Hammond Crabs and Flounder

bassin · 11-02-2002, 07:57 AM

If the weather permits I plan on crabbing on Sunday morning. Any one have any experience fishing for flounder waiting for there crab pots to fill.
And is the ramp at Hammond closed for repair as posted? If so, I guess it's warrington.Any other Ifishers going?

Tacklebuster · 11-02-2002, 08:53 AM

We caught a lot of nice flounder around the flag pole in about 9 to 12 feet of water. Those little buggers love sand shrimp. We stumbled on this fishery while sturgeon fishing. Have fun and post your results....

Born to Fish · 11-02-2002, 04:18 PM

Tacklebuster....each year I sturgeon fish with a guide in June with my sons, setting out from the Hammond ramp. This has become a great family tradition.

Wasn't aware of the crabbing and flounder fishing in the area. This is something I'd really like to try with the boys, but expect that since there is no "R" in "June" the crabbing wouldn't be any good. Or is it worth trying anyway, and if so are buoy 20 and 22 still the go to spots?

What about the chances of catching flounder or other bottomfish fishing out of Hammond at that time of year? Not certain where the "flag pole" is - not on "Fish-N-Map" I have. Is that a local name for something else not on the map?

Would appreciate suggestions from you or any others reading this posting. While the sturgeon is always a kick for the boys and I, it'd be nice to try other activities as well. Feel free to contact me via email if you'd prefer:
dberg200083709@yahoo.com. Many thanks in advance.

sportster · 11-02-2002, 08:08 PM

did anyone go out today ? i heard from a friend at about noon ,as his was going over the megler bridge & he said it relly flat &nice.i will be heading out at about 5:30am for the warrenton lanuch.will be around 22 till about noon,thats if the wind dosent pick up. :smile:

Uglygreen · 11-02-2002, 08:34 PM

Crab is OK around 20 & 22, remember to have at least 2 floats on your pots if you are in the current at all, if you get too far into the channel, two might not be enough to keep the floats up on a large tidal exchange. Many years ago , I dropped pots in that area, came back, and found the pots gone.

I thought "THIEF!", but in reality the current had sucked the floats under, as I found out when I noticed my missing floats in the same spot a week later!

I usually have better luck on the Washington side under the lighthouse. Tuck the pots back in the corner in about 25 feet of water off the little sand beach between the rock wall and the north jetty. Go in behind the commercial pots that are usually there, the closer to the jetty the better. If you can see where the underwater rocks of the jetty go to sand on your depth sounder, drop about 15 feet on the sand side and you will usually not be dissapointed. Crabs are currently running large, and about 50%-60% hardshell. 3 pots per person should limit you in one set, but if you are picky about the quality of the keepers it may take 2.

As for flounder, there is a great spot behind the A jetty, between the jetty and the entrance to Ilwaco. There is a large radar reflector on the jetty, 50 -100 feet off that in 15 feet of water or so, put on a sand shrimp or half an anchovy, and you will get dozens of them between 1-5 pounds. They are tasty little guys. Bread filets in bisquick w/ a little salt and pepper. Pan fry in olive oil so hot its almost smokin on the stove, a little garlic and minced onion. Only takes 30-45 seconds per side fot the average 1/2 inch thick piece.

Hope that helps,

UG

[ 11-02-2002, 09:38 PM: Message edited by: Uglygreen ]

1pump · 11-02-2002, 09:05 PM

I'll be out there in the a.m. 'til the tide starts to head out.
If I'm not mistaken, the "flag pole" is the one in the clearing in what must be Ft Stevens. Got a lawn or something around it. Pretty easy to spot. It's not quite halfway to buoy 22, west of the Hammond basin.

Born to Fish · 11-03-2002, 07:37 AM

Thanks for the advice - really appreciate the help.

FSH4EVR · 11-04-2002, 08:33 AM

I was told that the lighthouse is Definately Washington waters and you better use crab rings and not pots or you may buy them crabs at a high price. there are lots of crabs I was out there on Saturday and it was gorgeous and no one around. dropped the pots at sand Island and used rings at the lighthouse.

Tacklebuster · 11-04-2002, 08:39 AM

Born to Fish,
The majority of the flounder that we catch is in June and July. The flag pole is really easy to find. It is only about a five minute run from the Hammond Launch. It is in a bend that is protected from the big water. Just take a hard left (Toward the ocean) out of Hammond and you will see the flag pole on your left. The best thing about fishing that area in June is the sturgeon sometimes stack up in that area to rest from the current. You can do a grand slam! Good luck....

Miss B Haven · 11-04-2002, 08:50 AM

UG (and all CR Crabbers) - The North Jetty/A-Jetty area IS Washington water (see map below). FSH4EVR is correct, you can not use pots in WA water this time of year (Oct-Dec I believe). It is also not at all clear to me whether you need a WA crabbing license. You don't for fish in boundary water, but I'm not sure about Crab. I have an e-mail to WA about this, but still have not gotten a response!

Big Dave · 11-04-2002, 12:56 PM

Your right about WA. and when you can start using your pots, it is DEC. 1 and from what I can make out in the regs. you DO need a licence and a punch card if you launch in WA. I am now trying to figure out how many traps you can set per person, I think it is 2 traps unlike Oregon which is three.
Some times I think they try to make it hard for the reg. guy so they can make some extra money writting tickets !
Oh well I got my red and white buoys with my name rank and serial number on them along with my weighted line, All I have to do now is figure out why it says the size on my measuring device says 6" in WA. yet if you look in the WA Regs. for the Columbia River it says 5 3/4". Think I will just keep them over 7" and play it safe !
Never have tried the flounder fishing but it sure sounds like fun to me !
Later..........Big Dave.

Miss B Haven · 11-04-2002, 01:08 PM

big dave - WA has different sizes for different areas in the state. CR is the same as OR, 5 3/4". Others have stated you need a WA crab license if you launch out of WA. What if you are an OR resident crabbing in WA waters (but launched in OR). I can't imagine that they would differentiate the launch point since OR/WA have reciprocal agreements on boundary waters (the CR) for everything else. I'm STILL waiting to hear back from them on this.

I sure can't disagree about them making this tough for everyone! :whazzup:

1pump · 11-04-2002, 10:01 PM

I was out there Sunday when the OSP snuck up on us to do a crab check. (no, they didn't make us drop our pants, so no jokes please)
I asked them about this OR/WA waters thing and crabbing the WA side without a license. They said anywhere in the CR was "reciprocal" and there's no boundary between states on the river. Huh?? :whazzup: I told them I raised this issue on the board last week and got about 20 different answers. He asked if anybody actually got cited by WA. I said nobody mentioned it, and he said "Well, there you are." His partner wasn't so sure, though. Besides, they're OSP and it's not their job to enforce WA laws, so I really don't think they had any idea.
I asked them why they had crab pots in their boat. Several reasons- 1. From a distance they look just like anybody else out crabbing 2. They're trying to catch pot thieves (a regular occurence, according to them) 3. (My girlfriend actually pried this answer out) Well, they like crab too, and they do keep the ones they catch while staking out their pots.
Hmmmm, I need to get that job.

They did get my phone # and said they would get back to me about the WA launch & license issue, but you know how that goes.

[ 11-04-2002, 11:05 PM: Message edited by: 1pump ]

roadsend · 11-05-2002, 03:16 AM

The Washington Sport fishing rulebook FISHING IN WASHINGTON says on page 52 under Columbia River:
"Crab fishers my (sic) fish for crab in Oregon waters under Oregon rules and land into Washington ports of the Columbia River"

1pump · 11-05-2002, 06:16 AM

OK, that sounds clear enough, but there's the "Oregon waters" thing again. How come you can fish the mouth of the Lewis, Kalama, Cowlitz, etc. with an OR license but you can't crab on the WA side?? :whazzup:

Pitch Pocket · 11-05-2002, 07:56 AM

As I understand it, there are no "Washington waters" when it comes to the reciprocity of regulations in the Columbia River.

The only restrictions are that Oregon licensed fishers cannot fish from the Washington shore, sloughs or tributaries (page 106 Washington regs).

(Is Baker Bay a slough?)

Contrary to what I was told by WDFW rep in Olympia, the regs do say that Oregon crabbers can launch and land on the Washington side and be subject to Oregon rules (page 50 Washington regs).

It is truly confusing and poorly written in both Oregon and Washington regs. Not to mention the fact that you get different answers from different representatives of both organizations.

I personally crab anywhere in the Columbia I want to. I'm confident that the reciprocity agreement holds up in the lighthouse area.

Miss B Haven · 11-05-2002, 08:42 AM

Pitch Pocket (and UG)- I gotta check this out, it's what I was looking for and couldn't find in the WA regs. (hard to read on the web - jumping around section to section).
Ptich Pocket Wrote:
"Contrary to what I was told by WDFW rep in Olympia, the regs do say that Oregon crabbers can launch and land on the Washington side and be subject to Oregon rules (page 50 Washington regs)." :smile:

As I suspected that info you got was wrong (I still have not recevied a response on my e-mail).

What is very clear though is that you can not legally use pots in WA waters until Dec 1st. (Don't matter what state you are from or where you launch). Watch out by the lighthouse! I hear the OSP is out checking crabbers, I suspect WA is too! They have nothing better to do with they're river boats this time of year! :depressed:

Temptations · 11-05-2002, 02:32 PM

mis b havin

Where did you get that forecst, Warrenton?

Got Chevas?

FN

Born to Fish · 11-05-2002, 05:00 PM

Tacklebuster,
Again, thanks for sharing the information.
Looking at the "Fish-n-Map" for the area and trying to pin down location you're describing. I see a point on Clatsop Spit that points upriver and creates a pocket that would be protected from the big water as you describe it. No name given for the point but it's just off the "Jetty Lagoon" and is in a across from Chinook and Bouy 21 on the Oregon side. It's down river from "Pt. Adams". Does this sound like your spot?

Really glad to hear that June and July are prime times, works out beautifully with our annual trips.

Some additional question, and forgive my ignorance cause I'm new to this, but I'd presume the bite is centered around tidal influence which can be impresive in that area. If so, is it best on high tide, incoming/outgoing?

Never had my boat on these waters so wondering what, if any precautions I'd need to take fishing that area with my 19 ft. bass boat [with prop engine]. Depths on the map look okay but I've seen enough folks get grounded and know how things can change dramatically.

Did you try any summer crabbing in that area?

Thanks again - and will be happy to share my information and success [hopefully] when I finally get a chance to try it out this summer. Really looking forward to this, and the sturgeon fishing.

Temptations · 11-05-2002, 07:47 PM

cutthroat

With a boat your size you really need to watch the weather. The wind kicks up after about 1PM most days. Summer crabbing isn't real good. Most of them are pretty light. We don't start crabbing until late Sept.

Salmon fishing is pretty much on the incoming tide, but there is a chance to get a chinook on the ebb as they hide from the current.

Good Luck and be careful down there.

G

Tacklebuster · 11-05-2002, 10:59 PM

Born to Fish,
That is the spot exactly. Once you get in that protected cove, you will see the flag pole. It is only about a 5 minute run from the ramp. I have found the flood to be the best in that area but have caught sturgeon and flounder on both tides. I like fishing low slack and the first part of the flood. No need to worry on getting grounded around that area. You will not want to get close to shore though, stay in about 8 to 12 feet of water.
The boat would be a little of a concern to me though. How deep is it and how tall are the sides? The area will be fine but getting back to the ramp may be a different story. I have seen 6 feet standing waves on an ebb tide right in front of the entrance to Hammond. There is smoking current that rips by the entrance on both tide swings but the ebb is the worst. Depending on your boat, I would stick to the flood tide.
The crabbing can be good at times on the flood in that area but you will go through a lot of smaller ones before you get your keepers. We had a couple of trips in that area last June that yielded about 20 flounders and half as many sturgeon in about a 2 hour time period. We always seem to tag a keeper sturgeon while doing this. When the time frame comes up next year, I'll get back with you and maybe set up a trip.

Temptations · 11-05-2002, 11:49 PM

OSP is using a 18' Powder River with a dark green aft enclosure.

The light bar is very small and is under the closed array radar. Very hard to see.

Don't know for sure but think you need WA crab license to work WA waters.

I moor in Hammond and they checked us Sun. First time I've ever been checked. Fished down there for 25 years.

FTI

Miss B Haven · 11-05-2002, 11:57 PM

Temptations- I heard the OSP was searching for a very suspicious looking guy [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] . Prolly why you got stopped!

How about that forecast - 25 footers and 40 knots SE! :shocked:

Born to Fish · 11-07-2002, 05:01 PM

Tacklebuster,

My boat is a modified V-hull so it doesn't have the depth and amount of freeboard that would be available on 19-foot deep-V hulls such as the Tracker Targa or Lund boats. Guess that would be a serious consideration based on the current and standing waves you describe in the area and entrance to Hammond.

Last summer was the first time we fished out of Hammond so it's still basically new to me and I must confess that when out with a guide I am less observant than if I were the operator.

I don't have personal experience in that kind of water as an operator - my background is primarily in lakes, and I'm not one to push my luck. Call me a "fair weather fisherman" if you will but I'm into a comfortable trip that doesn't end up in white-knuckles on the steering wheel, or getting pounded-to-heck if that can be avoided.

You offer some good pointers. The area and what you had to say about the fishing and crabbing still intregues me. Been reading with interest what others have had to say about the bankfishing off SS Beach and other options.

Will continue to read with interest and look forward to hearing from you again. Would jump at the opportunity to maybe set up a trip in the future with you and others. It's really a great area and I'm hooked on it.

sportster · 11-07-2002, 05:35 PM

has anyone been out at all this week,or is it just to windy?thinking of going out sun morning ,& was wondering if it would be worth the drive or not?thinking of going out of chinook & around sand island.

Tacklebuster · 11-07-2002, 11:03 PM

Born To Fish,
My best advice to you is to leave your boat at home. I have fished that area a bunch and it can get very bad very fast. Under the right circumstances your boat would be OK but the skipper needs to know the area and when to get out. The cove is protected but getting there and back is not. I would be more than happy to take you and your sons out next summer. I am in the area about every week from June until September so I'm sure we can hook up. Keep in touch....

Chris

Born to Fish · 11-08-2002, 04:11 AM

Tacklebuster,

Good advice. No matter what the boat is, if the operator doesn't have his/her act together you could be asking for trouble.

With my limited [once/year so far] exposure to the area I really don't know the waters, weather and tidal influences.

Will keep in touch, many thanks again.

Dean

bassin · 11-08-2002, 07:23 AM

Sportster:
I was thinking of going Sunday my self. But the wind sounds like its going to be a problem.
Have you heard something different? And then theres the Wave thing..........

sportster · 11-08-2002, 05:16 PM

bassin: i was hoping for it to calm dowm a little by sun ,but it doesnt look like it.so maybe i will go out during the week ,maybe tues. or wed.but if it lets up just little i will be going on sun. :smile:

bassin · 11-09-2002, 07:25 AM

Let me know and maybe we can tag team up. I picked up bait last night. Am still hopful for a Sunday outing. But if not, week days work too.
There is some wrong setting here on a weekend morning not fishing or hunting and reading about it.......

sportster · 11-09-2002, 10:07 PM

bassin : i will sit this one out due to high wind , but let try next weekend?you can email me at burris@attbi.com good luck,& let us know how you did .i might be up on the n.f. lewis tomarrow.