NW Outdoor Explorer

Who does not like an early boat limit of nice sized coho? People who fish like fishing, but they do not necessarily want to spend all day doing it unless they are just out to catch and release. This was not one of those days.

We pulled away from the dock just after 7am. Executed a quick stop at the bait dock on the way out. It was an outgoing tide, but not a huge tide change. The bar was relatively calm. We got just outside of the south jetty and dropped our lines. We spotted a boat next to us with a net out and within minutes, we had our first fish on. It was a nice sized coho and a keeper to boot. Not much longer, we were getting bites and more fish in the boat. We could see the bulk of the fleet on the horizon as we were trolling toward them. We had our limit well before we got to them. By 10:30, we were on our way back to the dock with our boat limit. The tide was still going out. 🙂

The early coho fishing this year has been great for a number of anglers so far. I really hope they do not decide to close the ocean like they did last year.

When the ocean salmon season opened up a week ago, I was reading a number of reports about early limits of both chinook and coho. Due to weather and ocean conditions, we decided to wait. It was a hard week of anxiety for sure.

It was finally time. Had an early wake up call and hit the road by 5am to get to Ilwaco by 7am. We got to the Ilwaco ramp as planned to find a long line. Apparently with the extreme low tide, two boats broke skegs on one lane of the ramp, so many were reluctant to use it.

After about 30 minutes, we were finally on our way out to the Big Blue. It was low slack tide and the bar was relatively flat. We took a turn to the north with hopes of finding some chinook. Conditions were good for about 30 knots to the hunting grounds. Got our lines in the water and were trolling by 8am. We tried deep and shallow by the condos and beyond with no luck. We spent the better part of an hour before we decided to call it and change locations.

We were hearing spotty reports of catches down by CR. Again, the conditions were good for about a 30 knot transit and we were at the CR within minutes. The fleet seemed to be concentrated here and we did some a couple nets flying, but it was not hot by any means. We dropped our lines in the water and tried our luck. Again, we tried deep and shallow with a few drive byes here and there. A couple of native coho were let go before a couple hours passed.

The fleet had thinned out and we were virtually the only boat left in the area. It was like the light switch turned on. We were all getting bites and before you knew it, we had five in the box. The school dissipated after some time and bites were farther apart, but we had two more in the box. We only needed one more for a boat limit. The two hardest fish to catch sometimes is the first one and that damn last one. 🙂 We spent another hour or so trying to find that last biter, but had no luck. We had to call it a day with one short.

The ocean was still relatively calm and allowed for a quick trip in over a high slack tide bar. We got docked and started the wash down. With the boat now moored for the ocean season, no more waiting for fools at the ramp.

Overall, it was a great ocean opener for the Aquaholic and fingers are crossed for more to come.

The weather synopsis is not always 100% accurate. The ocean conditions on paper looked to be similar to the flat conditions we experienced last week. Reality was something a bit different. Crossing the bar was not too bad, but once outside, the water never layed down. We headed straight out West from the river till we started to spot boats on the horizon. We got our lines in quick hoping for that first drop in bite. Unfortunately, it did not happen this time. After a few minutes, we pulled the lines and headed out further west. We got into the thick of the fleet and dropped in. It was not too long, we got our first bite. It was a short chinook and had to be released. Almost immediately after the release, we got our second bite. This one was a very nice keeper coho. We had a few more drive byes before the bite turned off a little. At this time, the rough seas claimed its first victim on the Aquaholic. It was overboard chumming time. 🙂 We were far enough out now, we turned the boat toward shore and trolled with the wind and waves. This made for a better ride, but was not calm by a long way. Trying a couple different spots and different directions, we found the fish again. It was not long before we had our boat limit after some short biters, drive byes and one other short chinook. Today was a good day. We were off the water by noon heading home with the boat this week. It needed to be fueled up and the grass pressure washed of the bottom. Next week is the Buoy 10 opening weekend and we will be ready.

We are a week late due to some mechanical problems on the truck, but the wait was definitely worth it.

Last week, we had a small issue with the truck not starting. I first thought it was a failed starter, but with a replacement starter, it still would not engage. At least I thought it was not engaging. After some investigating, I discovered the flywheel was spinning free from the engine. As a result, the torque converted welded itself to the adapter plate and also had to be replaced. After a couple $$$$, we were back on the road and ready to go fishing.

Got the boat launched and headed over to the bait dock. I have the live well mounted and wanted to try it out to keep the bait fresh this year. Loaded up with 4 pounds of bait. We were surprised by the size of the bait this year. Pretty large means not as many per pound. We should be ok. The bar crossing was ok today and ocean was a little rough. We headed straight out to one of my goto spots that seemed to produce more than not last year. Getting the bait out of the live well and trying to hook them on the leaders proved to be a little tricky. For some reason, they just would not stay still for us to run hooks through them. 🙂 Got the lines in the water and before too long, fish on! We had very good success last year running just a diver and leader with anchovies. We decided to keep it simple and do the same this year. It seems to still be working. The time between bites was a bit long, but the day overall was consistent. Lots of fish caught. Many wild coho had to be let go. Even managed to hook one chinook on a spinner, but it was a bit short and had to be let go as well. One of my crew caught his first keeper and even though it was legal size, he decided it was not big enough and let it go. Well, the fish gods did not seem to like that and rewarded him with natives the rest of the day. The rest of the boat limited out with some nice coho. The first trip of the season did not disappoint.

This was the best day of fishing so far.

Crossed the bar a little late.  I think it was about 0830.  A good hour after the tide change.

On our way out, we started seeing boats returning from the ocean.  Holy crap, did we miss the bite????

Our plan was to head north, but with several boats returning from the buoy line, we decided to see if we can still make something happen from where they were.  Good thing we did, because it was pretty much lights out from the moment we dropped our lines in the water.  We mush have caught 25-30 fish before we got our boat limit of 8 fish.  Less that 3 hours and we were done.  The only unfortunate thing was no Chinook.  It was a coho rodeo for sure.

Another back to back weekend.  With the projections so grim, I am trying to take every opportunity I can to get out on the water and stake my claim before my upcoming week long buoy 10 trip.

Today, much of my regular crew could not make it opening up seats for a backup crew member and someone new I just met.  It is always a pleasure to get someone new out with us when we can.  They usually bring some good luck.

We crossed the bar at the end of the outgoing and it was a bit rough.  On top of that, it was a bit foggy and visibility was low.  Did not quite need the radar, but it was in standby just in case.

We started out to the North.  After a couple crossed lines and getting our bearings, it was game on.  The new guy brings one in the boat.  I will take a little of the new guy luck anytime.  🙂

We continued the troll for a bit.  Found a nice rip and followed it out to deeper water.  Had a couple more bites, lost some and tossed back some natives.  The fog started to lift and we found ourselves in the middle of the charter fleet and about 150 or so other boats.  It was crazy how we all migrated to the same spot.  We watched 4 or 5 nets fly around us.  We could not manage to get another bite.  The odds were not in our favor.  It was time to move.

The ocean was pretty flat and I was able to cruise again near top speed to my special spot.  Dropped lines in the water and immediately started to get bites.  Some more natives had to be released.  We did finally manage to get our second fish in the boat.

We were seeing pretty good action, but not many keepers to be had.  We finished the day with just the two keepers.  These two keepers happened to be the first salmon of 2018 for these two guys.  That made my day.

The action continues.

The bar was a breeze and the ocean was almost a lake.  Cruising speed was 30+ mph.

This week, my first mate was finally able to get out on the ocean with us.  She needs to reclaim her status.  🙂

Unfortunately, this trip, my first mate was not the first to catch a fish.  That title went to another crewmen.  He has been on a roll this year after he went back to basics with his presentation.  So far, he has been catching fish every time out with us, earning his seat for sure.

We continued in this spot for a couple hours while we were catching several fish, many of which were natives that had to be released.  My first mate did manage to get the second fish.  Now she is on the hunt for the biggest fish.  This may prove to be a challenge as another crewmen pulled in a 20 lb Chinook.

We moved to our next spot where the ocean was a little bit rough.  My first mate lost her sea legs and was not feeling well.  I told her to take the wheel and I will watch the rod.  Lucky me because not long after, I got a nice take down.  The end result was one of the nicest Coho I have encountered.  It was almost as big as that monster Chinook already in the bag.

After a few more natives, we called it a day.  Only 4 in the boat, but it was a great day catching fish.

Again, only three people in the boat.  The wind forecast was worse than the day before.  If we can find the fish and get off the water by 2pm, we should be good.

Started in my new favorite spot.  Lines in the water not even two minutes and we get hit.  Manage to get the fish next to the boat and before I can take a swipe at it with the net, it is gone.  🙁

Lines back in the water and a few minutes later, another hit.  This time, it is gone before it gets near the boat.  The water is pretty rough and could be playing a factor.  Time to loosen the drags.

We continue this for several passes and each pass, we get hit once or twice.  Nothing in the boat so far, but the action is great.

After the bite turns off in this location, we move to my #2 spot.  Cut the motors and just drift.  Before too long, we have one in the boat, release a couple natives and lose a few.  This is turning out to be a great weekend.

The winds are picking up and we still need five more fish in the boat.

We manage to get one more in the boat before we decide to call it a day.

The wind chop was so bad by this point, getting back to the bar was a slow crawl.  I love my pilot house.  Once we actually get the the bar, it was not bad to cross.

This week, we are a man down.  Only 3 people in the boat this day.  If we can find the fish, it should be a short day.  🙂

Well, it took us a while to find the fish, but once we did, it was lights out.  The fish were basically following the boat.  We were fishing 18′-20′ on the line counters.  The current allowed us to cut the motors and just drift.  One fish after another.  Some keepers, some native and some short.  We used almost all the bait and finished the day with 5 coho keepers and 1 very nice Chinook.

This was the week that persistence payed off for sure.

We decided to start this week where we got our one and only fish last week.  Not a single boat in the area.  Some people think if there are no boats, there must not be any fish.  I do not understand that reasoning.  I almost prefer to be where nobody is and make my own success.

Within minutes, my rod gets nailed and after a short fight, the first keeper coho is in the boat.  🙂

We continue along my path and another hit on my rod and another keeper coho in the boat.  This is turning out to be an incredible day for me.  This almost never happens.

Bait back in the water and another coho in the boat.  I am not sure what it is this week, but my rod is magic.  Hardly any other bites on the other rods at this point.  I think we got a short that was returned on another rod and maybe a couple of other drive bye’s.

I hate to be selfish, but when the gods smile on you, you have to take every advantage.  The coho finally arrived.  We finished the day with 5 nice coho in the boat, all from my rod.  It was a clinic.  🙂