Astoria Fishing Weekend Report (8/1-8/3)

[Hard Core]

I had a friend fly in from SoCal and we had a 3 day assault planned on tuna, butts, and salmon.

We tried to fish Friday out of the CR, we got out there at 4:30, nearly on the peak of a huge minus tide, it was a no go, 6 knots of current, a big bar. We milled around fishing in the river, and every time we went to take a look a coastie would chase us back and hail us on the radio to stay east of 10. We thought they would let us out mid morning, but they did not. It was really blowing and snotty also. We pulled back to the dock at 1PM, and based on the wind, decided to bag it. I told my Saturday 3rd guy to forget it. I hauled the boat, and then a local guy was talking to me and I explained about the bar, and he said leave early and don't ask for permission. New port captain closes it all the time without even assessing it (based on current only).

So, I put the boat back in the water, not sure we would really cross. The plan was to sleep in the boat, get up at midnight and check the weather, and attempt a bar crossing at that time if it looked okay. We crashed on the boat after eating some prime rib at buoy nine restaurant. I crossed at 1AM Sat and didn’t ask for a condition report or call in. The bar was fine, had to hail a commercial dredge in the mouth to ensure he didn't have gear out, and dodge a bunch of commercial trollers.

Ran out at about 10 knots until I had grey light, and then picked it up until I crossed the 125 line. The ocean was moderately rough. We were running out with about 40 commercial trollers all headed in the same direction.

Put the gear in at 10 over 55, small fish right off the bat. Kept trolling, picked up some commies on radar, got near them and just loaded up on about 12 fish. Then, the bite shut off, trolled in about 8 miles, then headed north, picked up a couple singles, and then we put out a smaller jig and after about 6 miles of trolling we really got into them. Double, triples, a quad, some handline doubles, a couple over 30. We had out coolers plugged and five in the trasom box and I called it quits. Ran in at 25 knots and crossed the bar on the top of the flood, no problem.

We cleaned fish until 7AM and then I completely shutdown, low blood sugar, dehydration, 2 hours of sleep. We crashed in the boat again (now feeling very scummy), was very cold, no blankets since we planned to stay in a hotel, all I had was a wet carpet to put over myself. Got up at 6AM, and went out for salmon. Crossed a gnarly bar, airborn, hammering the throttles up, then cutting back and free falling. We tried to go north to the green line, but it was snotty as hell.

So, we started out at the CR, I bang one decent chinook in the box at (35 feet out on a blue label). Then lost one really nice coho to the props. A few other missed strikes, then a guy in the albin at the B dock who we talked to the night before hails me on the radio. He said they are done at 10AM 5 miles north of the CR.

We pick up and run straight into some serious shit water just shovelling it onto the winshields, leaking through the top of the plexiglass all over us and the instruments. We put the lines in at 180 ft just north of the 17 line. Nothing and we're rocking and rolling. So, I start trolling down hill toward some spots where I did well a month ago. Nothing on the meter, and just as my friend says "this is a desert out here", my rod doubles. Great fight, 15lb coho on the digital in the box. A real nice one. Then a small chinook jack, then finally one okay coho to wrap it up on our last blue label. Nice limit of salmon (nook and 3 coho).

Headed in, hauled out, and got home about 5:30. Cleaned the boat and all the gear until 8:30 then had some pendleton to

Haven't downloaded the video yet, but here's some pics...

[G-Spot]

Unless it is the shadow, the first fish looks like it is not a longfin..... might be a blue fin?? Just checking.... Did it had the long fins like the others?

Good on you, looks like a great time!!

[easydoesit86]

Nice report, way to hang in there and catch so fish

[Enfuego]

Originally Posted by G-Spot

Unless it is the shadow, the first fish looks like it is not a longfin..... might be a blue fin?? Just checking.... Did it had the long fins like the others?

Good on you, looks like a great time!!

I think it is the picture. It still has that line gfoing down the side where its fin goes.

[5 for Fighting]

Nice work Barns! When are you taking the Parker south?


Beatty

[White Cloud]

Awesome job guys..... Plus the salmon to boot..... Life is good...

[G-Spot]

Originally Posted by Enfuego

I think it is the picture. It still has that line gfoing down the side where its fin goes.

Yeah, I think you're right...... I see the line.... that fin just looked real short.....

[Hard Core]

Thanks guys, no, not a Blue Fin Tuna.

Beatty, very soon now. I'm doing the run in two parts to break it up, going to store the boat in Encinitas at a friend's house and do a few trips out of there, fishing is pretty good out of San Diego, then make the final push down no later than October.

Barnes

[HugeDuckFan]

Great work on the combo weekend amigo. It's been a blast fishing with you up here, looking forward to your So Cal and PV reports soon.

I'm moored in Little Italy now...let's tag team a few trips soon.

[KeyWest]

Great pics! Thanks! It was great to meet you at the cleaning table!

[catch and eat]

Nice work. I went out the south side Saturday and the bar was just fine at 23mph. Middle grounds were rock'n though. Saw a little boat that did not know what they were doing pounding their way out across that area. OUCH!

[danjellum]

Are you fishing San Diego at this time? If so any luck? I went out for the first time Friday and Saturday but caught nothing. Just learning about the San Diego fishery. Did real well out of Hammond this summer on Salmon, Sturgeon and Tuna but SD is a little different. Nice smooth water though!