Advice about Florence

frogulator · 08-13-2005, 05:58 AM

I'll be down in Florence this week, and I hope to get out to the ocean for salmon and crab. Any advice on crossing the Suislaw bar and places for salmon and crab will be appreciated. Thanks.

08-13-2005, 06:36 AM

http://www.marinebd.osmb.state.or.us...rs/Siuslaw.htm

frogulator · 08-13-2005, 03:32 PM

Thanks for the link. And the "C" out there must where the crab are, and maybe...the "D" is dungeness? :grin: Just kidding--thanks.

08-13-2005, 03:33 PM

And the "A" is for albacore :grin:

retaliate · 08-13-2005, 04:16 PM

I understand they have finally dredged the channel, this should ease the rough bar crossing a bit, still few use this port, maybe a better bar crossing will encourage more, I hope so I live in the Eugene area, by far the closest port from my house, so let us know how it turns out, many will appreciate it. We still need a boat ramp closer to the jaws tho, currently it's a 5 mile run from the boat ramp to the jaws, a closer boat ramp would help, I've heard that could happen in the near future also. GOOD LUCK!

WildHawg · 08-13-2005, 05:52 PM

It's been a few years, but as Ken said--it's one of the longer hauls and rougher bars on the coast. Didn't know they dredged it!
If you head out, go south for crabs--doesnt have to be far, and put them a safe distance outside the surf. The run down mandates that you follow the channel markers implicitly.
Some idiot I know failed to pay attention one time and became grounded on a small sandbar right in front of Moe's :blush:, but that was a long time ago, and I pay much closer attention now!!!!
Take care,
Charlie

FishGitter · 08-13-2005, 06:03 PM

Gee, I always thought the 'A' there stood for AWW CR^P! :grin:

Deepslayer · 08-13-2005, 07:17 PM

Thanks for the warning about that "idiot" Wildhawg!

frogulator · 08-14-2005, 04:08 AM

Thanks for the heads up, guys. I'll let you know how it goes. Weather premitting.

Double G · 08-14-2005, 07:32 AM

Quote:

I'll be down in Florence this week, and I hope to get out to the ocean for salmon and crab. Any advice on crossing the Suislaw bar and places for salmon and crab will be appreciated. Thanks.

I fish out of Florence regularly and am glad to share some tips. Firstly here's the Coast Guard's phone number for the Siuslaw recorded bar conditions report: (541) 902-7792

When you are out-bound stay along the north jetty as the channel runs along that side plus the south side of the river is where the waves roll in during flood tide. As you near the tips move closer to the center of the river as that's where the smoothest water has been this summer. Avoid crossing to close to either north or south tips as there's submerged rocks at both locations. When I return I put the ole hairy eyeball on the river but usually find myself picking a spot near the middle south of center and then as I cross I head toward the north jetty to get to the deepest and smoothest water. Follow the channel markers as you run up river to avoid sandbars and rocks. Keep the red markers on your right while returning. Red, Right, Returning.

Crabbing in the ocean will end this week but if you beat the deadline then drop your pots to the south about a mile. I dropped four pots yesterday with marginal luck. Only three keeper crabs but they were BIG ones. For the past month the majority of my crabs have been females. Speaks well for the future but it's been hard to invite friends over for a crab feast.

The Siuslaw has been dredged both this year and last. You can expect the CG to restrict the bar on minus tide days but it will usually open again about half way towards the flood tide.

I heartily recommend that you plot a GPS route course down the river so that you can comfortably return in fog if necessary. Yesterday we departed at 7am in the fog, fished the ocean in dense fog all day, returned to the bar in the fog and then enjoyed a beautiful sunny ride up the river. I make a waypoint at the drop point of each crab pot to make recovery a snap. Yesterday we returned with three Chinook for two fishermen. We fished 180 deep water which is approximately three miles off the tips. We hooked the largest fish on the surface before the line could be attached to the downrigger clip, one fish at 99 foot depth and the third fish at 55 foot. All fish were caught on Apex lures with a tiny piece of bait on the hook for scent.

Good luck and enjoy your visit. Several of the "locals" share info on VHF channel 6 so you might want to eavesdrop. I'll be fishing weekends only for the next few weeks but feel free to hail me on 6. My boat's name is the Double G.

skein · 08-14-2005, 07:47 AM

Wow, Double G, that's a lot of good information!

Obviously you know what it means to be a Salty Dog and to share what you know. My hat is off to you - and I hope the karma gods read your post and reward you with big fish. :grin:

Skein

Double G · 08-14-2005, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Wow, Double G, that's a lot of good information!

Obviously you know what it means to be a Salty Dog and to share what you know. My hat is off to you - and I hope the karma gods read your post and reward you with big fish. :grin:

Skein

Thank you for the compliment Jim. I'm proud to be recognized as a Salty Dog. I've had good teachers, yourself, Mark Mc, Pilar, Mr. Fisherman and Keta to name just a few. I look forward to the day when I get to meet you and the rest of my Salty Dog heros in person, perhaps at the next Corvallis TA meeting.

frogulator · 08-14-2005, 06:33 PM

Gary, I'm carving your initials in the tree out back.

Thanks for the great info. I'm only there mid week or I'd give you a shout. Good luck and good fishing.
frog

Double G · 08-14-2005, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Gary, I'm carving your initials in the tree out back.

Thanks for the great info. I'm only there mid week or I'd give you a shout. Good luck and good fishing.
frog

Froggie, You've got me laughing.

If you are there after the ocean crabbing closes here's where I'd try to crab in the river. This will take one or two pots with 75 foot of rope. As you approach the north jetty, going down river and before you get to the CG tower, you will see on your right an old rusty group of sheet piling. This is where a fish hatchery used to stand and this group of sheet piling was the entrance to the hatchery fish ladder. You'll see a small parking lot behind the ladder. This is a popular spot with skin divers because they dive into this deep hole and find huge crabs hiding from the river currents. The water depth near this old fish ladder is around 50 feet and I think it's a bit deeper in the "hole." Drop one or two pots near this hole and hope for the best. Divers tell me that the deepest part of the hole is like a nursery for females and their offspring but I've picked up some good male crabs here just off the rim of the hole. If the wind is blowing hard while you are there and you want to find some protected water then crab just down river from the CG station. The water is deep there off that river bank and it's produced for me in the past. Be careful not to impede the CG boat house but there is plenty of room there to crab without impinging on their dock space.

I hope you have a nice visit to Florence. The launch fee is only $2.00 and it's a friendly place to spend some leasure time.

I hope the tree you've carved my initials into survives to a ripe old age.......just like I hope to myself!