[5-Cents]

Way to go Carp

 

[Mr. Carp]

That's exactly what it was like, Tacklebuster. We caught so many silvers and pinks my arms were tired. We were out on our halibut spot and the salmon were jumping and boiling like we were in a hatchery. Pretty Wild! We were fishing in Canadian waters so we got to keep 2 halibut instead of 1 so that was great too. The only downside was reeling up 300 ft with a dang dog shark on your jig or bait.

[ 08-12-2003, 01:43 PM: Message edited by: Mr. Carp ]

 

[Mr. Carp]

5-Cents, YOu guys going to try B-10 or the ocean again this weekend??

 

[Mr. Carp]

We left last Wednesday to head to Neah Bay for our annual Halibut/Salmon/Bottom Fish vacation. We had an awesome time and caught more fish then we knew what to do with. :grin: The water was great and the fishing was greater yet. After going up there for the past 7 years, this was a lucky trip. The seas can get downright mean up there and we have been skunked for halibut, so this was good. We fished until Saturday and limited on salmon and halibut and lings each day. The wind was blowing a little in camp and I figured it might be rough out and when we started out, I was right. It was like the Perfect Storm out there....

See what I mean, when you can run out to your fishing spot 20 miles offshore at 40 mph, it is pretty darn rough. :grin: That is the NW corner of Washington you can see in the picture. That's our friend behind us in his 24' Motion Marine with 400 hp. He couldn't quite hang with the 200hp Yamaha..

Trust me though, it is hardly ever this nice up there so don't go up expecting it to be like this every time.

We used one of those like 150 quart coolers for our fish box and it was overflowing after limiting out.

Tha biggest halibut was close to 50 pounds so they weren't monsters but they sure do eat good. A couple of nice Cabezon about 12 pounds and a bunch of true cod as well. When you fish for stuff like that, you never know what you'll bring up from the depths...

If someone told me the salmon populations were declining after fishing up there, I would say they were pulling my leg. We trolled with divers like you do at buoy 10 and it was too much work because you couldn't even get your 15 pulls or whatever and you'd have a fish on. Pretty Insane!! Therefore, we jigged crippled herring in the big rips where the strait pushed up against the ocean and nailed the pinks and the silvers. YOU couldn't let your jig get to 100 feet without having a pink or silver grab it. We didn't catch any chinooks, but I had a big one on that broke me off after making my reel scream on a long run he made. I was really irritated, but it happens. I would rater catch 100 silvers than 5 chinooks any day. Besides, IMHO the silvers eat way better.

Seen some some whales and dolphins and all sorts of cool stuff again.

Overall, if you feel confident enough to go up there, Neah Bay is simply amazing fishing. We ended up with a ton of filets of all kinds and some great memories. I mean when your cooler weighs over 200 pounds a day before fileting, you know you've got something. :grin: :wink: ONe must realize that it can get very dangerous very fast up there and you need to read the water and weather at all times. YOu have to run at least 20 miles to go halibut fishing and isn't for everyone. But, if you can do it, you'll enjoy.

[ 08-13-2003, 11:40 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Carp ]

 

[Tacklebuster]

Wow, reminds me of the four years I lived in Alaska. We would hit our two halibut right off the bat and spend the rest of the morning spanking silvers and nooks. We would be back at the ramp by noon sipping beers and carking fish. Man I do miss those days. I bet we would bring 50 or more Salmon to the boat in three hours of fishing. The halibut fishing was great when the pinks would start working their way into the rivers. We would anchor in about 45 to 50 feet of water and just hammer the halibut following the pinks.

Thanks for the report and cool pics....

[ 08-12-2003, 01:02 PM: Message edited by: Tacklebuster ]

 

[Green Machine]

:cheers:

I think all those Humpies finally made the corner, the Skagit is starting to boil. Nice job!!

Green Machine

 

[ZaQ]

NYice!!! Now stay home and catch some of our fish!!!!

 

[Mr. Carp]

GM: If the amount that we seen in the ocean and the strait is any indication of what the rivers up by your will be getting in regards to humpies, you should be able to walk across the river on all of their backs. I had never seen that many salmon before. There would be like a 5 mile stretch when we were running out where the salmon would be rolling everywhere like a hatchery!!! Those humpies sure do fight. I think they fought better then the silvers IMHO.

Zaq: That is the plan. With my luck around here, I'll be lucky enough to snag bottom or something let alone catch a fish. :wink: :grin:

Sadly, I have to head back to school next weekend. At least ifish will have an eastern washington fishing report from time to time. Keep an eye on posts from Quick Fisher and sturgeon slayer to see if Team Banana Oil is doing any good when I'm away. :wink: Probably will as soon as I leave. :laugh:

 

[RvW]

Great post, nice job. I like seeing and hearing of places Ive yet to fish.

You headed to Pullman?

 

[TundraIII]

What a great trip, I'm totally jealous! I love it when the ocean sits down like that.

 

[Mr. Carp]

Row: Yep, I have to head back to Pullman by the 25th. (25th is the first day of classes) Kinda sucks, but I want to get an education so I need to do it. I am going to leave on the 23rd. I usually come home every couple weeks on the weekends to go fishing and stuff.

At least I won't be around to anger anyone on the highways..... :wink: