We rented a home for a few days just north of the Copalis River mouth. Fantastic time to relax on the beach and do a bit of surf perch fishing. My last trip out here two years ago, I didn't catch a single fish and used really heavy spinning tackle and 25 lb mono. Bait was Berkley Gulp Sandworms in Camo finish....fished whole with number two octopus hook, rigged sliding with 3 oz pancake weight. leader probably about 2 ft.

Fast forward two years, this time I decided to go much lighter. I took my buzz bomb rod I got last year and it's rated up to 2 oz. Paired it with my phleuger supreme and the float line I had on it....17 lb nanofil. On the mainline, I ran a 1.5 oz egg weight, bead and then a good, ball-bearing snap swivel. Looped a 2 ft or so12 lb max ultragreen leader with a number 4 baitholder hook. I threaded just a half of the gulp worm this time. This proved to be the key....felt bites this time and the fishing was better! I fished mainly the two hours up to high tide. I tried low once and didn't get any. It casted like a dream way out there and I got by with my hip waders. No need for chest waders. Bjiggest one was about 2 lbs. Lot of the bites were taps, but got a couple of rod bending strikes too. For the record, an unopened packet of gulp worms lasts at least two years! Glad I didn't waste money by buying a new pack.

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