DesertPaddler (DK):
I will be fishing the north sound starting on July 15. MA9 opens on the 25th. Probably Washington Park, West beach (MA6), or Semiahmoo. Anyone that wants to team or share intel, send me a PM. Always fun to have company, but mostly fish solo. Hope you all are finding some fish this summer!
Captain Fathom:
I fished Fidalgo Head for the first time mid morning yesterday and today. It is a quick paddle but an hour drive for me; I got blown out today after about 45 min. Tomorrow looks windier. I caught a lot of dogfish and a large rocksole mooching herring. Lost a lot of leaders to the teeth and my hook grabber.
I saw a PB net a fish close to burrows pass, 500ft offshore, the guy said it was "18 lbs" and in 50 feet of water. MA 7 is hatchery only until Aug.1 and there are no cohos showing up in the creel reports. Lots of boats at reef pt.
I plan on camping at Cypress Head (nicest free campground ever) the week of July 15 and fishing Deepwater Bay. Perhaps fish Eagle Bluff/Tide Pt which is a 45 minute paddle from Pelican beach (another free campground). It is a 3 mile crossing to Cypress if you can do that at slack-ish tide I would love to have some company. There is a scary tidal bore and rips near buoy 2, not to mention ferry traffic and oil barges.
I went all of the way around the island last labor day weekend, staying at PB for 3 nights. I estimated paddling 35 miles over four days. I hiked up eagle bluff in my booties twice. I packed camp and left before dawn to fish on my way out. It was amazingly calm while the sun came up but a rough pass back in 1-2 foot seas and 15 knot wind.
I live in Bellingham but I don't know where to fish around here, except Samish Bay. "Bellingham Bay" is closed until Aug. 16.
- Nick
DesertPaddler (DK):
Another north sounder! good news. I've thought about that crossing before. It may depend on the weather. I'll look at it tomorrow and PM you if it's feasible.
DesertPaddler (DK):
Sound like some serious paddling! You should post your trip when you're done. What is your itinerary, how many nights will you camp? I most likely will not make the crossing solo, wrong time of day and too far for a round trip, plus fishing. Where is Reef Pt. (East side of Jan Juan I?) Look forward to meeting up one of these days. As for MA7, Bellingham, there is a steep trail to a launch on the west side of Lummi I. Fidalgo head, of course, and I may experiment off the coast between Birch Bay and Blaine. I'm staying in Ferndale and will be moving to Blaine in 2 years with more time to fish! Dan
Captain Fathom:
Reef Pt. is the southeast corner of Cypress, very exposed. I like Deepwater bay because it is sheltered and not much current to fight. The eddy at Fidalgo Head can get rough.
My plans are not set yet... I was thinking tuesday through friday or saturday. Not camping and just fishing every morning at Fidalgo Head is an option. I am determined to land a legal fish in the yak. I had considered going the the tyee pool at Campbell River (Canada) but I am not sure if my passport will arrive by then...