Ocean Info?

Tacklebuster · 08-21-2001, 02:41 PM

I am reletivaly new to fishing out in the deep blue. I hopped the bar yesterday because it was nice and flat and had a great time salmon fishing in the ocean. Common sense would suggest crossing the bar at low slack and returning while the incoming was still in progress. I have a 19 foot Weldcraft Renegade with a self bailing bow and feel pretty confident that it can handle the job.
I have heard some pretty bad stories about the Columbia bar and have witnessed some pretty nasty stuff in that area. I hate playing bumper boats at the line (10) and after the day I had yesterday, really find the ocean relaxing and much more productive.
After I passed the jetties and went out a little ways, I spotted a green can and was told by a nearby boat that it was the CR buoy. Does that sound about right? It was in about 35 to 40 foot waters and to the north of that can was a bunch of crab pots. I saw a couple of boats in that general area that were doing really well so we started trolling. We had limits in no time so we headed back for Ilwaco. I didn't see hardly any other boats within eye sight and was wondering where everybody goes to out in that area.
I hear people talking about trolling in 125 foot depths and motoring way out but if the fishing is as good around that green can as it was yesterday, I would save fuel and just fish around there. I met a very helpful person around that area in what looked to be an open sled fishing with his family. He told me that the green buoy was the CR buoy and that he had caught a few. If you by chance read this, thanks a lot for the help. I was in the blue/green boat. Thanks in advance for any info offered....

Phil Layer · 08-21-2001, 02:52 PM

My understanding is that CR buoy is way out there. I was out there (I think) on Sunday and somebody on the radio said CR buoy is the first buoy as you are coming in from the ocean, followed by 1, 2, etc.

On my way out there, I noticed a few folks fishing and saw a bunch of fish on my finder but was told that section was closed.

Again, I'm no expert on this so check it out further with someone who is.

Sunday was my first day in the ocean. If you don't mind running out to CR, the fishing was great. And, the ocean was very calm out there.

Good luck!

Pete · 08-21-2001, 02:59 PM

You said, "a green can and was told by a nearby boat that it was the CR buoy. " I'd recommend consulting a chart before you head out next time. There are a string of buoys numbered 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and CR ... they are all red, marking the southern edge of the channel. The northern edge of the channel is marked by green buoys numbered 1, 3, 7, 9 and 11. The ocean is about 200 feet deep around the CR buoy, shallower in some areas, deeper in some. The distance from B10 to the CR is about 9 miles. The shallow areas where the crab pots are is outside Peacock Spit ... where a 45 foot crabber rolled not long ago, costing two men their lives. Confidence will not help if the ocean has the upper hand.

I've appended a very crude map showing the key buoys ... this is no substitute for a navigational chart! Note that the distances are not to scale, but the approximate area covered here is 30 miles by 20 miles.

[ 08-21-2001: Message edited by: Pete ]

Richter · 08-21-2001, 03:17 PM

Tacklebuster,

Ocean waves were 2.3' to 2.9' yesterday. I checked a few minutes ago and they were 10.2'! What a difference a day makes. With the low pressure moving in and wind picking up it can really change in a hurry. In my brothers 20' foot Trophy, ocean waves less than 4' are ideal, 4' to 6' waves are not to bad, and anything over 6.5' is not to fun for me. These are ocean waves and not the Columbia Bar.
The Bar is another story. It has been said many times on this board, to be very, very careful of the Columbia River. I can not agree more! I don't know how many times you have been out across the Columbia River Bar and into the ocean, but yesterday is not the norm. The problem is that the water is so "confused" on the ebb tide. Water rushing to get out of the Columbia, wind blowing every direction. The water just doesn't know where to go. It can be very sloppy except on the best of days. Glad you were able to Conk some fish. Be Safe!

Take Care, Rich

Tacklebuster · 08-21-2001, 04:15 PM

Pete,
Thanks for the info on the buoy locations. I saw a guide with a full boat working that general area so I guess whatever buoy I was fishing by was OK. I am going to pick up a couple of charts so next trip I should be dialed in. I would never cross the bar and fish the ocean if I had a doubt in my mind that it wouldn't be safe. The ocean always has the upper hand. It was just a really calm day and I thought giving the ocean a try was safer than sitting in a rip tide at 10 with boats going every which way possible with next to no concern with their own safety, much less mine...

Richter,
Thanks for the reply. That was actually my first time crossing that bar. My last couple of trips up to 10 have been really calm, water wise, so I decided to jump across. The times I have seen it the calmest is on a low slack or an incoming. I have been told never to go out or come back on an ebb, especially at her peak. I guess I was in the right place at the right time yesterday. I will go out again and fish the river next week after this weather passes and if the bar looks calm and I don't have waves over 4 to 5 feet (ocean waves) I'll give it another shot [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
I know a link to get the water outlook as far as the bar goes but where do you find the ocean swells?

[ 08-21-2001: Message edited by: Tacklebuster ]

Richter · 08-21-2001, 04:55 PM

Tacklebuster,

You can get all kinds of weather info from
www.wrh.noaa.gov/Seattle/

Click on Marine and you can get all kinds of info, Bar Reports, Weather Buoy info, etc.

Weather Buoy info www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Northwest.shtml

Buoy 46029 is off the mouth of the Columbia.

Hope this helps.

Rich

Gobbaworms · 08-21-2001, 06:07 PM

I believe the CR buoy is red and white and sounds a single blast at regular intervals. It is the first one you come to. The big yellow pilot boat parks and waits for the large ships about a mile east of it when they reqest pilot service.

Phil Layer · 08-21-2001, 07:37 PM

Since nobody has commented on it, I guess the info I got about the section from 10 to 4 being closed was bogus.

Can one fish from 10 to CR?

Pirate · 08-21-2001, 08:57 PM

10 to 4 is closed and is noted in the regs as the Control Zone (CZ)

Tryin2Fish · 08-22-2001, 05:19 AM

There is an imaginary line between buoy 4 and 7 (they are nearly straight across from each other or a slight angle) and it is closed from buoy 10 to this line. There may be fish in there but this area is the heart of the bar and I expect that it is closed for this reason. Imagine if everyone trolled there like they do at buoy 10. The boat down ratio would be much higher. Terrible to think about.

Jim

Phil Layer · 08-22-2001, 05:19 AM

Thanks, Pirate.