**** 2016 ORC Alternative Fisheries ***

The first rule of the ORC Marine Forecast is we don't talk about the ORC Marine Forecast.

This is particularly true, when we're still a week or so away from the tournament day and the forecast is calling for mild conditions (2-3 ft swells and no wind).   Forecasts that far out can and often change and you're just going to jinx things. 

Well, here we are just two days out from the big day and the current forecast for Depoe Bay on Saturday looks like crap.  Unfortunately, the forecast at 48 hours out is often very good and it is very likely that the Depoe Bay bar will be closed and/or NOAA will issue a small craft advisory for Saturday.  If either event happens, the rockfish fishing tournament portion of the ORC will be cancelled.  It's not so much the swell height (6-10 ft) which we've held the ORC in before, but the forecast of the short period (only 9-10 sec) and the very high winds (10-25 mph, gusts to 35 mph).  We will hold off on the final decision until at least Friday night at the Captain's meeting, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

So what happens if the tournament is cancelled? 

The official alternative plan to the rockfish tournament is the pot luck and raffle.   

I know in previous years we had fishing in the channel by the jetties in Yaquina Bay as a plan B.   However, we currently have 94 people registered and that is way too many to have packed into that area.   The high wind and large tidal swings aren't friendly there.  Besides, I've heard that when the Yaquina Bay bar is closed the bar is considered to be anything past the bridge, but I don't know if that is true.

While we don't have an official fishing plan B for the tournament, it might not be a bad idea to plan for some alternative activities for yourself on Saturday.  None of these will be the sanctioned tournament events, but they might provide a way to keep busy until the potluck and raffle.

In no particular order..

1.) Crabbing in Yaquina or Siletz bays
2.) Clamming in Yaquina or Siletz bays (good tides this weekend)
3.) Fishing for rockfish or surfperch in Yaquina Bay
4.) Surfperch fishing along any of the various beaches
5.) Herring fishing in Yaquina Bay
6.) Trout fishing at local reservoirs
7.) Summer steelhead and/or cutthroat trout fishing the Siletz






   

A bar closure of Yaquina Bay doesn't always include the area inside the jaws up to the bridge. How far into the bay they close it  depends on the conditions. I've been there when they closed it up to a certain buoy inside the jaws, for example. My guess is Yaquina Bay rockfish may be a viable option.

Thanks Jeff,  for clearing that up.  Hopefully someone will be able to grab some taco meat and a few fish for my fish printing activity.

Thanks Jeff,  for clearing that up.  Hopefully someone will be able to grab some taco meat and a few fish for my fish printing activity.

Tacos are covered.  Not to worry. 

Thanks Jeff,  for clearing that up.  Hopefully someone will be able to grab some taco meat and a few fish for my fish printing activity.

Tacos are covered.  Not to worry. 

Great!

A few whole fish for printing would still be nice.

Brian

Turns out Chinook salmon fishing the Siletz River right by camp was the best option with 3 salmon landed between Friday and Saturday.