King salmon fishing in the San Juan's

joechiro35

We are heading out to Friday harbor this weekend and I wanted to do some salmon fishing around the area. I just bought Scotty electric down riggers and was wondering where to go for kings and silvers. Some advice would be awesome.

I wanted to use flashers with hootchies, spoons, and maybe some cut plug herring.

I wondered what depth and timing and location around that area would give us our best chance to hook and land a king.

Joe
95 c dory cruiser 22
2003 Honda 90

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 12:04 pm Post subject:

Right now the west side of san juan is putting out kings , silvers and pinks. Know you areas, parts of 7 are closed (salmon bank east to bird rock) . Eagle point to the line at salmon bank is good, These are traveling fish , kings, so they are more suspended then black mouth.

Also try up the sides of blakely and Cypress. Just fish the back eddys off the points with the tide. obstruction pass on the out going is good. just fish the north bank of the pass from 40 ft of water east towards the point and then turn south at the tide line. Then turn west about half way across the mouth of the pass and complete the loop.

This is were Johns sporting goods web site and maps come in handy. If you dont know the area he has all of them mapped with tip on how, when and where to fish most areas. Its not the complete fishing guide to the sound and the SJ's but its a really good start. Also covers crab and shrimp.

Sunbeam · Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 12:12 pm Post subject:

localboy · Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 1:52 pm Post subject:

Man, fishing up here is a daily study in rules, maps, which fish you catch, where & when, sizes, depths....ugh....so much easier to buy the damn things at F. Meyer. Wink

C-Dawg · Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 2:10 pm Post subject:

Purchase and keep onboard the Saltwater Fishing Journal. This book is invaluable for fishing, crabbing and shrimping northern Puget Sound.

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:35 pm Post subject:

thats johns book and all the maps are available online for free. I down loaded a bunch to my phone. He also has a face book page and does a videos on you tube on how to rig and fish.

DuckDogTitus · Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 10:18 pm Post subject:

my signed copy of John's book just arrived in the mail today Smile

if you are in the san juans fishing this weekend for sure shoot me a PM and we'll have to stay in touch. Christina and I will be hopping around out there as well. Beer

DuckDogTitus · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 11:29 am Post subject:

Hey Tom, et all-
how is mid to late July in the San Juans? Buddy and I are planning a 3-4 day trip around the 20th. is it too soon?

Spike · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:03 pm Post subject:

DDT
You should have no trouble getting into fish at that time frame. Give a thought to maybe farther west Sekiu, or Neah Bay both good spots. You might be a smidge early for good silver fishing though

DuckDogTitus · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:09 pm Post subject:

Jake B · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:30 pm Post subject:

Neah has more fish, bigger coho, and bigger limits. both can be good in that time frame.I think they both are great scenery wise. Just depends on what your looking for as a "whole trip". Neah is a dry town so pack accordingly

DuckDogTitus · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:34 pm Post subject:

haha, thanks for the advice. that alone might keep my buddy in Friday Harbor for beers.

is there a good state park in the Neah area for boating? I liked the idea of retiring to Jones or Succia after fishing the SJ's, but more fish sounds good too.

Jake B · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:41 pm Post subject:

no state parks at neah a far as I know its all reservation land. there are a couple decent short hikes and a few camp grounds though or just sleep on the boat in the marina.

rogerbum · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 1:08 pm Post subject:

There's a reason I'm out at Neah Bay nearly every weekend in the summer - fish are pretty much guaranteed there. There's no state park but Hobuck resort has plenty of campsites. It's often foggy/misty near the coast so prepare for the damp. There's are plenty of good hikes in the area - Cape Flattery and Shi-Shi beach are both good. Buy your beer/other alcoholic beverages prior to getting there - ditto for fancier cuts of meat or more "gourmet" items. Other than that, the local grocery has plenty of stuff. There's a good bakery there that makes an awesome wood fired pizza and some darn good pies. There's one modest restaurant. The docks are good and have water and power available. Restroom facilities are adequate but could be a bit cleaner.

As for other boating in the area, the shoreline down the strait is quite pretty and there's a few bays one can pull into and sit on anchor for lunch. One has a couple of waterfalls that empty into the strait. If the weather/seas are nice (usually the case that time of year), a trip around Tatoosh island and along the rocks just south of Tatoosh is also nice. There's really no place close to tie off to another dock and get off the boat other than Neah Bay, Sekiu or La Push (all a good distance apart).

rogerbum · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 1:09 pm Post subject: