san juans?

grumman16 · 01-13-2004, 02:09 PM

So how big of a boat do you need to do a little island hopping in the San Juans? I have a 20' Willie's Asaltor. Relatively high sides and high bow for an aluminum fishing boat.

I'm not looking for adventure out on the open seas, just some easy boating. Are the waters pretty protected up there? I'm thinking about doing a 3-4 day trip sometime this summer up there. Would love to get around by boat up there, but only if its safe and relaxing (the wife would start a mutiny otherwise). Not planning on sleeping on the boat, just using it for transportation and a little sightseeing. I might even squeeze in some fishing, but first I gotta figure out whether the boat is doable.

Any info on this and/or weather, times of year to go, etc... would be greatly appreciated. Planning on hitting the library this weekend to do a little research, but always like to hear first hand experiences when I can.

-G16

reeldick · 01-13-2004, 02:15 PM

Some of the guys in the Seattle area should be able to help you out. Look up "Little Blue Sled" and see if he can't give you a few tips. He used to take a 19' Glassply up to Seque (sp)for silvers.

Miss B Haven · 01-13-2004, 02:19 PM

POC (Piece of Cake). Lots of smaller boats up there. The only downside are your accomodations. Not a lot (or ANY) places to boat camp on the beach (no beaches, rocks and trees to the water for the most part). There are lots of docks to stay at with accomodations though. It's a great place to Harbor hop with the little lady and cruise the tourist shops, go out to dinner etc.
If you want more info (and lotsa books/maps etc) send me an email.
OH- There is big water up there that can get windy/rough at times but if you launch at Anacortes your can cruise to all the American Islands and stay in the smaller protected Channels.

grumman16 · 01-13-2004, 03:38 PM

Miss B Haven - you got mail!

Liquid Asset · 01-13-2004, 05:00 PM

Grumman,

Not a problem. Get your charts plus a San Juan Island Cruising Guide....Fisherman's has them.

Usually the most challenging is when you just leave Anacortes. Thather Pass can be a real pain. We tooled around there for years in a 20' Trophy and always felt comfortable.

We like to stay at Snug Harbor on the west side of San Juan Island. They have cabins right on the marina. The wife might enjoy a night or two at Rosario, they have a GREAT Sunday brunch!!!! The pool and spa are really nice (not that I'm in to the spa stuff!)

Friday Harbor is touristy, but fun. We like to eat at "Downriggers"..right where the ferry docks. Fuel food and crabbait are expensive so pack well.

It gets the most dicey (for me) around the Wasp Islands, but you can always follow a Ferry from Anacortes to wherever you want to go.

There are Marine Parks on several islands (my favorites are Jones Island and Doe Island). These are rustic but well maintained.

Bottomfish have been cleaned out and it's reflected in the one fish limit. You might be able to time a run of Blackmouth while you're there. Also, check on the crabbing regulations, they change often. It's considered Area 7. If you like oysters, hit Wescott Bay, just north of Snug Harbor....you can pick them yourself!

Email me if you need more info...

Liquid

blacktail519 · 01-13-2004, 05:18 PM

Take in mind here, There is a big difference between a 20' trophy, and a willie asaltor. The trophy is desig [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] ned for big open water(deep and heavy)

grumman16 · 01-13-2004, 05:36 PM

Blacktail, good point.

Just in case some of ya aren't familiar with what I'm talking about, here are a couple pictures of the boat.

My goal is to do a summer time trip and stay in the more protected areas.

Keep the advice coming - thanks everyone.

-G16

Liquid Asset · 01-13-2004, 05:46 PM

Nice Ride Grumman...

Like Blacktail, I agree there is a HUGE difference in the two rigs.

There are plenty of boats smaller than that, like Miss B said.

IMHO, that would suffice for summers in the San Juans. But, I can clearly remember several crossings that were plenty hairy.HOWEVER, what makes me comfortable and you comforable might be two differnet things.

Go on a solid day and great time...

Liquid

Green Machine · 01-13-2004, 05:47 PM

You are fine.

The San Juans in the summer are no worse than the Columbia. Of course you have to watch the weather, but the islands are protected for the most part. Stay away from Bellingham Bay it always seems to be choppy, but won't sink you. Thatcher Pass can be bad, but I think better than going around the North end. We have fished it year around in 16' - 21' aluminum boats and only been blown out once, and that was November. Send me an e-mail if you want specifics, but you will be fine.

Green Machine

Water Ready · 01-13-2004, 06:24 PM

GO-GO-G0! "Build your adventures to share with others". Awesome ride and you will have a ton of fun.

Watch the weather and pick your days. If it's bad, find a beach and go clammn' :grin: Lots to do up there! Have a great time. Can I hook an inner-tube and float behind? :tongue: Later

Green Machine · 01-13-2004, 07:31 PM

Oh, do you have downriggers??

The fourth of July is usually when we do best on the Blackmouth. I'm 45 minutes from Anacortes and fish it most of the summer. I might be able to tell you a spot or two....

Green Machine

Pitch Pocket · 01-13-2004, 07:33 PM

It can be like this:

Or is can be 15 miles of bad road.

Mornings are generally flat, but if they are not, watch out. It's big water that can be traversed in a canoe on the right day. Stay around San Juan Island and you have the inland waters to putt around in. Head for Sucia and you can get caught.

Our first trip with the sled was to Roche Harbor. Felt a little intimidated by the floating condos, but shot around the island, saw the orcas, crabbed and trolled for salmon at Kellet Bluff.

With the SeaSport, we've been everywhere and there are more places to go. Started exploring the Gulf Islands last year. We stay at Friday Harbor and venture out from there. Good town, with restaurants, bars, liquor store and a sizeable grocery, movie theater, clamming and oysters at Roche Harbor area.

I'd consider ferrying the sled over. You are then sure you can get out when you want. Remember the 15 miles of bad road. Rosario Strait is not a family cruise in an open boat on a bad day.

DJFISHS2XS · 01-14-2004, 06:14 AM

I fish out there all the time in a 14 foot Lund. The trip across from washington park can be tricky with waves and somtimes fog...and it is also a ferry lane so watch if its foggy to stay out of its way. once you get there the islands provide lots of shelter. the open areas change about half-way through the season. so make sure you check the regs. washington park is a city ramp and they charge $5 a day parking. the ramps at cornet bay (deception pass) is also $5 a day. the best thing that I can see if your going to spend a few nights out there is to put in at the twin bridges near the indian casino right on 20 before you get to anacortes then either talk to the marina or park you rig at the casino. it only adds about 3 miles to the boat trip part of your trip. as for fishing there are lots of goo black-mouth places I like the bar right behind james Island (james is the east boundry of the open area during july). if you go a little lator in the year you will have transit fish heading to the samish and whatcom creek. James island is also open camping and has a nice dock. the inter-islands have dock w/gas and you can get anything you need from the stores along the water. I like friday harbor if not windy you run south and fish cattle point, if windy you run east and fish thatcher pass, black rock, james island. any information that you need email me, and I might even tell you some other places....DJ

CHUMSALMON · 01-14-2004, 06:34 AM

gruman,
you'll be fine. I guy i fished with this last year has the same boat as you and uses it all over the sound. I thought the boat handeled the water fine (even in some of the rougher conditions). i wouldn't worry about it at all. Although if you find it to be windy early in the morning your in for wind all day. Typically it is calm in the morning with the wind picking up in the afternoons. Good luck, sounds like a fun trip.
chumsalmon

DJFISHS2XS · 01-14-2004, 08:14 AM

I almost forgot, there is a palistic coated map on the San Jauns and would reccomed it for boating out there, it shows all the gas docks etc

blubeast · 01-14-2004, 10:46 AM

Grummand16- you should be fine so long as you watch your weather... just as you do here. Went for our first boating trip this past Sept. The first boat-camping trip with the wife...so I was also VERY concerned that it be a success. Weather was wet... rained two of the four days. Even so, had a great time. We stayed on our boat (21' cuddy) but you should not have any trouble using yours for travel... it was like a lake during our trip.

I'd suggest you pick up a cruising book on the islands. I ready several... liked the Gunkholing book best. You've got to remember the books are somewhat deceiving... they make the islands appear HUGE... with GREAT distances involved... when in reality distances are short... it's like 15 miles total from Anacordes to Friday Harbor if I remember correctly... mostly in protected waters.

Plan your trip using the books... make your reservations ahead and have a great time. We will be going again...

Send me an email if you'd like more info...

big john · 01-14-2004, 03:55 PM

a 14-foot open skiff with a 16 horse got me from everett to sucia island and then back around orcas island one summer, beach camping (watching the weather carefully).

take along an extra fuel filter or two; low-volume gas suppliers have been known to pump some crud now and then. once in a while it can get foggy. all i had was a compass, which i needed to get from sucia to the north side of orcas, but now i suppose a GPS and a VHF radio would be advisable.

good luck to you!

Silver Hilton · 01-14-2004, 11:18 PM

I use a 19 foot sled on the Sound, and it's fine, unless the wind is really snorting. You may have to slow down, but on any normal day, you'll be safe. It's a rare summer day that you have to be concerned. In the winter, if a front comes through and the wind has some room to work on the waves, it can get pretty bouncy.

grumman16 · 01-16-2004, 12:59 PM

So what months do you guys think are the best in terms of good weather conditions. Rain I can deal with, I'm more concerned with the wind. Are June, July or August all relatively safe bets?

My plan is to do any of the longer stretchs in the morning while things are calm (before the wind picks up).

On a related note, how has the pink fishing been up here lately? Was last year good? (I think its every other year right?) Whats the limit on these guys? If this trip goes well, may have to plan a trip for next september with more of the family to go after some pinks.

-G16

Phil Layer · 01-16-2004, 01:04 PM

Dang, Big John!

Tell more....or write a book about it.

Sounds like quite the adventure.

Boat Monkey · 01-16-2004, 02:28 PM

You can camp on the beach and launch at Odlin State Park on Lopez island, I think site 12 may be the best.

Be prepared to pay an additional $100.00 for bringing your boat with you on the ferry - cash. This was almost a show stopper the last time I went.

There are some extreme currents around some of the islands, in particular the southern point of San Juan, I believe it is called Cattle Point. Good salmon and rockfishing.

Keep you eye out and you may very well see orca in this area and particularly on the west side of San Juan.

Birdnest · 01-16-2004, 06:28 PM

The San Juan's are my back yard, matter of fact I spent the day on one of my favorite reef's and have a belly full of rockfish to show for it. I fish a 20' Hewescraft Searunner which looks pretty close to your boat. No worries. Bring your crab pots and downriggers... :grin:

However, this is what I do. I heed small craft advisories and use the islands as buffers. Pay attention to the big water areas, ie large straights.

The currents will not follow what you are use to, ie up the river, down the river. They pour around, in, out and through the islands. Also, watch your charts close. There are MANY rocky outcroppings that are awash at an extreme low tide.

There are also a TON of boat only camping spots through out the San Juan's. The Gunkholing book was mentioned earlier and it is a good resource. If you are going to camp, pick an island that does not have ferry traffic to compete with landlubbers for your spot. Another plan is to trailer your boat to a ferry island and launch from that island, although it is $$$$ to take your boat on the ferry.

Here is a link that should help you get started. My boat's name is "No Quater" and it is black over silver...stop by and say hello if you see me.

http://www.nwboating.com/dest/nav/san_juans

Joe

big john · 01-17-2004, 06:27 AM

PHIL LAYER: in those days it wasn't too big of a deal; boating magazines carried stories of other such adventures in small craft.

the north side of saddlebag island made for a protected place to beach the boat and pitch a tent, and the south side offered crab fishing to catch dinner.

the state park at sucia was virtually undeveloped, and a tiny cove along the north reef there made another good place to camp.

boat traffic was minimal in those days compared to now; the whole pace of life was different. beach campers weren't bothered by property owners concerned about "private land". fish, crabs, and clams were plentiful and easy to come by. the tides, wind, waves, and currents (and SOME of the scenery, the undeveloped areas) are probably the only things that haven't changed.