Puget Sound

Too good apparently. Time to start shutting it down!
I was expecting that to happen soon. Won’t be surprised if the same change is made for area 9 and 10. Though it was comparatively slow yesterday.

Had a great whale show out there too. 2 humpbacks. Tail slaps, rolls, everything but a breach.

IMG_0262.jpeg
However, I don't think it was just whales having fun. I think they were seriously upset by their interaction with boats as they swam through the area where the fleet was fishing. I don’t know if they actually got hooked or ran into a downrigger line, but they certainly got close. These guys almost ran them over. Everyone in the vicinity had shut down or at least charged direction, but these guys just carried on, as if nothing was happening.
IMG_0259.jpeg
 
1000001693.jpg

Did some mooching today and had a great day with a buddy. First herring in the water for both of us produced hookups within 20ft on the drop. I actually landed a few nice 8-10lb hatchery Chinook today before I got on the board with the Coho.

Highlight though was fishing my 6wt with a type 9 in 300ft of water over a tide rip loaded with bait and having a very large fish eat my clouser, peel a bunch of line off into my backing, jump a couple of times just so I knew how big he was, before spitting the hook. I'll be dreaming about that one for a while.
 
Last edited:
I was expecting that to happen soon. Won’t be surprised if the same change is made for area 9 and 10. Though it was comparatively slow yesterday.

Had a great whale show out there too. 2 humpbacks. Tail slaps, rolls, everything but a breach.

View attachment 125304
However, I don't think it was just whales having fun. I think they were seriously upset by their interaction with boats as they swam through the area where the fleet was fishing. I don’t know if they actually got hooked or ran into a downrigger line, but they certainly got close. These guys almost ran them over. Everyone in the vicinity had shut down or at least charged direction, but these guys just carried on, as if nothing was happening.
View attachment 125303
Agreed, saw this happen last Everett Derby. Massive Humpback splashes tail in the vicinity of lots of boats and moves on. Humpbacks will defend their calves and themselves against Orca's by slapping their tails at them, I imagine it is a show of aggression to let threats know "hey, I can defend myself, get the hell away from me". Lots of idiots with no respect for nature on the water. Saw a pod of transient Orcas swim by at Possession yesterday. Guy trolling ran full speed towards them as the Clipper blared its horn at him. I called him on the radio and told him to slow down, he claimed he did but he still kept himself on step. Will post a video later.

Glad to hear it was slow for others yesterday too and not just me, I hooked this gorgeous 7.4lb coho, but no other fish. He wanted to stay down so bad I thought my rod was still in the clip.

IMG_9724.webp
 
I did a solo trip in the boat today. 1/2 jigging, 1/2 fly. 1-3 jigging coho. 2-3 on the fly. Also jigged up one of their cousins that made me realize I need a bigger boat net and landing large fish solo…sucks ;). It was not super hot. Took the majority of the day to get my fish, but got it done.

The two I kept.

IMG_5712.jpeg

Should have kept this guy too but wanted to fish longer so let it go and ended up having to settle for the smaller guy in the first pic. This fish was about the same size as the bigger fish in the first pic.

IMG_5711.jpeg
 
I did a solo trip in the boat today. 1/2 jigging, 1/2 fly. 1-3 jigging coho. 2-3 on the fly. Also jigged up one of their cousins that made me realize I need a bigger boat net and landing large fish solo…sucks ;). It was not super hot. Took the majority of the day to get my fish, but got it done.

The two I kept.

View attachment 125329

Should have kept this guy too but wanted to fish longer so let it go and ended up having to settle for the smaller guy in the first pic. This fish was about the same size as the bigger fish in the first pic.

View attachment 125330
I've wanted to jig coho for a while, but not sure what to throw for them and how to judge depth when not using a depth counter reel. Just count strips and jig vertically with herring imitations I am guessing? No reeling on the drop?
 
I've wanted to jig coho for a while, but not sure what to throw for them and how to judge depth when not using a depth counter reel. Just count strips and jig vertically with herring imitations I am guessing? No reeling on the drop?

I’m the wrong guys to ask. I’ve caught my only jigged salmon this year. Today, I had a slack tide to deal with and a new reel for my jig rod to play with, so I gave it a shot for shits and giggles. Usual spots, jigging on bait balls I found with the electronics. Not sure that’s conventional wisdom but it worked. I’d rather catch coho on the fly but can see it being something I play around with when tides aren’t ideal for fly fishing and I’m on the boat. Jig rod is mostly for kings though.
 
I've wanted to jig coho for a while, but not sure what to throw for them and how to judge depth when not using a depth counter reel. Just count strips and jig vertically with herring imitations I am guessing? No reeling on the drop?
What I do when jigging for salmon is drop the jig to the bottom, and work the jig up the water column. (learned that from my Dad) We've had salmon follow it up all the way to the top before taking it.
 
I am determined to fish Tuesday before catching my ferry to San Juan Island. Whidbey island coho or local beach cutthroat, decisions decisions...
 
What I do when jigging for salmon is drop the jig to the bottom, and work the jig up the water column. (learned that from my Dad) We've had salmon follow it up all the way to the top before taking it.
Tips on jig choice? The dart style jigs that slay kings look a little big for coho to me
 
Tips on jig choice? The dart style jigs that slay kings look a little big for coho to me
You might want to consult the gear fishing thread.

 
Back
Top