First time fishing for blackmouth. First time fishing possession. The weather has to be pretty much perfect for me since I'm in a little 13.5 ft smoker Alaskan. I have not seen many reports for blackmouth so here you go.

Fished from 7:30 to 12:00 using a coho killer (green and silver don't know the actual name), purple haze needlefish skirt, or green spatter back needlefish skirt. All with a green flasher. I launched at possession point park on Whidbey Island. The coho killer produced nothing as well as the purple haze needlefish. Green spatter back needlefish ended up hooking a decent size flounder in the tail. Let it go and next run with it produced a very small wild salmon. Probably 13 or 14 inches. Didn't identify the species just assumed it was a blackmouth. Quickly unhooked it and it swam away. Caught both fish on accident, just happened to pull up my gear to check on it and there they were. Beautiful day out and that's more fish than iv'e caught all winter steelhead fishing! Saw one other boat fishing in the area. Never saw a net out but they were a ways out from me. There you go! Good luck out there!

makscoot

3/22/2014 9:04:00 AM

Way to go getting out there.
The best thing to do when trolling is to constantly monitor your depth, especially around the point where it changes often, dragging the bottom is bad.

Also checking your lines often too, you will never catch a legal BM by dragging a sole around. Kelp and other things make your bait ineffective.

I think this is the one reason why people with electric downriggers do better since it isn't such a big deal to check baits as when you are fishing with manual riggers.

also, read the articles @ salmonuniverity as they are helpful when learning to read the tides.

cheers.,,
makscoot

fishindude

3/22/2014 11:00:00 AM

Tips are always appreciated, so thanks makscoot! My fish finder crapped out on me so I was out there blind. Fished my gear anywhere from 65-115ft. Electric dr's would be nice but for now the manual crank ones I have are going to have to work. I have never really fished with down riggers before so it was a learning experience for sure! Out there alone it was definitely difficult trying to drive the boat, work the dr, and work the pole all at the same time lol! I will definitely check out the articles on salmonuniversity. Thanks again!

fear_no_fish

3/22/2014 12:39:00 PM

Check out John's Sporting Goods in Everett. His website has some maps and info on Possession. Or go to the store and talk to him for a couple minutes for some tips on catching them out there. I can tell you already without a fish finder its going to be really tough. But it sounds like your on the right track anyways. Start a thread in the saltwater section if you need some help though. I've been fishing the area a while and can help answer some questions if you need. Good luck out there.

Norm

3/22/2014 8:58:00 PM

save some money for an electric downrigger, it makes life sooooo much easier when fishing alone. Last year I gave in and bought one after i struggled to fight a 6ft shark, crank the downrigger that the shark was wrapped around, and stear the boat. Being able to just push a button is well worth the money

fishindude

3/22/2014 10:17:00 PM

Lol Norm! Is that when you lost a down rigger? I am the guy that bought your mounts a while back.

Norm

3/23/2014 1:40:00 PM

yea I remember ya. I lost the downrigger at samish fishing fr kokanee but the next blackmouth season i made sure i had an electric downrigger. 100-130ft of cable is just a pain in the ass to crank up by hand. I still have one manual but thats for the poor sole I take fishin to use and crank haha

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