San Juan Blackmouth Opener

coalminer · Feb-02-2008, 04:16 PM

Great opener! Fished Lopez Flats for about 3 hours. Ended up taking home 3 hatchery fish, 2- 8lbers and a 10. Let 2 undersized and a native swim. Seem to be keen on a green and white squid.

ryanm · Feb-02-2008, 04:18 PM

Sounds like a nice day. Is the hatchery to natural fish ratio typically that lopsided?

coalminer · Feb-02-2008, 04:23 PM

I'm not sure. I would say that last year it was probably about 75% hatchery fish for me.

**Orca** · Feb-02-2008, 06:36 PM

Interesting that they are allowing two kings this year.

Tower Todd · Feb-02-2008, 08:39 PM

Nice job. Glad to see someone going out.

**Cornfed** · Feb-03-2008, 05:58 PM

Glad that you could make it on BD, Coalminer. When you say the "flats", what side of the island is that on? Do you live up in "the juans"? We, BDers are trying to plan a trip this spring up there and were thinking maybe east side of orcas, maybe sucia or matia. i would like to get into some good shrimping in the spring. I don't have the regs. in front of me. When does it usually open up in the spring. Nice job on the blackmouth. Do you usually run the artificials or bounce the bait on the bottom. Tight lines buddy!

coalminer · Feb-03-2008, 08:38 PM

Yeah, I'm usually right down on the deck when I'm fishing blackmouth. What I call Lopez flats is actually east of Decatur. You can't miss it if you head out this way, there will always be a handful of boats fishing there. It's a real easy spot to fish.
I've been putting off getting shrimp pots......not sure why.... those little guys are tasty! Maybe this is the year to get my ass in gear!

You gonna participate in the Anacortes Salmon Derby, Cornfed?

GSD · Feb-03-2008, 11:40 PM

Coalminer.....Nice!!! Man I miss fishing the protection of the islands up there.....you can always fish somewhere. Post are good.....can't hook them for them. Keep them coming when you get a chance to get out!

**Orca** · Feb-04-2008, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cornfed_King

Glad that you could make it on BD, Coalminer. When you say the "flats", what side of the island is that on? Do you live up in "the juans"? We, BDers are trying to plan a trip this spring up there and were thinking maybe east side of orcas, maybe sucia or matia. i would like to get into some good shrimping in the spring. I don't have the regs. in front of me. When does it usually open up in the spring. Nice job on the blackmouth. Do you usually run the artificials or bounce the bait on the bottom. Tight lines buddy!

My recommendations for Orcas island are as follows fish the north side east end of Parkers reef in to Thompson's Point and the bay. Follow the 100 ft line and fish at about 85 feet. Fishing east from Thompson's along the north shore can also be productive. next would be south of West beach along the cliff face. Fish close to the cliff wall 20 to 30 feet again in about 100 ft. Be careful at both ends of the cliff area the bottom changes radically.

The south side of Doughty point can be productive also you just have to dodge the crab pots. Seems that the crabbers like the 100 ft. curve also.

The east side of Waldren Island across from West Beach is also a productive area.
The honey hole at Sucia can produce some large fish at times. Current and bottom can be tricky.

Anchoring up at Mud bay on Sucia at the State Park is a nice sheltered moorage close to the fishing grounds. Just make sure you pay the anchorage fee or my brother will ticket you.

Skagitsteelhead · Feb-04-2008, 11:05 AM

San Juan blackmouth fishing is easily done from a small boat. Most days you don't even need to cross the straits, you can launch at Washington park in Anacortes. From there you head west around the corner about 1 mile to Fidalgo Head. Fishing can be good there most days. Either fish the edge of the channel between Fidalgo and Burrows or fish the large flat between green pt. and Fidalgo head. As always the fish are on the carpet usually from 80 to 120 feet. If nothing is there you can try fishing in 90 feet in front of the Burrows light. Watch the tides here the current can really get crankin'!

coalminer · Feb-04-2008, 05:42 PM

Not sure how things were elsewhere in the San Juans, but we ended up doing pretty good on the Flats. A buddy and me had 6 fish to the boat on Sunday, (he actually had all 6 of them, my rod seems to have gone cold!) Had to turn a 12 and an 8 loose cause they had an extra fin. We (he) lost one to a seal and just flat lost another but were able to take a nice 8 lb BBQ fish home.

Took the old man out today and he outfished me! He caught a nice 16 lb hatchery and I ended up catching one about 10. I'm not sure why the fish are hanging out here, haven't marked but about 2 schools of bait in 3 days of fishing. All in all, a great opening weekend!

GSD · Feb-04-2008, 09:34 PM

Nice fish.....helpful hint: start a new thread for each day you fish w/ a date that way people can use the up to date info without having dig through massive posts....just makes it easier when the posts get long. I am sure once the board gets built up, there will be many contributors so it will be more of a problem later on. Way to kill them!