Shot in the dark question
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Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
I have lived in Anacortes for about seven years now. I NEVER see anyone fishing from the shore on Fidalgo Island. Across Deception Pass Bridge (Whidbey Island) is another story. But in the case of Fidalgo Island no one ever fishes from shore! This has always puzzled me. Starry Flounders might be a fun way of fly fishing for a tasty dinner, I might try Flounder Bay.
I’ve never fished Anacortes proper, so this may not be helpful.
There will always be some cutts around in the north sound at this time of the year, with the west side being better then the east side. That said, many of the early entry cutts that utilize large streams for spawning will already be upstream. I’ve found that the later in the year you get, it’s kind of a ghost town with limited success until spring.
A lot of those north sound fish just have a different life history than the southern, late entry creek spawners.
If you can find creek mouths with access nearby, I’d start there. Its always worth a try in my opinion and even a nice day getting skunk on the sound isn’t a total loss.
Good luck and have fun.
SF
There will always be some cutts around in the north sound at this time of the year, with the west side being better then the east side. That said, many of the early entry cutts that utilize large streams for spawning will already be upstream. I’ve found that the later in the year you get, it’s kind of a ghost town with limited success until spring.
A lot of those north sound fish just have a different life history than the southern, late entry creek spawners.
If you can find creek mouths with access nearby, I’d start there. Its always worth a try in my opinion and even a nice day getting skunk on the sound isn’t a total loss.
Good luck and have fun.
SF
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I haven't tried Fidalgo at all because the beach down the street on NE Whidbey is so good. That said, like Jim mentioned, its time of year dependent, I haven't really tried for them much around now because, like the trout I assume, I'm usually going up the Skagit to chase salmon.
Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
I'd like to be clear about shore fishing from Fidalgo Island. I have spent very little time trying to catch a fish from shore on this island.
When I initially fish anywhere, I usually go with the "monkey see, monkey do" strategy. The fact of the matter is, that I have never seen a fish landed by any angler on Fidalgo Island. This Island has extremely good fishing lakes and is close by to good salt water fisheries and the Skagit River ....But for some reason Fidalgo does not seem to be "shore fishing" friendly. I have seen dead Starry Flounder on some beaches and I think I may have had some bites with flies from them. I would like to be able to catch them with a fly rod. Flounder stuffed with crab meat, cooked on the grill.... Any input in this thread will be much appreciated, Jim
When I initially fish anywhere, I usually go with the "monkey see, monkey do" strategy. The fact of the matter is, that I have never seen a fish landed by any angler on Fidalgo Island. This Island has extremely good fishing lakes and is close by to good salt water fisheries and the Skagit River ....But for some reason Fidalgo does not seem to be "shore fishing" friendly. I have seen dead Starry Flounder on some beaches and I think I may have had some bites with flies from them. I would like to be able to catch them with a fly rod. Flounder stuffed with crab meat, cooked on the grill.... Any input in this thread will be much appreciated, Jim
As SF mention the behavior of north Sound cutthroat is much different than those of south Sound. While the south sound provides essentially year-round fishing for cutthroat while in the north sound it is limited primarily to the spring/summer months.
On the Skagit older repeat spawning cutthroat begin entering the river in July and August with the younger fishing entering a month or so later with nearly all the fish in the river by late October or early November. Even the sub-adult fish (those that will not spawn for the first time until after summer of feeding in the salt) will be in the river by late full though they typically found in the lower the 30 miles of the river. The system supports a substantial population with a reasonable numbers of older fish that supplies an excellent fishery as long as the river flows remain reasonably low. However, a boat generally provides the easiest access to much of the fishery.
The Skagit fish do not travel great distances from their home river and while in the salt most will be found in the Northern portion of MA 8-1. I have found fish on beaches as early as late February and certainly by March. Though to be fair those fish are largely kelts in poor condition. By April into May smolts of the year and the sub-adults entering the salt for the 2nd time are joining the fish that spawned that spring. In short, the marine fishery is only roughly a 4/5months long.
