It was a very nice looking hatchery brat and fairly unusual for our beach (Pt. No Pt.) only 1 caught every few years or so over the past 40 years I've fished it. The older gentlemen in their 60's are friends of mine and quite long term residents to the area have caught several thousand fish off that beach as have I since in my teens. They had a little different version of the story but over all have helped many Tourist Fishermen ID and educate them on proper handling and/or release from the beach. It has always amazed me the lack of Steelhead there compared with the high numbers just 6-8 miles North on the Whidbey shoreline.
July fishing has become pretty much a bust over the past 10 years with the huge decline in Resident Coho once so abundant in the area. In the late 70's to mid 80's it was a reasonable expectation to hook into 15-20 one to four pound Coho in a few hours of the outgoing tide. There have been a few nice 3-5 pounders caught in the past week even a 5lb hatchery by a neighbor of mine there last Sunday. Looking forward to Chinook showing up a little later though will probably be a very short sport season in the Southern part of #9 this year. More Chinook this year than last = less Sport Fish Quota = hmmmmm.........
Cheers, Todd
Thanks for setting the record straight and the history lesson.