Northwest Fishing Reports

Hello,

I am sure this type of question gets asked fairly often, but search yielded very little. I am inexperienced with surf fishing, and my wife gets too bored waiting for salmon because it has been hit and miss out here in Ocean Shores.

I am looking for something that has alot of action and isn't too difficult to fish for. I read up on what would be good and we don't really have the tackle for trout, but we have everything for surf perch.

Is there any place in seattle I could take her where she could have a more pleasant time? I just want her to catch some fish and have fun before it gets too boring since she hasn't fished much before.

I know some of my friends went bottom fishing with their girls a while ago and they had alot of fun. Seems easy but I wouldnt know where to do it.

Thanks for any advice,
rayzorsan

if youre thinking freshwater, take her to a lake that is recently planted with trout. You can find the trout planting schedule on wdfw.gov. if youre thinking saltwater, it might be kinda fun if you guys got into squid jigging. Squidding will pick up as winter comes. Take an evening to go down to one of the local docks and watch the techniques and what the people are using.

Also, listen to the outdoor line on 710. they will give a lot of useful info on local fishing.

So are you in Ocean Shores, or Seattle?
If you are at the coast, I'd stick with the surf perch. They're easy.
If you are in Seattle, do as was mentioned above regarding finding a recently planted lake.
It is winter after all, and it's not exactly prime time as say, May/June, but sure, there are fish to be had.

Green lake in Seattle is a decent winter fishery. Bank access for the entire way. Try the East side around 65th street. Just read the reports for bait of choice. Also fish Beaver lake on the Sammamish plateau. Fish from the shoreline at the park. Large triploids planted. Blackman's lake Snohomish county. (. I think it's year round, but check regs.)
If you have access to a boat, the sure fire way to put her on some fish is to just bottom fish for flounder. Anywhere in like 50-80' of water. That's fish on the rod all day long. The lakes though, you have to be patient this time of year.
Better yet pick up a rubber raft and hit beaver.

I am in Seattle 99% of the time, was just in ocean shores for thanksgiving.

Squid sounds pretty neat. That is not something I have done before but could be interesting. I will do more research.

I am in the University district of seattle, but I don't mind driving a bit. I am just REALLY unfamiliar with saltwater fishing, since I am from Missouri. I did pick up some serious tackle and I think I got the right stuff for the surf perch. Would Alki beach have those?

And I did find flounder in my google searching for my quest to fish, but I do not have boat access sadly. I wouldnt be able to get it far enough out though even with weights though unless I am mistaken.

rayzorsan wrote:I am in Seattle 99% of the time, was just in ocean shores for thanksgiving.

Squid sounds pretty neat. That is not something I have done before but could be interesting. I will do more research.

I am in the University district of seattle, but I don't mind driving a bit. I am just REALLY unfamiliar with saltwater fishing, since I am from Missouri. I did pick up some serious tackle and I think I got the right stuff for the surf perch. Would Alki beach have those?

And I did find flounder in my google searching for my quest to fish, but I do not have boat access sadly. I wouldnt be able to get it far enough out though even with weights though unless I am mistaken.

Regarding surf perch at Ali, no. Bottom fishing in Pugetropolis is FAR from what it used to be. At least in marine area 10, where you are. Besides the species numbers, the few available species have VERY short windows of when there open.
Somebody may differ with my opinion on surf perch in marine area 10, (Alki). Yes, there are a "few" perch around pillings, but they are not surf perch. If you cast out as far as possible with a drop shot rig.
( weight at end of line, 2 hooks about 12 &18 inches above sinker)... You will prob. hit the smaller flounder, "Sand dabs"
But you will have to get through the Sculpin as well. Try small shrimp or night crawler. If you blanch the shrimp 1st they will stay on the hook better.
Squidding is kind of cool, but prob want to go at night and watch how it's done 1st before taking the GF.
Check out " The A-dock". At Shilshole marina, easy from U- district, and has lights.
Remember it's done at night. They are attracted to the light.

If you are from out of state, make sure to get a copy of the regs. Our state's regs are CRAZY compared to many places.
Have fun. And report back.

Hold on, wait... you live in Ocean Shores and have a tough time finding willing Salmon/Steelhead biters? That seems a bit off...


Have you considered Jetty fishing for bottomfish?

No I have not had any trouble catching salmon in Ocean Shores, I caught 14 I believe which is a more than enough for a while. I just want something we can do now that we are back in Seattle.

Alki beach was kind of a bust, nothing with a pyramid sinker 3 way swivel set up. Was using shrimp. Could have been in the wrong spot. I was just tossing it around near the Starbucks.

Figured I would update since you guys have been so helpful.

Perch have been killing it anywhere I've gone as long as theres a pillar or some kinda trough-like area for them to scavenge.
Been using raw shrimp for the perch, just dropping it down with two hooks and a 3 oz weight. Last two times I've been squidding have been pretty dead, but they have said some nights those bigger variety come in and they're quite aggressive.

New experience for me is losing a rig to sculpin/lingcod, they cut my 30lb test pretty easily. Never seem to show when I have a leader on though. Smart fish.

Glad you are having success!
If your losing a fish to 30lb test, that is no sculpin.

I'm thinking dogfish....
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