Please Help a Pacific Rookie

RunForrestRun · 07-12-2001, 04:12 PM

As a new member thanks for providing such and informative area and I hope you can help. I'm an Idaho native and fish here in the surrounding lakes and rivers. While I've caught a few steelhead and a couple salmon but never have I fished saltwater. Any ideas? I'll be in seattle in late July and my friend has a big new boat but he isn't a fisherman so he doesn't fish he and his wife just pleasure cruise. Anyway as an everyday working stiff this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to ocean fish so I need some tips. Can anyone help. We'll be in the area of the San Juans. It'll be between the 22nd and 26th of July and around the San Juans. What is in season? Any tips or tricks? What permits do I need? Sorry to ask so much but I really want ot make the most of this opportunity. I appreciate your time and thanks in advance for you help.

Forrest Andersen, Twin Falls ID.

P.S. I love to catch Salmon is this a possibility in this area.

salmonlips · 07-12-2001, 06:25 PM

Lived and fished in the San Juan area in the early 90's. Check local regulations for what species etc. are legal. At the Bellingham boat basin check out Troy's bait and tackle. Troy can give you local knowledge. Your best bets this time of year, keep in mind my knowledge is way old would be the west side of San Juan Island in the Straights for silvers. It's a downrigger show there. Another possibility for silvers would be Alden Banks, a hump about 18 miles northwest of Point Migley (sic) in the straights of Georgia marked by a triangle of 3 bouys. The techniqie out there is a dodger and hootchie fished shallow, trolled on the clean side of tide rips bordering the hump. At any rate, Troy can get you dialed in. Let us know how you do

Marv

Mr. Fisherman · 07-12-2001, 07:25 PM

RFR,

I came here from Pocatello [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img].

If you are only going to be here a short time I would strongly recomend a charter boat or a guided trip [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]. Unless you have a friend that is dialed in to the fish [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] odds are that you could run out of time without partaking of the pleasures and treasures the Pacific has to offer.

I found this URL for you:

Saun Juan attractions and info

I also found this:

Olympic Penn Fishing guides

I really hope this helps and that you will share your stories with us.

Tight lines,

Mr. F.

KrystalFlash · 07-12-2001, 10:34 PM

Hey!
I'd have to agree with Mr. Fisherman here.
Charter a guide. Or go with someone that knows the drill. You and your friend can learn the drill first and then try it yourselves. The bars around here are no joke. I've seen enough boats get eaten by the jetties to last a lifetime. Trying to learn the drill out in big blue on a sporty day may be more than you bargained for. It all depends on how good a seaman/fisherman your bud is. It sounds like he doesn't fish much, so if you REALLY want to get dailed in on a fish or two, I'd charter a guide.

Just my .02...Hope it helps.
Better Lucky Than Good
KF

RunForrestRun · 07-12-2001, 11:14 PM

I'll have to see if I can get him to book us a guide. Any idea on price? He is an internet mogul who founded hostpro before Micron bought it. He's got bucks and just purchased a 51 foot bayliner. Thats what we'll be taking. He's had it ought quite a few times and has the charts and GPS and that stuff. I've got a shorty uglystich with a tackle box for trout and steelhead so I imagine I'll be a little light in the tackle catagory. I imagine my reel will get smoked if I catch anything bigger than 20 pounds or so. I'll see if I can't get him to book us a guide or something. I'm just a working stiff so I won't be able to fork out a bunch but if I'm gonna be on a boat I'm gonna be fishing. Who needs a tan anyway?

Forrest

Mr. Fisherman · 07-13-2001, 10:01 PM

RFR,

Any charter or guide service worth it's salt will provide the rods, reels, hardware and bait. All you have to do is listen and fish. Take notes.

I've booked trips on the Oregon coast from $45 for a half day of bottom fishing to $150.00 for Halibut.

Take a lunch and rain gear. Rememner it gets pretty cool on the Ocean where the water is only around 53 degrees. Dress in layers and have extra. Also, if ya haven't been out on the ocean before, take Dramamine. No joke. I got sea sick my first time out and it was so bad we had another charter boat call across on the PA system asking if we were clubbing a seal! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] I asked a fisherman at the dock selling Tuna what he did and he gave me a few words of advice that I live by now. Take two dramimine the night before and one an hour before departing. Also, do not drink alcohol the night before. And remember to tip yer deck hand. Even a buck or two will bring you better luck next trip. These guys work hard for you when you are out there.

It costs a lot less when you have a buddy in the know with a sea worthy vessle. However, I would head KF's advice above. The ocean is no place to learn and just cause you have the money to buy a big boat and all the toys don't make you no skipper. Ya need to spend time with reel salts and get first hand experience before taking peoples lives into your tender hands. The Big Blue pond is no place to go learn a lesson. I've been out there when the Coast Guard has had to save people from a sinking boat with waves coming over the bow of the boat we were fishing. I wouldn't recommend it. If it haden't been for the knowledge and brown pants of our skipper I fear things would have been worse.

I hope you find the information in the posts above helpful and that you have a great time out here.

Please post here and let us know how things went. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Mr. F. Out....

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: Coast Guard Task Force ]

[ 07-13-2001: Message edited by: Mr. Fisherman ]

RunForrestRun · 07-14-2001, 01:31 AM

Mr. Fisherman and all who have responded so far I appreciate your advice. I really do want this trip to be a memorable one for catching fish not for puking and drowning so the tips will definatly come in handy. My buddy has about a years time with this boat and has been to the San Juans several times so I think I'm ok there it the fishing part that has me intimidated. This won't be like hooking the cut throats in the streams near my house. Is it possible that a guide would ride with us on my buddies boat and guide us or do they only take their own vessels? I'll make some calls this week. I'm going to a yard sale tomorrow where they have salt water fishing gear so I'll let you know what I find for gear. Thanks again.
Forrest

RunForrestRun · 07-14-2001, 09:59 PM

No luck on the Garage sale for tackle. It was a couple of old bamboo poles? and a rusty old levelwind. My uncle has some equipment from when the Salmon run was heavy on the Salmon river. I'll check it out and see if its worth using. Still wondering if a guide would go with us on my friends boat or if they only take their own vessel.
Forrest

Mr. Fisherman · 07-15-2001, 06:58 AM

Forest,

Most Guides that I know prefer to go out on their own boat, especially on the Big Blue Pond. They know their boat, what it is capable of etc, etc....

I'm not saying that it is out of the question but you would be better off just booking a guide and learning the water, taking notes and, with permission, maybe a few way points for your GPS.

Good luck,

Mr. F.

RunForrestRun · 07-15-2001, 07:38 AM

Mr.Fisherman you might want to add to your club membership the Javelin Catching Club and the motercycle polevaulting on ice club. LOLl. Thanks for all your help. What pound test line should I use for fishing there?
Forrest

Mr. Fisherman · 07-15-2001, 11:53 PM

Depends on what you are targeting. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

If you are after Coho, (Silver Salmon) then you would want 30# line.

If you are bottom fishing you might want 80# tuff line.

If ya book a charter they will have everything you'll need [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img].

My running partner and I used to always ride our scooters down to the local pub for a Christmas cocktail. Parked my bike under a truck one time so I've already chartered a membership in the motorcycle pole vaulting on ice club [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]. Javelin catching, emmm never mind..... [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]