Curt
On the Skagit older repeat spawning cutthroat begin entering the river in July and August with the younger fishing entering a month or so later with nearly all the fish in the river by late October or early November. Even the sub-adult fish (those that will not spawn for the first time until after summer of feeding in the salt) will be in the river by late full though they typically found in the lower the 30 miles of the river. The system supports a substantial population with a reasonable numbers of older fish that supplies an excellent fishery as long as the river flows remain reasonably low. However, a boat generally provides the easiest access to much of the fishery.
The Skagit fish do not travel great distances from their home river and while in the salt most will be found in the Northern portion of MA 8-1. I have found fish on beaches as early as late February and certainly by March. Though to be fair those fish are largely kelts in poor condition. By April into May smolts of the year and the sub-adults entering the salt for the 2nd time are joining the fish that spawned that spring. In short, the marine fishery is only roughly a 4/5months long.
Curt
Jim in Anacortes
Life of the Party
Wow Smalma, that was most informative. Being up in the North Sound, I kind of have a fear of missing out (FOMO) with regards to the Sea-run Cutthroat in Puget Sound. It seems that SRC are a hard fish to catch up here, north of Whidbey Island...compared to the awesome fishery to the south. Over the past few years, I have assumed that the complete lack of anyone fishing (let alone catching) from the shore of Fidalgo Island is a sign that I should fish elsewhere. But I am "all ears" when it comes to anyone that has had any success around Anacortes ..or anywhere in Area 7 (from shore). Thanks, so much, for any input.
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I live in Anacortes also. I've been trying Ala Spit on Whidbey. Got a pink there
To expand a bit on the needs of Puget Sound Cutthroat - they are a critter of the regions small creeks. Their primary spawning grounds and rearing habitat of the resulting fry and parr occurs in those small creeks (many of which can easily be crossed without getting one's feet wet). The spring following the winter in which those juvenile cutthroat reach about 6" in length they will become smolts and expand their habitats to the larger streams and Puget Sound itself.
The sea-run cutthroat are essentially home bodies in that even once they enter the salt unlike our other anadromous salmonids they do not stray far (typically less than 20 miles) from their home system. Other the Samish and Nooksack and a handful of independent small streams in the NE portion of MA 7 there is very limited streams that could support anadromous cutthroat.
Bottom line sea-run cutthroat are not in short supply in North Puget Sound they just behave very differently than those to the south. For those that understand that behavior there are fishing opportunities that rival that to the south in both numbers and size. Unlike that to the south which is primarily a marine opportunity that in the north the freshwater fishery is much more important.
Curt
The sea-run cutthroat are essentially home bodies in that even once they enter the salt unlike our other anadromous salmonids they do not stray far (typically less than 20 miles) from their home system. Other the Samish and Nooksack and a handful of independent small streams in the NE portion of MA 7 there is very limited streams that could support anadromous cutthroat.
Bottom line sea-run cutthroat are not in short supply in North Puget Sound they just behave very differently than those to the south. For those that understand that behavior there are fishing opportunities that rival that to the south in both numbers and size. Unlike that to the south which is primarily a marine opportunity that in the north the freshwater fishery is much more important.
Curt
Curt,
Could you expand on this more on how smolts from smaller creeks are utilizing larger
streams? Are they then spawning in the larger rivers or simply dip ins utilizing the stream and estuary habitat but still spawning in their natal creeks?
Thanks
SF
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The cutthroat spawn almost exclusively in those small creeks. While the resulting fry and parr will move up and down in those small streams - typically moving downstream with lower summer flows and back upstream during the late fall/winter period. Can find the cutthroat parr using the sloughs at the mouth of tributaries to over-winter and summer rearing. The smolts typical are using the larger mainstem water for transportation (late April, May, and early June) from the small stream rearing areas to the estuaries. During that migration period the smolts (and the adult kelts) will take advantage of various feeding opportunities (salmon fry, insects, etc.).
The sub-adult fish are interesting in that they typically spend their winters in the lower 20 or 30 miles of the river but will take advantage of potential winter-feeding opportunities, insect hatches, salmon flesh, and spring salmon fry.
Curt
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Curt,
I now see you were discussing small streams as tributaries to larger streams. I fish down south so much and I’m use to small stream that dump directly into the salt, thus my question. Thanks for the clarification.
SF