San Juan Blackmouth

[coalminer]

Fishing in the San Juans has continued to be productive. Only got out once this weekend, but made the best of it. We had 7 to the boat, released wild 12 and 8 lb fish and took home a 16, 8 and 6. We haven't been having a real tough time finding the fish, but bait seems to be pretty scarce. Most of the fish I've cleaned have had empty stomachs. Good fishing!

[spike]

great report and pic, congrats on your catch

[Reel Nauti]

Which area of the San Jauns have you been fishing in? are you using bait, spoones and or hootches

pic looks like out front of Washington park with James Island in the backdrop

nice fish and sounds like you got it down

[coalminer]

I rarely use bait, usually coyotes or coho killers. You're right on the location. Most of the spots I hit are within 10-15 minutes of Washington Park. Fidalgo Head, Eagle Bluff, Lopez Flats have all been good producers this year.

[Jason]

She's beautiful! Thanks for the picture and report.

[Reel Nauti]

For winter fishing, like you, I rarely use bait. I run 3 downriggers , for winter fishing, my spread starts with bait, spoon, hooche. After the first round and the bait rod is untouched. The bait set-up is changed out to a different spoon or what ever rod got the takedown, but it is usually a some type of spoon. By the end of the day , it's 3 spoons

I do use a lot of bait for Summer kings, the spread is 2 bait rods and hooche, spoon or plug depending where I am at.

When the coho are thick, I use small hot spots with hooches or spoons. Usually hooches because of the two hook leaders and the small flasher for less drag while fighting the fish. Not using bait means back in the water faster. This set-up really works well for me around the west side of San Juan island. Westport ( as I am sure JMoe will agree ) when the Hump Coho are coming in. As well as Neah bay and Nootka sound. If you lose a fish, there is a good chance another one will pick it up before it hits the surface. That is how I caught the 43 lb King in my avatar.

I don't get a winter fish in the San Juan's as much as I would like, But Fidalgo Head and Eagle Bluff has usually been good producers when I do make up there. Easy on the gas tank too.

Reel Nauti

[Mo]

Good report ! Glad to see someone is out fishn...and catchn !

[Skagitsteelhead]

NICE!!! From the looks of that pic, you were out near the big gulley off the flat. Nice fish!

[Cornfed]

Originally Posted by Reel Nauti

When the coho are thick, I use small hot spots with hooches or spoons. Usually hooches because of the two hook leaders and the small flasher for less drag while fighting the fish. Not using bait means back in the water faster. This set-up really works well for me around the west side of San Juan island. Westport ( as I am sure JMoe will agree ) when the Hump Coho are coming in. As well as Neah bay and Nootka sound. If you lose a fish, there is a good chance another one will pick it up before it hits the surface. That is how I caught the 43 lb King in my avatar.
Reel Nauti

So you use hoochies, no bait for Westport Kings? Is that what you were saying? I want to hear the full story about the 43 lber. I have never fished westport for kings, but will be doing that this next summer. I have heard from most people that it is a herring fishery with some spoons and hoochies, not really any plugs. What is your setup for westport KINGS ONLY?

[Reel Nauti]

Hi Tommy,

I do use a lot of bait for Summer kings, the spread is 2 bait rods and hootchie, spoon or plug depending where I am at.

My Westport King spread starts with 2 bait rods and a hootchie, If the Hootchie is not producing I change out to a third bait set-up. green\glow, splatter back or Purple haze large hot spot with a 60'' leader and a herring stuffed in a cap. My hootchie rigs are green, spatter back, double glow or army truck with a glow skirt and a 32-36'' of 50lb leader behind the same flashers.

In the early part of the Westport season, I head out of the bar and go north west until I find 200' feet of water which is about 20 miles out or run in to the cattle boats and start there. Later in the season I run the same course, but if I feel something fishy, I pull up and start there.

My biggest King is that 43 lber. Late August 0f 2006, Nootka Sound. We had started the morning butt fishing. We had boated two mid 30's and a 100 lb butt my dad caught ( his biggest). All morning we had been watching coho jumping everywhere. After butt fishing we started to troll back to the whisle bouy. Could not get past the coho around 20 feet deep to get to the kings that where 45-60 feet deep.

After we burned through all of the pre-baited rigs (which took about 10 mins) I swapped out two rods to small hot spots and hootchies. after about 10 more mins all rods were small hot spots and hootchies. The boat did not stop for each fish, every man for himself. you could hardly get cliped into the clip before a fish took it. We were boating some fish, losing some and having a geat time.

On the 43lber, a coho took the hootche top water while I was clipping in and ran straight for the boat. By the time I got the rod out of the holder the fish was gone. I waited for the boat to catch up to the rig and as I started to feel the flasher start to work again got a other bite. I hammered the hooks home and the rod did not move. I had enough time to say " what the fuck is that" , then it turned and burned and took half of my spool. My GL2 1265 SAR made short work of the fish. boated it in few mins.

Since you have not fished West Port Kings yet, we should hook-up in July. But I think we should hook-up before that for Neah bay butts and bottom fishing.

Chandler

[Cornfed]

I completely missed that line where you said that you used mostly bait for summer kings. Sorry. Good write up and explanation. I need to perfect my tight role for whole herring.

Lets definitely hook up for the Westport Kings. It sounds like the fish are so spread out there. We need a network of fishermen to work different areas, find the fish, then call the pack.

We usually head up to Neah Bay, and like I have said before....From May to October, I try to fish every single weekend. I adjust my work schedule and save my vacation for the summer. I have learned a lot about Neah the past few years. Do you fish Neah every year?

[Reel Nauti]

yes, I do fish Neah every year. The first time I went to Neah Bay is when the Salmon reopened back in 96 or 97. At any rate, I remember it was the weekend that Princess Diana died it that car crash. I usually head up there for the Lingcod opener in April. Halibut in May for a few days. Then for July and first half of August. I split time between west port and Neah bay. West port is usually a day trip and I spend fri-sun at Neah. Nootka Sound for the last half of August and Alaska in Sept.

I saw the other boat you fish out of (hang em high) everytime I was out at neah last year. That boat was tied up next to my buddy RJ's cold water "One armed bandit".

To help me with the bait roll, I tie up leaders that have the top hook as slip knot. Put the top hook next to the herring cap and the bottom hook at the tail and pull up the slack bending the bait to get the spin I am looking for. it is a process but I have good results. I usually have 6-10 bait set-up ready to go at all times. Fish is boated. Flasher and leader and fish stay in the net. A new flasher and pre-baited leader is snapped on and over she goes, some else is usually bleeding, taging the fish at the sametime.

If you are interested I will post a pic of my custom( not that custom) made bait cooler. It holds my sissors, pliers, bait knives and bait scents. 3 dozen salted scented herring on ice and my pre baited leaders and flashers. all of this with not drilling single hole in the boat. it sits on my inboard box and is held down by a bungee cord around handle to left the motor box.

Chandler