig the kings into biting in water like that but there got to be something to it depth or style of jigging. Never quite nailed it down

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

Here's the rule from page 137 of the regs. As I recall, this rule went into effect about 10 years ago, since some public beaches were getting completely cleaned out its beach crabs, worms, etc. from bait gatherers, people wanting to eat "pop corn crab", aquarium owners, etc.

UNCLASSIFIED MARINE INVERTEBRATES Each harvester must have a separate container. Possession limit is one daily
limit. No Shellfish/Seaweed license required. Call Shellfish Safety Hotline before harvesting: (800) 562-5632. No harvest in State Parks.
ALL AREAS MOON SNAILS Year-round No min. size. Daily limit 5.
NUDIBRANCHS Year-round No min. size. Daily limit 2.
ALL OTHERS Year-round No min. size. Daily limit no more than 10, all species combined. (Includes
PACIFIC GRACEFUL CRABS, STARFISH, SAND DOLLARS, SHORE CRABS,
SNAILS, MARINE WORMS, etc.)