jettty fishing

I grew up here in portland, and after being away at college for six years, I'm back for good and looking forward to some good fishing. while i am an experienced angler, i have never done any coastal fishing and would like to try. i am going this weekend and would appreciate any helpful information you could provide. i am thinking of going to the south columbia river jetty or trying one of the jetties on the tillamook bay. any suggestions on bait, hook size, and/or types of jigs. once again thanx.

[Trout,myster]

Puddle-

First, heed Pilar's warning. Don't go there until the ocean settles! Wouldn't do any good anyway as the rockfish don't like being banged around and usually move out to deeper water where they can get away from the pounding waves. When it calms some, here's what I've used that seems to work well.

Get some tapered worm weights in 3/4 to 1 ounce. Same thing bass fisherman use but heavy. I order mine from Cabela's or Bass Pro Shops. Put that on your line and a 2/0 or so hook. Add a plastic worm or grub. I've had good luck with white or glow in the dark models about 6" long. If you "Texas rig" them, you won't hang up too much. Then just cast them out about 30-40 feet, let sink until you feel bottom, and reel back slowly. Good worms have a "swimming" tail on them that helps attract fish. At night, I stick with the glow worms and take my camera flash along. A shot out of the camera flash (close your eyes when you do this) and they'll glow for 3-5 minutes.

Then, as Pilar says, cast like hell. I've also had the best luck on low tide and it's only good for a short time. Check your tide book and look for the least tidal exchange days when there's not much difference in height between low and high. That lets you fish longer and there seem to be more in the rocks.

Jetty fishing can be really good in Feb/March and I usually throw in a rod to do it with when I go steelhead fishing that time of year. If the Wilson doesn't produce for me, I'll try to catch that low tide at Barview.

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Troutmyster

[Pilar]

Yes indeed. Unless you are the one other guy who can walk on water skip it. The coastal forecast is for huge waves 30'+ and high winds. Definitely not jetty fishing weather. You can get the latest northern oregon coastal weather at
http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtb...ape+Shoalwater

Sorry for the long address but that is the same thing in a text format you hear on the weather radio read by the Steven Hawking computer voice. It has saved me many a futile drive to the coast dragging a boat and truck full of anxious fishers.

The technique is simple. At slack tide cast a small jighead (1/8oz to 1oz) with a green grub or curl tail worm out from the jetty and let it sink down. Pull on it and let it sink on the retrieve, repeat all the way back in. Vary the action and they hit as it sinks. At any other tide the flow is too fast and you can't hit the bottom.

There seems to be a magic 20 minutes or so when everyone around you starts banging rockfish on every slack tide but especially at the low slack. We go whenever there is a tide, even at night. When the magic time comes, fish like hell because all of the fish will come in then. I even rig several rods and just pick up the next one when I bust off.

There are other methods used involving bait and other things but green grubs kick @$$ if you ask me. Go check it out and be curious as to what others are doing. Be careful on the jetties because the ocean will get you if you are not. Have fun and good luck!

The bend is your friend!


Oops, wrong address try this one!

[This message has been edited by Pilar (edited 12-23-2000).]