San Juan Island help

Spoiled Daddy · 02-17-2004, 05:52 AM

We are planning a vacation to the San Juans in the middle of July. We have never been there before and will have access to a private dock, so I am taking the boat.

Can anyone give me some advice on what fishing is commonly available there during this time period?

Thanks SD

Birdnest · 02-17-2004, 08:05 AM

SD,

Salmon fishing opens on July 1 in a limited fashion. If you check the WA regs they will show you the areas that are open. The fishing will improve as fall approaches but you should still be able to hook up.

Also, you might be able to catch the last few days of Halibut. Last year I think they shut it down on July 8. There are a couple of banks South of the islands (Hein, Middle, Partridge) that you could do a little research on. Not as deep as you OR guys have to go and more fishing pressure.

Bottom fishing is always an option. However the San Juan's have been so over fished they have some pretty strick regs on what you can keep and when, but it can still be fun.

Here is a link that can be helpful for San Juan info San Juan Islands Also a book "Gunkholing in the San Juan's" is a great resource.

Hope this Helps. When you are out, I fish a black over silver 20 Hewescraft and answer to "No Quarter".

Joe

[ 02-17-2004, 09:09 AM: Message edited by: Birdnest ]

Miss B Haven · 02-17-2004, 08:15 AM

Not much :depressed: - Crabbing is good in the right spots (edge of Padilla bay- Hat Island). Season is closed for ling. There are some small bottom fish around (Quills etc) that provided me some action and good eating. Salmon fishing around the Islands is just an excuse to go for a boat ride. I was there in late August and Salmon was supposed to be "good". I never saw a fish caught. There were a few folks trying (as was I for the first couple days). Not sure what the Salmon situation is in July, and of course the runs in General are in better shape than '96 when I was there.
Spend your time exploring and spending time with the wife/family, save your fishing days. Lots of places to day trip by boat there.

I have all the charts/guidebooks but they are already on loan to anther ifisher. If he gets them back you are welcome to borrow them.

Oh- almost forgot, the dog-shark fishing is fantastic.

BUGLEMAN · 02-17-2004, 07:50 PM

Where are you heading up there?

Yeh- I shredded about 20 leaders "dog shark" fishing up there. I tried the "hot spots". I would look for bait and then don't fish deep like bouy 10. That is what I would try next. Everyone said to fish the bottom for chinook but I think I was given a bum steer straight into the dog sharks. :smile:

The Very South end of Griffin bay has a deep hole 100'+ that I pulled up a full pot of 7-8" mossy backed crab. Neat camp with morage bouys at the West end just be carefull on your approach.

Let me know where you will be and I will try to post pics if I have some of that area.

starcrafttom · 02-17-2004, 08:48 PM

they just had a black mouth derby up thier last week and the winner was a 24 lber. Call aroung to the different guides that operate in the islands and see what they have to say.

Miss B Haven · 02-18-2004, 07:09 AM

Bugleman - I tried fishing shallow in the San Juans. It just took the dog sharks a minute or two longer to find the bait. It was a lot like fishing up around Echo Bay. You just really don't want to troll a dead fish around unless you like your dinner with lotsa sharp teeth. :shocked:

Birdnest · 02-18-2004, 08:04 AM

I was out Saturday and later that night I grilled up a tasty blackmouth.

If the dog fish are thick try switching to a spoon or hootchie. I am not saying that a dog fish won't hit a herring scented hootchie, but their activity drops way off.

Actually a goal of mine is to become less dependant on cut plug herring. I know it's effective, yada, yada. It's just messy and I hate that feeling of..."hmmm, I wonder if I still have bait and if it's spinning just right".

My favorites are a hootchie with a salted herring fillet or a flutter spoon. Just my .02

Joe

02-18-2004, 08:08 AM

Me too.

Quote:

My favorites are a hootchie with a salted herring fillet

Spoiled Daddy · 02-18-2004, 08:53 AM

We will be staying in a private home on Center Island, on the back side of Lopez Island.

Sounds like we might be just crabbing and a little plunking for bottom fish for the kids, but no serious fishing...

Thanks for the input and I will keep researching the fisheries in that area.

SD

lost_sailor · 02-18-2004, 09:56 AM

I've heard that SHRIMPING is what you want to get into.

BUGLEMAN · 02-18-2004, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lost_sailor:
I've heard that SHRIMPING is what you want to get into.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Yeh I wouldn't mind learning those spotted shrimp etc. but it would probably be on a learning curve. It is kind of intimidating with 300' depths, ripping currents and lots of area. Maybe we could activate the salty dogs and start a San Juans shrimping thread for cumulative knowledge. Those spotted shrimp are beatiful.

Birdnest · 02-18-2004, 06:01 PM

Here is a place for you to start. It is the South end of Lopez Island off of Iceberg Pt. Find an area of 250-300' water and go to town. Make sure you weight your pots good and pick a soft tidal exchange.

Joe

BUGLEMAN · 02-18-2004, 09:52 PM

Here is a view from the South Westerly end of Sucia Island.

And after the crab feed at Griffin bay with my lady. Nice anchorage with protection from the Westerlies. Notice the riffles.

Hey not bad for my first pic load.

[ 02-18-2004, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: BUGLEMAN ]

rcl187 · 02-19-2004, 11:16 PM

Where's the cabin at on the island? If your around alec bay that's a pretty good spot to hit lots of rockfish and greenling. Fish the steep walls on the main island in 10-30 feet of water with 1/2-3/4 ounce brown or orange grubs and you should be able to catch fish all day. It's also relatively close to McArthur bank so if you catch the tail end of halibut season you could give that a shot. It's shallow (a little over 100ft) and narrow but there's usually a few holding around there.

For shrimping: pulling the pots is a little work but if you don't mind putting some effort in one person can do it (though two is a lot nicer and three's even better). Like mentioned above iceberg point is pretty hot. 30-40 pounds of weight (bricks or lead work fine) and at least 400 feet of rope. I'd recommend 6 yellow bouys placed 2 at a time 20 feet apart or 1 big orange one with a yellow one on a 20 foot trailer cord. Some puss'n'boots and a handfull or two of the round bait balls or herring and you'll be set. Soak for an hour and enjoy. If spot prawns are closed by then drop the pots in 150 feet or so (you can use a little less weight and a much shorter rope) and get the pink and striped ones. they're smaller but equally tasty

Spoiled Daddy · 02-20-2004, 04:35 AM

Thanks folks!

I went to the library and picked up 3 books on the San Juans and will start reading them this weekend. We shrimped while in Campbell River a couple of years ago and it sounds like the same kind of set up.

We have never been to this place before, so this might be a trip to experiment, play and sightsee more than fish. But then again.......

SD

elkman · 02-20-2004, 04:13 PM

we have made at least one trip per year to the san juans for the last 19 years. crabbing can be seacond to none, bottomfishing is beyond comprehention, and halibut isnt to shabby either. we have caught at least one salmon every year we have been there...and to top it all off, its the most beautiful place in the state! unfortunetly lincod is closed during july, but there is not a problem catching a boatful of 40 inchers for fun. one of the best and most diverse fisheries around...that and neah bay