[Waterfish]

Last weekend my family and I went to Washington and explored the Grays Harbor area (by car and foot - left the boat at home) all the way from Westport to Aberdeen, and to Ocean Shores. This is one part of the Washington coast we had not explored before. At Westport, there were dozens of charter boats, probably more than any one spot I know of on the Oregon coast. Since my boat is only 18' (with cuddy cabin), and I am a relatively new boater, it is likely I will never take it to the big blue. However, Grays Harbor is a huge harbor, and it looks like pretty protected water. So I am wondering if it is a good place for smaller boats to go after ocean fish (in good weather, of course). Do most of the charter boats out of Westport fish inside, or outside of the harbor?

As nice as Washington is, in some ways it was sure nice to be back in Oregon, and this after only one weekend! We waited 25 minutes at a gas station where you had to go inside and wait in line to "prepay" for the gas. Then back outside to pump our own gas, and then go back inside and wait in line again to get our change. And what's worse, even with pumping our own gas, it still cost more than here in Oregon! Every little thing we bought we got nickled and dimed with the Sales tax. However, this was the worst: We asked the lady at the front desk of the hotel to recommend a good place for breakfast. She told us of a nice "family" restaurant with great food. When we sat down at the table, I almost pulled the family out when I noticed ash trays at every table. I looked around but there was no "non smoking" area. Not to worry; no one else was setting near us. However, by the time our breakfast arrived, every table around us was full of people. And except for a few kids, they were all smoking! I can understand smokers having one or two cigarettes with breakfast, but this was like a chain smokers' convention! When we got back in our car we noticed that we all reeked with smoke. I had almost forgotten what it was like before Oregon banned smoking in restuarants. Washington is a beautiful state, but it sure was nice to be back in Oregon!

 

[DanS]

So I am wondering if it is a good place for smaller boats to go after ocean fish

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Most years it is......but this year Area 2-2 (Grays Harbor) east of buoy 13 is closed until Sept. 16th. By that time, the lower Chehalis river will be a better option IMO. You can launch in Cosmopolis to access the lower Chehalis.

 

[FishaholicAZ]

Sorry to hear that. I have lived in WA for 13 years before moving and WA may have its quirks but definitely not as bad as OR. It was probably expensive because of the area you were in(coast). When I was up there two weeks ago(vancouver), I was paying around 1.45 a gallon and I would pay at the pump. I never go inside unless I want a drink. Not all restaraunts are like that. She gave you a bad place. Most have a smoking section or are non-smoking... Sorry to hear of your experience though and yes, Oregon is beautiful and I love fishing there. I just don't want to live there... Well, maybe I could manage...

As for the harbor, dont have a clue. Good fishing in the rivers up there though.

Fish on
Romeo

 

[Bounty Hunter]

Oh no FishaholicAZ, Waterfish is absolutely right. WA is a screwed up state. I am closing on my house in Vancouver next week, but the rest of you Oregonians need to stay in the People's Republic of Oregon. :wink: :tongue:

 

[larryb]

the chehlais is closed for salmon tell oct. 1 i beleave and then only for marked coho. so check the reg before going

 

[Waterfish]

Yikes! I didn't mean to make it sound like it was all that bad... I suppose it is just a matter of what you get used to, and the things I mentioned were annoying, but nothing that would keep me from wanting to go back to Washington. I know I could think of some equally irksome things about Oregon too - and I am sure there are many people who would take the exact opposite view of the things I complained about. Washington is one of my favorite states! Bounty Hunter, I did like your "People's Republic of Oregon" though - that's accurate, and I'm glad of it!

 

[Full Freezer]

Waterfish- Your glad Oregon is the "Peoples Republic or Oregon"? I thought Bounty Hunter was referring to the "Socialistic" nature (being nice here). Like in "Peoples Republic of China".

About Grays Harbor- Mouth of John's river is good. Not sure about the reg's this year though.

Full Freezer

 

[Waterfish]

Full Freezer, No, I was not referring to the Socialistic aspects of living in Oregon, which I do not like; for example, our 65 mph speed limit - I think it should be 70 or 75 mph in parts of eastern Oregon. My comment about liking the "People's Republic or Oregon" has to do with a certain independent spirit of Oregonians. So what if every other state in the country except for New Jersey can pump their own gas; most Oregonians don't want self serve gas! The people have voted that and the Sales Tax down something like nine times. Coming from the voters, that's not socialism.

 

[corkyking]

"At Westport, there were dozens of charter boats, probably more than any one spot I know of on the Oregon coast"

There are about 31 charter boats at Westport now. In the 60's and 70's there were 315 charter boats. When they fired up in the morning, you could hear them for miles. Businesses thrived, people everywhere all summer spending money and having a good time.
Then George Boldt said that we couldn't do that any more. The bureaucrats cried "now we have those despoilers of nature and disrespectors of native cultures right where we want them. Instead of those folks making a living and having fun we will build an empire of regulation and help them to a new understanding of their place in the environment.


" Since my boat is only 18' (with cuddy cabin) ……………….. So I am wondering if it is a good place for smaller boats to go after ocean fish "

I have an 18' Alumaweld. For the more timid like me, there is some good fishing along the buoy line (west of #13) now and it will get better 'til it closes. I follow the green line out to #3, turn south and pick up the red line back in. Do this on a nice day when the combination of windwave and swell is less than 10. You can stay within sight of the South Jetty and have a really good time. Try the bottom fishing around the two jettys as well.
Inside the harbor can be tricky. Lots of sandbars so you should have a chart. The regulators are experimenting again so check the website and regs. The Chehalis river from the 101 bridge to Montesano and above can be HOT.

"We waited 25 minutes at a gas station where you had to go inside and wait in line to "prepay" for the gas. "
Not true at most stations, I like Ore. way better though.

"Every little thing we bought we got nickled and dimed with the Sales tax. "
No income taxes although the regulators have tried several times. Now they are charging $5 to PARK at state parks. I'm way too angry to comment now.

"However, by the time our breakfast arrived, every table around us was full of people. And except for a few kids, they were all smoking! "
When you ask your government to do things for you, like intervene with your neighbors or telling your fellow citizens how to act I can guarantee that they will act with alacrity! Trouble is we'll always get more than we bargained for so that those filthy smokers (I quit some time back but it doesn't bother me if others smoke) tend to school up in the friendly places.

E-mail me next time your in the neighborhood, maybe we can go fishing. :cheers:

"There were lots of people who committed crimes during the year who would not have done so if they had been fishing, and I assure you that the increase in crime is due to a lack of those qualities of mind and character which impregnate the soul of every fisherman except those who get no bites." - Herbert Hoover 1930

 

[Waterfish]

Corkyking,

Thanks for the good information about fishing at Grays Harbor. I will definetely e-mail you before I head that way again and see if we can get together for a fishing trip.