Rockpile Chinook

Pilar · 04-09-2002, 08:49 AM

Here's a couple of waypoints for Stonewall Bank aka 'The Rockpile'

North end, mooch or deep troll whole herring ...

N44 32.335' W124 22.816'

South end, just so you'll know where it is ...

N44 29.612' W124 22.300'

Most of the effort is concentrated on the north end. The Rockpile is a long (6 miles) bump on the bottom about 17 miles SW of Newport. The reef varies in width from a mile to a few hundred yards. It is actually two high spots with the north part much smaller than the south.

The commercial trollers can be found in the gap between the two bumps and to the east. That is about where the first set of numbers is. It's about 200' deep and the reef comes up to as high as 130'. I like to find a flat area near the reef at 200+ deep and drag gear with a downrigger 30 to 50 feet off the bottom.

Danny Neal and Bait boy showed me a very effective method that anyone can use. Just rig a 12 oz. trolling sinker with the bead chain on it. Add a 3' 2 hook mooching rig, solid tie and a whole herring. Drop this to the bottom with the boat drifting downwind. After it hits the bottom crank up about 10 turns on your reel and put it in a rod holder. Your reel should have a light drag and the click turned on.

Just watch the sonar and you'll see the fish in the bottom 1/3 of the water column and make sure the depth does not shallow much or you will snag up.

You can cruise around and locate the schools of feeder kings or just go to the spot and drift like we do. It works.

Anyone wanting to tag along next weekend?

'Puffin', 'Pilar' and anybody else ... we are going to try Rockpile Salmon next weekend, if the weather allows. Since F4 is all about talking the game, I figure on going where I can play the game.

Feeding fish are much easier to catch than returning fish. :grin:

Pilar · 04-09-2002, 10:25 AM

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And then, he checked the forecast ... Arrgghh!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [img]graemlins/stupid.gif[/img]

FZUS56 KPQR 091602
CWFPDX

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OREGON
930 AM PDT TUE APR 9 2002

COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WASHINGTON TO FLORENCE OREGON
AND WESTWARD 60 NM

PZZ250-255-270-275-092230-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WASHINGTON TO FLORENCE OREGON
AND WESTWARD 60 NM
930 AM PDT TUE APR 9 2002

GALE WARNING

TODAY
S WIND 30 KT WITH FREQUENT GUSTS 40 KT. WINDS SUBSIDING
TO SW 25 KT THIS AFTERNOON. COMBINED SEAS 12 FEET AT 8 SECONDS
SUBSIDING TO 8 FT AT 8 SECONDS THIS AFTERNOON. RAIN TURNING TO
SHOWERS AND A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.

TONIGHT
S WIND TO 30 KT. WIND WAVES 5 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 9
SECONDS. SHOWERS. A CHANCE OF EVENING THUNDERSTORMS.

WED
SW WIND 25 KT. WIND WAVES 4 FT. W SWELL 8 FT AT 9 SECONDS.
SHOWERS.

WED NIGHT
S WIND 35 KT. COMBINED SEAS 12 FT.

THU
S WIND 30 KT. WIND WAVES 6 FT. W SWELL 10 FT.

FRI
S WIND 25 KT. WIND WAVES 5 FT. W SWELL 8 FT.

SAT
S WIND 35 KT. COMBINED SEAS 16 FT.

kenai · 04-09-2002, 10:46 AM

Dang it, I was just getting ready to post my request to join you. You name the time and my partner and I would love to follow you out. I guess we keep watching the marine forecast and tie up some rigs. Anyway, thanks for the invite and hope to fish with you soon.

Tacklebuster · 04-09-2002, 11:12 PM

I am game for a rock pile run. Name the day and I will gladly tag along. Why don't we try a roll call to get the Halibut Gang Runners involved and all convoy out to the pile?

MarlinMark · 04-10-2002, 04:05 AM

I want to throw my hat in the ring for a trip out to catch feeders. Mark email at home. mscalki@ihpc.net

AngleThis · 04-16-2002, 07:58 AM

4 foot swells are predicted this weekend. The run over Bonneville is finally beginning to peak, but weekend combat fishing, even with tons of fish, can't hold a candle to the rock pile on a glassy morning.

If the swell prediction holds, and the wind is under 20MPH, I'm definitely up for a run to the rock pile, provided I can find some floatilla mates.

Who's up for it???

kenai · 04-16-2002, 09:34 AM

Sounds good to me, I'd be interested in a Saturday trip providing the weather holds.

Pilar · 04-17-2002, 12:11 PM

Yep, it looks good this weekend. Friday would be the day with the best weather but I am stretching the fishing good will of my employer with 2 Fridays off in a row for the halibut May days.

How about a prefishing expedition for flatbastardilla 1? Anyone want a guided tour of the Stonewall Bank?

