7 Places to Launch and Fish on The Strait of Juan De Fuca

Hey y'all,

After writing an article about kayak halibut fishing, I got a lot of positive feedback and had a few people ask about good places to go.

I'm not trying to blow up anyone's secret spot, so I wrote an article about seven well-known (but still good!) spots to fish on the strait where halibut are a possibility.

Hope its helpful!

https://www.huntfishharvest.com/2020/08/18/seven-places-to-kayak-fish-in-the-strait-of-juan-de-fuca/

Ya got any waypoints?

Brah.

Fantastic write-up. Only thing I'd add is - while freshwater bay is largely secluded and calm, the area just off the east edge of the bay - the mouth of the Elwa - can get very nasty, very quick, when the tide changes. I'm talking greasy, glassy waters to standing waves and +4kt currents in minutes
 The only time I really got scared for my life on the kayak was right there. I shoulda realized all the power boaters were leaving at the same time for a reason!

Man what helpful info! I'm sure you're gonna ruffle some feathers with putting this stuff online but I certainly appreciate it.

I met and fished with your friend Nate and seal and sail this weekend. Good dude and a good fisherman!

Ya got any waypoints?

Those only go to best friends and family, sorry! 

Man what helpful info! I'm sure you're gonna ruffle some feathers with putting this stuff online but I certainly appreciate it.

I met and fished with your friend Nate and seal and sail this weekend. Good dude and a good fisherman!

Nate's an excellent fisherman and a best friend of mine - we'll be elk hunting together in a couple weeks. Wish I could have been there last weekend, sounds like it was fun.

Not too worried about ruffling feathers by encouraging kayakers to fish in places that are already popular for power boats.

Fantastic write-up. Only thing I'd add is - while freshwater bay is largely secluded and calm, the area just off the east edge of the bay - the mouth of the Elwa - can get very nasty, very quick, when the tide changes. I'm talking greasy, glassy waters to standing waves and +4kt currents in minutes
 The only time I really got scared for my life on the kayak was right there. I shoulda realized all the power boaters were leaving at the same time for a reason!

Great point! I haven't fished that far east from the freshwater launch yet but I have definitely considered paddling or even launching over there. That's good stuff to know, thanks for sharing!

I have a good friend who lives about a mile or two from mouth of Elwha. Every time I visit I wonder about fishing the area. (He’s not into fishing) so I really appreciated your article.

Nice write up! Definitely adding some of these to my google maps.

Fantastic write-up. Only thing I'd add is - while freshwater bay is largely secluded and calm, the area just off the east edge of the bay - the mouth of the Elwa - can get very nasty, very quick, when the tide changes. I'm talking greasy, glassy waters to standing waves and +4kt currents in minutes
 The only time I really got scared for my life on the kayak was right there. I shoulda realized all the power boaters were leaving at the same time for a reason!

Great point! I haven't fished that far east from the freshwater launch yet but I have definitely considered paddling or even launching over there. That's good stuff to know, thanks for sharing!

Question - is the change you describe there *just* the river bar area right off the mouth, or more generally across the eastern portion of the bay?  Now that the river is re-naturalized and carries sediment down, I'm sure the bar is quite a bit more substantial...

no clue. all i know is....me no likey.

no clue. all i know is....me no likey.

Indeed...  There is a fairly small zone just outside Gig Harbor where the change of tides can create sloppy, chaotic waves with no (all) particular directions.  One off Point Defiance too, I hear, but have not paddled that side.  Smooth waters all around, then this mess.  I imagine these examples are due to the combination of the underwater topography forcing masses of water flowing in opposite directions into collision.  The Elwha flowing over the bar it has built up the last few years could create the same effect, but I don't think it would be very widespread.

wish I could have kayak fished while I was stationed at NAS Whidbey.