Nehalem Salmon

[Threemuch]

A Chinook and a Silver from Saturday. The Chinook was caught outside, in about 170' of water off Manzanita about 60' down. We caught a dozen or more Coho out there, from top to bottom. They were everywhere we went. We tried bottom fishing, but still caught Coho. All Fin Clipped.

It's rediculous that these hatchery fish cannot be retained. They are everywhere. Then we wouldn't have to play bumper boats at buoy 10. Enough preaching to the choir, I am sure you all agree.

So we pulled our 5 crab pots, and sorted for 24 hardshells and at least 20 legal throwbacks. We used last weeks halibut carcasses for bait.

We then trolled inside the jaws and managed one legal silver. At least you can retain them there. If all these fish outside have to go through the Nehalem bay, Coho fishing in the bay should get very hot. Fish counter said 4 other coho had been caught that day, and some 20 chinook by about 4 pm.

First pic posting, hope it works.

[Threemuch]

I'll try one more time!

[Threemuch]

Silver was actually two pounds bigger than the king. Fought alot harder too.

Bar was nice. Easy crossings in and out on tiny tides.

[Hookset]

Nice report and a good pic Kurt. In the pic, the silver looks almost the same size as the chinook.

How was the Nehalem bar? This coming weekend the bar should be rough on the ebb tide with the increased flow.

Thanks for the report,

Gregg