So Saturday April 20, Newport, Rockpile, 2 or 3 species limit, be there, aloha?

[ 04-17-2002, 01:13 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

Phil Layer · 04-17-2002, 06:50 PM

Pilar,

We'll be launching a red Alumaweld Intruder (with Ifish sticker) on Saturday morning between 7 & 8 and then dropping pots in the bay. I don't think we're headed for the Rockpile...will probably fish seal rock area.

I'll be with Stoyjun Princess and her hubby. Holler at us on 77 if you see us.

Good luck!

Stoyjun Princess · 04-17-2002, 07:14 PM

Lets go fishing to the Rock Pile Moby!
If the seas are flat :grin:
Maybe we will see you there Pilar

puffins crew · 04-17-2002, 08:50 PM

Hello all,
This is my first post. My good buddy, Puffin, has turned me into quite a fish catcher these past few years, and has shared his vast knowlege with me and Pilar and a few others. He is a salty dog of a skipper, and has a heart of gold when it comes to fishing.(ps) he is a great cook too)

I have been out to the rockpile a few times with Puffin, and we have done quite well fishing there with herring, jigs, and just about anything else you can think of. Catching halibut, big yellow eye rock fish, lings and salmon.

I hope to get out there, and I am looking foward to hooking up and getting to know some of you folks.

Phil Layer · 04-18-2002, 05:25 AM

Welcome aboard, Puffin Crew.

It sounds like you've been educated by the best.

I look forward to meeting you and might even see you this weekend.

Pilar · 04-18-2002, 06:09 AM

Hey Puffins crew! Good to see you bro. What do you think about this weekend? Are you interested?

Moby, looks like Friday is 'the' day for weather. But Saturday will be ok if we don't get alot of wind. See you there? I still don't know for sure if 'Puffin' is going or 'Pilar' or both. We'll figure it out today.

[ 04-18-2002, 07:11 AM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

puffins crew · 04-18-2002, 07:38 AM

Hi Pilar,

I am always interested in a fishing trip, but I believe that puffin might have to work.

Maybe I can crew on your fish wacking boat, and we can repete the last time we fished. Limited the boat, headed home by noon.

Thanks for the welcome, chromer

puffins crew · 04-18-2002, 07:42 AM

Hi Moby,

Thanks for the welcome, as you can tell, I am kinda new here, but I will get it figured out

Pilar · 04-18-2002, 08:15 AM

Jon has to work on Sat? .... Arrgh! Hey I'll call you tonight. By the way, Moby is the guy that caught nookies in shallow water right off Seal Rock just a week or so ago. Let's buy him a beer and learn what he knows.

Phil Layer · 04-18-2002, 09:08 AM

Pilar,

Seat available on the Barhopper (20 foot Intruder) for Saturday morning if you need a ride.

Let me know if you want it and we'll plan on meeting you at the docks Saturday morning.

puffins crew · 04-18-2002, 01:19 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CWFPDX

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OREGON 930 AM PDT THU APR 18 2002

COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WASHINGTON TO FLORENCE OREGON AND WESTWARD 60 NM.

PZZ200-182230- .SYNOPSIS FOR SOUTHERN WASHINGTON AND NORTHERN OREGON COAST

LOWER PRES WELL INLAND WITH HIGH PRES OFFSHORE

TODAY. HIGH PRES BUILDS OVER WATERS

TONIGHT AND FRI AS LOW PRES REMAINS WELL INLAND AND S.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PZZ250-255-270-275-182230- COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE SHOALWATER WASHINGTON TO FLORENCE OREGON AND WESTWARD 60 NM 930 AM PDT THU APR 18 2002

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS THIS MORNING

.

TODAY

NW WIND 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT. NW SWELL 9 TO 10 FT SUBSIDING TO 8 FT THIS AFTERNOON. PERIOD 10 TO 11 SECONDS. .

TONIGHT

NW WIND 10 TO 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT. W SWELL 6 TO 7 FT AT 13 SECONDS. .FRI

NW WIND 15 KT LOCALLY 20 KT S. WIND WAVES 3 FT. W SWELL 5 TO 6 FT AT 11 SECONDS. .FRI NIGHT

N WIND 15 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT. NW SWELL 4 FT. .SAT THROUGH MON

NW WIND 20 KT. WIND WAVES 4 FT. NW SWELL 6 FT.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heres the latest from NDBC Station 46050 off of Newport. Saturday is looking good with 2 and 4. early will be less wind.

I will buy Moby any brew he chooses for some good info.

Threemuch · 04-18-2002, 02:17 PM

I see 4 and 6 for saturday, 2 and 4 Friday night. I agree though, I would do it if I could, make an early start of it and bring your kidney belt for the run home.

KB