So, it looks like the Columbia springer thing is either wayyyy delayed or just a bust this year (unless your initials are "SH") The ifish derby contestants are getting skunked, or coming in with onesies and twosies. If they're not getting them, the odds of me getting any are slim, and I need to be getting some fish in the boat to keep the boys in the game.

I'm thinking I'll take my two days off next week and head out to Neah Bay for some rockfish action. I've got 3 dozen blue label herring, and a few 2-4 oz jigs. I would like to know where's and how's, if you have them, and are willing to share . We'll be sticking close to the bay, as our boat is too small to head out to Swiftsure or anything like that.

Finegrain,

You do not have to go very far for rockfish at Neah Bay.

Try at the north end of Waada Island (sp?) in the rip, there are also schools off the middle of the island. A couple hundred yards off the island. These are Black and Blue RF and can be caught right on the surface.

The kelp beds off the garbage dump are another spot.

If it is calm, try Duncan Rock, Skagway Rocks.

Watch the swell going between Cape Flattery and Tatoosh. There are also black rockfish off the backside of Tatoosh.

Your best best is to fish on the surface with one ounce leadhead jigs and plastic worms with spinning or casting rods.

You'll catch primarily Black Rockfish and possibly some Blue Rockfish (around Waada).

If conditions are right, you will see blacks flipping on the surface feeding on isopods. If they are deeper, they will show in haystacks on your depth sounder.

Since you will be fishing tight to the rocks, always have your main motor and a kicker running for safety.

If you would like to read an old article on shallow water rockfishing techniques, email me at dm56@aol.com and I will send it to you. I wrote several pieces for Fishing Holes when it was a popular regional magazine years ago.

If you can find it in the library system, see if you can get a copy of New Techniques for Catching Bottomfish, which is long out of print, but the techniques are still very valid.

You will find them. I'd bring a 5 or 6 wt fly rod to play with the bass in the kelp beds. You may even get lucky and get a calm day and be able to go out to swiftsure....it rocks.
Have fun.
Dave

Finegrain,

You do not have to go very far for rockfish at Neah Bay.

Try at the north end of Waada Island (sp?) in the rip, there are also schools off the middle of the island. A couple hundred yards off the island. These are Black and Blue RF and can be caught right on the surface.

The kelp beds off the garbage dump are another spot.

If it is calm, try Duncan Rock, Skagway Rocks.

Watch the swell going between Cape Flattery and Tatoosh. There are also black rockfish off the backside of Tatoosh.

Your best best is to fish on the surface with one ounce leadhead jigs and plastic worms with spinning or casting rods.

You'll catch primarily Black Rockfish and possibly some Blue Rockfish (around Waada).

If conditions are right, you will see blacks flipping on the surface feeding on isopods. If they are deeper, they will show in haystacks on your depth sounder.

Since you will be fishing tight to the rocks, always have your main motor and a kicker running for safety.

If you would like to read an old article on shallow water rockfishing techniques, email me at dm56@aol.com and I will send it to you. I wrote several pieces for Fishing Holes when it was a popular regional magazine years ago.

If you can find it in the library system, see if you can get a copy of New Techniques for Catching Bottomfish, which is long out of print, but the techniques are still very valid.

Finegrain,

You do not have to go very far for rockfish at Neah Bay.

Try at the north end of Waada Island (sp?) in the rip, there are also schools off the middle of the island. A couple hundred yards off the island. These are Black and Blue RF and can be caught right on the surface.

The kelp beds off the garbage dump are another spot.

If it is calm, try Duncan Rock, Skagway Rocks.

Watch the swell going between Cape Flattery and Tatoosh. There are also black rockfish off the backside of Tatoosh.

Your best best is to fish on the surface with one ounce leadhead jigs and plastic worms with spinning or casting rods.

You'll catch primarily Black Rockfish and possibly some Blue Rockfish (around Waada).

If conditions are right, you will see blacks flipping on the surface feeding on isopods. If they are deeper, they will show in haystacks on your depth sounder.

Since you will be fishing tight to the rocks, always have your main motor and a kicker running for safety.

If you would like to read an old article on shallow water rockfishing techniques, email me at dm56@aol.com and I will send it to you. I wrote several pieces for Fishing Holes when it was a popular regional magazine years ago.

If you can find it in the library system, see if you can get a copy of New Techniques for Catching Bottomfish, which is long out of print, but the techniques are still very valid.

My apologies for the triple posting. May I can blame on being on AOL?

I have done very well using a 4oz white Stinger jig with a little herring oil. I like to fish in no more than 50' of water close to shore for rockfish at Neah Bay. If you want to use light tackle, like a spinning rod, a 3/4oz jig head with a white skirt is a lot of fun.

Be careful while fishing the shoreline at Neah Bay in the straights. There are some pinnacles that expose in low tide and some that are close to exposing. Hopefully you have a Chartplotter to see them.

Thanks, guys. I'm looking forward to it. I'm guessing it will be less crowded than the Columbia River :p

The weather forecast looks ideal -- overcast and 1-2' wind waves

I'll post a report when I get back.

Not sure how many kelp beds you'll find this early in the year. Most die back or break off during the winter and grow back around June/July...

Fish should be out at Duncan Rock which is just north of Tatoosh. It's about 30 feet under the surface at low tide, but watch out for a rock south of Tatoosh that exposes at low tide. It could be a bad surprise.

Out around Wadaah should be a good spot to check out blacks also.

With this warm, sunny weather the kelp should be proliferating very shortly. They could even appear en masse before the official start of summer.

The kelp were present in abundance, no problems there!

We had a great time, and caught a reasonable # of fish. Fish #1 and #7 were stolen by a seal, I now know. How do I know? I SAW a seal grab fish #12 as we were about to net it and take off with it . I decided to put a fight -- what the heck, I had 80# braid and a sturdy reel .

You didn't take that right just out of PA and go through Joyce did you?

Jerry,

Sounds like it.

Going past Cresent towards forks is much nicer, especially if towing a boat.

Um, yes, I took the "short" way :rolleyes:

I'll know better next time.

BTW, how is the sling launch at Snow Creek? I don't want to repeat my amusing performance at the Big Salmon Resort ramp, in front of 100 or so impatient halibut fishers . The Snow Creek sling was closed when we drove past, and it looked sort of derelect. Is it open during the season?

I believe the sling/rail launch at Snow Creek opens around May 1. Can't launch there if the tide is below a 1 or so. Check at
http://www.snowcreekwa.com