WestPort Fishing

Larry,

In a word - poorly. We were in the water by 4:45AM and fished just off of Seward park. 3 guys, 3 rods, 5 hours, 1 fish. Saw a few others caught but things did not appear to be "red hot". I'd rather fish Neah, Sekiu or the ocean where the "catching's" better and more consistent.
 
The problem with fishing for Sockeye in Lake Washington is that the best fishing is as soon as the fish hit the lake. It tapers off real fast as they get lockjaw the longer they are in fresh water. I went out on the first sunday it was open and had faster fishing than I have ever had for salmon ANYWHERE. We had fish on every 5 minutes or so until we got our limit. However the second time on the water that next Thursday was quite a different story. It was still better fishing than you would normally get in the sound and probably on a par with what I have seen in years past at Sekiu but nothing like the fishing on the first weekend. From all reports I have read and my own experience with this fishery this is very typical.
 
I should have went somewhere else to day. The first trip of the year that no salmon were caught. We fished the south sound from Olympia to Nisqually. We only saw 2 kings caught....on the bright side my mid west guests were more than happy with a 10 hour boat ride filled with lots of interruptions all caused by dog fish. There has to be millions of those pesky critters. The damn things will hit a grim reefer jig just as fast as a herring. At least I didn't take them to the ocean on a rough day....maybe next time they visit.
I will be going to Westport this weekend. As soon as I hear from my son what day he has clear, sat. or sun.
 
Dan-
I will be down at the launch around 7am. We leave home at 5am and by the time we get bait at the Hungry whale, we should be right on time.

Roger-
It looks like I've got an open spot if you are interested in going along on Sunday.
 
Larry,
sorry we did not see you this weekend but did talk to another c-dory owner from Olympia, he had an 1984 angler that he brought from the eastcoast when he moved here. He was on float 8 and we were on float 6 and they will be staying the entire month of Augest. The fishing could have been better but we put a nice fish in the cooler and had several other chance. We came in early on Saturday as my son found the rail rubbing and sea sickness hard to contend with. It was a little lumpy out there to say the least. Just wondered how you faired? Any good fish to report? Being a new dory owner we found the boat impressive and not burdened by the water conditions, glad we have her. Dan
 
Well - Larry was kind enough to take me out with him on Sun. I got up at 2:45AM to meet him in Rochester a little after 5AM. I had planned on taking my dramamine early in the AM but decided to not take it until after I finished my drive down - I only had 4 hours of sleep and driving on dramamine didn't sound like a good idea.

Met Larry, his son and a friend of theirs at 5:10AM at the Rochester middle school, loaded my stuff into his boat (C-Ya a nice new 22'CD cruiser) and climbed into the truck. About 1/2 way to Westport, I realized I hadn't taken my dramamine. Rather than asking him to stop so I could, I kept my mouth shut until we got to the Hungry Whale for bait. I took some then but that was only 20 mins prior to being on the water. Unfortunately, that was too late. The water going out was just a little rough, 4-5 swells and got better as the day went on but I was "gone" by the time we got out. So "Roger the human chum machine" spent most of the AM alternately throwing up, trying to tough it out and laying down. Around 12, I got another dramamine in me and a little liquid. By about 1:30 I was human again. NOTE to self - ALWAYS take the dramamine early enough!!!!

Anyway - as to the fishing - fair at best. We trolled from around 8AM to 3PM with 4 rods out. All total, we got three keepers. One nice 8-9# coho that I caught on a delta-diver/fish flash/hootchie/herring filet combo, one 5-6# coho that Larry's son caught on a diver/cut plug and one 8-10# king that Larry got on a diver/cut plug. Two native coho and one small king were released. The fish that we did find were mostly still out fairly deep for Westport - e.g. about 8 miles out in roughly 200' of water. That's where the greatest congregation of charters was at. The coho (including those we released) were for the most part nice size football shaped fish. So when they do get in, they will be big.
 
Dan-
Sorry we missed you. I tried to call you on both radios 3 times on channel 3.
You may have been busy with your son or the fish. Roger very kindly left out the part of crossing the bar when in some pretty crappy swells when I put the boat side ways after sliding down a wave.(note to self. Raise trim tabs in large seas)
We went out hole in the wall and next time I will go back the same way.
What time did you come in. We were crossing the bar some where around 4 pm.
One of my friends came in around 2pm and said the bar was flat.
Being stubborn and a glutton for punishment I will probably head back down next Sunday.
 
Larry, crossed the bar at about 2p.m and it was flat a few mild rollers is all, went thruogh wide open and loving it. It is amazing what eight hours will do for the bar, we crossed at 6.00a.m. and it was lumpy but better than Saturday. Talk at you later. Dan.
 
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