Fishing Sucked! Westport Non-Tuna Report

[fishguidebrian]

Kevin, not at all surprising. I have a marlin rig if you want to borrow it

[Goldrush]

Only if you come out as my alternate!! You working up here in addition to your guiding?

[Tower Todd]

Kevin,

Thanks for the marlin report. I haven't seen one here before, but it seems like Willipa Canyon had most the sighting reports last season as well. Did you guys get into any larger grade of tuna this season?

Can you tell me where to look for sardines? Depth, water temp, color etc. I want to try and catch some on Sabikis to use as bait.

TT

[fishguidebrian]

Kevin, been off and on with work, just spending time with my two year old. Be back to guiding as we get rain and fish. Work gets in the way!

[Goldrush]

It seems like we see them in green and brown water, and they seemed to be around in different temps too. The best indicators are humpback whales; we see them, sardines are close by. It seems like most of the time, we find them outside of 25 fathoms, but that is July/August, and I'm not sure where to look for them now. I would probably look around by the North Bowl.

I've always struggled with the best way to hook them. If they swim away, they get bit, but many come back to the boat when launched. I seem to do better hooking them in the ass. I guess I would try to get away too.

[Northern]

I saw a billfish Sept 21 Sunday out on the Canyon. Last one we spotted was 06.
@ 200 yards it's hard to tell for sure. Kevin you guys up there need to send a squid and glow stick down some time while your out there on an overnighter. I'm pretty sure the swords are there, just need to find somebody that knows how to fish em.\
Problem is getting the bait past the sharks. We tried it a few years back and one of the guys got spooled in a matter of minutes while he was off the deck cooking dinner in the microwave. All that in a matter of minutes and full reel of spectra down the tube. Mako? perhaps, never will know for sure.

[Cornfed]

That's awesome. Thanks for the information Kevin and Tom.

How do the seiners pick their sets? I always assumed that they just headed out and looked for meter marks on the FF, pinpointed the position, and then seined them up? Is there really anything else to it? How long does it take a boat to do a seine set?

Any tricks to bring them to the boat? I was thinking of a bag of catfood cans partially opened and maybe have a couple at different depths.

Thanks for all the input, fellas.

[Goldrush]

They use spotter planes alot---I think that's how they generally find an area to work. I'm sure they watch their meter when they get to the area. Some of the patches are huge. There is an almost 100% correlation with humpbacks. It seems that if you get around them, start watching and you'll see sardines.

Kevin

[Tower Todd]

Good intel.

Thanks,

TT

[Badfish232]

I am excited about next year and its October, shit. New powerhead is on its way. Saw humpbacks in june ont the way to Grays Canyon for butts.

[Sharkfishermn]

Killer season!! Met a lot of cool guys and new fishing friends. Look forward to fishing with everyone next year. Learned alot and hopefully showed someone something they can use in their journeys to the slaughter grounds. Many thanks to the guys that I rode with like Badfish, Quixotic and TT. Off to the rivers for some more killin!! Play safe and happy hookin!!!!

[tuna birddawg]

Hello Tower Todd,
We were out there with you last weekend, the water was great (from about everthing I've seen this year) but no fish. Made for a geat boat ride in. I met you at the anchovie pens in the morning, we were in the 252 coastal Wellcraft - Answered to Check6 on the radio. Probably done for this year weather doesn't look too good for this weekend. Everything has probably gone south for the winter but I look forward to fishing the tuna next year. That was our second time out this year, the first time we had a blast and caught some nice fish. We'll stay in touch for next year.

Tuna Birddawg out!