Newport fishing

stevej · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:03 am Post subject: Newport fishing

Not a lot of success with Halibut this year with only four small one to the boat. Did have some fun over the 4th though

Swell was 7 feet at 8 seconds with 15 knot winds at the rockpile when we headed out, every once in a while a set of 9 to 10 footers would roll through.

Normally we would have stayed in port but the "forecast was for improving conditions" later in the day

"later in the day" came with no improvement and conditions actually degraded

32 miles from home and a long bumpy ride ahead of us

By Sunday conditions had improved considerably

Last weekend of the spring halibut season and we finished with a 32 and 34 inch fish on Friday and a big zero for Saturday on halibut and coho.

The next weekend was a Salmon trip on a nice ocean with 10 coho for 2 days of fishing. 4 on Saturday and 6 on Sunday. Good grade of fish for this early in the season. We brought 18 fish to the boat, released 8 natives and lost 12 enroute to the boat. All but one caught on a RSK with 6" herring no flasher and small diver.

Sundays catch

First Silver on the boat in 3 years

Saw Whales, gray dolphin, loads of bait balls in the water this year too.

Lot of fun and always a wonderful experience to share with friends

stevej

416rigby · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:20 am Post subject:

Looks like a great time! That's some serious gear you have there.

I used to fly out of the CG air facility at Newport. I really like the area.

Rick

stevej · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks Rick, always a lot of fun to get out.
You are right on about Newport area plus the bar has to be one of the most benign in Oregon.

The "serious gear" is 80 pound 5'6" lamiglass pole with roller tip, stripper eye and Penn International 50. I have three of these on the boat spooled with 80 lb spectra for halibut and tuna. Way overkill for the fish we catch but fishing with 2 plus pounds of weight at 550 to 750 feet deep for halibut the big reels and equally big spools with oversize handles make bait checks somewhat less painful. Plus if you snag and break off there is plenty of line on the spool to continue fishing.

I picked up older Penn 50's on ebay then rebuilt using ceramic bearings, carbon fiber drags and Triburon T-bar handles. These old USA made International reels are complete tanks and will last forever with routine maintenance.

stevej