offshore columbia report

Killertraylor · 07-26-2001, 03:03 PM

Make sure you're outside the south jetty if you are fishing for lings after you catch your salmon. If you are fishing for lings in an area where it is closed for the retention of salmon, washington state police are writing tickets. Washington regs presume that your cought your salmon in the water where you are fishing, regardless of what type of fishing gear you are using. Same for sturgeon fishing - take your salmon in to port first. This is such a B.S. rule, but they've really been sticking people with tickets recently.

Tryin2Fish · 07-26-2001, 04:09 PM

Amazing, even with a 3 hook mooching rig I can manage to lose fish. It must be a talent. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

hack2ee · 07-26-2001, 04:18 PM

well tryin2fish, i hope you find yourself with a hook sharpener real soon, unless your going to get a pole with a little more backbone to it. it is important to sharpen them hooks! or change your mooching rigs all the time, take your pick. i'de say trade into a nice pole rated for 25 pound line, and a nice abu garcia level wind. my LCI striker and abu-garcia combo has been the best investment i've ever made! too bad they dont make LCI rods anymore..... or do they?

hack2ee · 07-26-2001, 04:20 PM

oh ya, and even then invest in a hook sharpener.

new boat · 07-26-2001, 09:16 PM

Second time to the ocean for me today. Took Pilar's advice and avoided the ebb, went looking for sturgeon by the bridge and waited for the low slack around noon. The worst water we found was between Chinook and the Ilwaco channel entrance. Crossed around 12:30 P.M. with no problems. Went to buoy 4, started to fish, heading to the CR buoy, had three fish in the first 20 minutes, all clipped and then the fishing just died. One more small clipped fish to the boat, one nate to return and a few we missed and that was it. The wind started to kick up and since I am an ocean "newbie" and had two passengers that were not well, in we went. A little rough crossing, but not bad at all. Oh, we did get one fat keeper sturgeon in the morning as well, so all in all, a good day. Still have not figured how to limit the boat like I hear everyone else doing, but I am sure I need to be out for that morning bite. Will go next time when the tide cooperates. One question however, we have been dropping our crab traps along the southwest shore of Baker Island, last weekend one keeper, today three keepers. Will anyone share a better spot to drop the pots. We launch from Ilwaco. Thanks!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ 07-26-2001: Message edited by: Proud TJ Driver ]

NorthRiverS · 07-26-2001, 09:48 PM

TJ,
What size of boat were you in? I have a 19 foot sled, but have reservations about going over the bar. Thanks.
NS

hack2ee · 07-26-2001, 11:19 PM

well, crossed the colubia bar with 'ol tryin2fish tuesday. It was his first bar crossing. got out to near the cr bouy, got his line out/ pole in holder and whammo! it was just that easy all day. It was his first ever limit of salmon. We tried to get some lings out off the south jetty, no luck. but a buddy of mine who lives in warrenton got a 14 lb ling monday! anyway, im sick of salmon now except smoked salmon! look for me at the 10, 19' alumaweld stryker named "das boat", with a 9.9 merc 4 stroke kicker and probably a wife yelling "can we try for lings now?".

Salmonator · 07-27-2001, 08:49 AM

PTJ, put your traps about a mile west of hammond on the oregon side of the channel. I think it's between markers 20 and 22. You'll be dropping your pots anywhere from 50 to 100 yards south of the channel markers near a big fairly shallow bay. Joe

[ 07-27-2001: Message edited by: Salmonator ]

new boat · 07-27-2001, 09:54 AM

NS, I have a 23 foot Thunderjet Maxum. I too had reservations about going over the bar and still do. Both times out, the conditions were good and I had no problems. Yesterday was much rougher than last Sunday and I was very pleased how the boat handled. Hope this helps!!
PTJ [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Grits · 07-27-2001, 10:34 AM

Word of caution on the crab pots. I have lost 2 this year in areas I know they didn't drift off or the rope was to short. Both marked with a GPS in an area I know very well. Afterwards I remebered both times there was people in the area doing nothing but crabbing. Maybe the temptation to pull the pot for me overtook them and then once they got it in the boat they figured what the hell I might as well keep it. From now on if I can't watch my pot I won't drop it.