Offshore Salmon?

[RIPPLE]

Hello to all -
I am running a boat from Victoria BC - to Neah Bay WA - to Astoria - to Portland over the 3-day weekend. Could someone help me out with the Salmon regs off the WA coast? Are fin-clipped coho still the only fair game? Chinook? Is the limit going to 4 this week? Barbless? Depending on the weather and our cruising speed we may find ourselves holding off the Columbia bar for a tide change. I just can't imagine covering all that water and not dropping a line. images/icons/grin.gif Thanks in advance for any info, and have a safe and happy fish filled week!
Ripple

[Phish_on]

It's getting complicated. Here is SOME info, on the Columbia anyway.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/public/NewsArc/2001News/August/082801bnews.htm

[RIPPLE]

AHA! so I can keep only two coho in the ocean if their fins are clipped, but then I can stop at buoy 10 and keep two more, but if I catch a chinook in the ocean with all sorts of fins then I can only keep one more coho out on big blue but I can't stop at buoy 10 to fish with a nook in my boat, but I can just fish at buoy 10 for a total of 4 cohos, but I have to throw back the nooks, but if I go upriver, then the nooks are once again fair game, but what if it's wednesday, or I have a red shirt on, or I fish blindfolded standing on one foot with an arm tied behind my back...............
Ripple images/icons/wink.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[Dogfish]

While you are in the Sekiu area, area #5, you can keep wild silvers beginning on the first. Pinks are also legal, but release kings and chum.

Once you hit area 4, only the hatchery silvers and pink salmon are legal, but outside of Tatoosh, you can keep kings as well, 24" minimum. They are at 84% of the quota, so be careful on Kings in area 4 outside of Tatoosh. Check wa.gov/wdfw for news releases Friday before you go. I would download a copy of the regs. They are very good about posting closures there. Limit 1 king.

Area #3 and #2. Hatchery silvers, pinks, and kings. Limit 1 king

Area #1 in the ocean. Hatchery silvers, pinks. Kings will be closed.

Columbia river????? I don't know as I don't fish there.

Barbless for all. Make sure you clean, portion, filet and freeze your fish every day because staying on a boat means that you can only have one day's limit of fish in fresh form, gutted but basically whole, per legal fisherman. You may not land a limit in BC waters and Washington waters in the same day.

The enforcement officers are out there in a neat 20 foot zodiac on steroids, so go by the rules. They are watching. Don't catch wild silvers in area #5 and then go fishing in area #4. If you get stopped, they will tag you for wild fish in hatchery only zone.

Brined plug cut herring has kept the pinks away, and trolled at 3-4 mph (2.5-3.5 kts) behind a 3 oz banana sinker has been the major producer of good silvers. Expect some in the 10 to 15 pound range. You can limit early, or go LARGE and fish for a while longer.

So sorry you have to be on the boat all weekend long. I'll shed a tear for you. images/icons/wink.gif

Andy

[RIPPLE]

Thanks very much for the good info and local knowledge Dogfish. I appreciate it! Yep I'm pretty excited for the trip, 320 or so miles by boat, just wish we had 2 weeks to stop and fish everywhere.
images/icons/grin.gif RIPPLE images/icons/grin.gif

[Uncle Bob]

Hey Ripple, Just remember that there'll be another 12 Bazillion others out there wanting to enjoy there 3 day weekend.
UB

[RIPPLE]

Yep-I sure don't anticipate being the only one out there. Have a great & safe weekend.
images/icons/grin.gif RIPPLE images/icons/grin.gif

[Pilar]

Hey Ripple. Hang out by the W125 line and load up on Albacore as you come into Astoria. It should be happening from Westport on down. Krystalflash did this 2 weeks ago and got 20 or so while transiting from Tofino, BC to Garibaldi.

[RIPPLE]

Pilar- that would be a kick. I have always wanted to but never had the chance to catch albacore. I'm definitely not geared up for it. Could you briefly explain a simple set-up trolling speed and depth. I know I have read about it here before, but it escapes me. I do know that your the one to ask. Thanks,
images/icons/grin.gif RIPPLE images/icons/grin.gif