Tillamook Bay Report 06/25/2020

8 of us met up for a day of bay fishing yesterday.  We all launched from behind the fish cleaning station in Garibaldi at around 09:00.  There was a little wind on the way out to the jetty but nothing too bad.  We also noticed a lot of birds feeding in the bay which was cool to see.  Coming through the narrows it was a little sporty but not bad as long as you stayed to the right of the channel.  After shooting the narrows and crossing over to the south jetty some folks dropped some pots while Brandon and I made our way directly for the jetty.  The wind was a little better over by the jetty.  It wasn't long before catching my first fish, a 10 inch Black Rockfish.  There was a -1ft low tide so it was rushing out at a decent clip but the wind was blowing opposite to the tide which made things interesting but not bad.  I caught one other Black Rockfish which measured about 13 inches.  After missing a few more fish I made my way to the beach at the end of the jetty for a "break", it was now a little after noon, and when I came back out onto the water the wind was really blowing and there were breakers now.  I decided it was time to get off the water.  I called Brandon on the radio and told him to start making his way down to me.  I went out and helped Mojo pull one of his pots.  It took forever to peddle against the incoming tide and the strong wind blowing in my face.  I had waves breaking over the bow of my kayak now.  After getting everyone's pots pulled we all met up at the beach and strapped everything down for the trip back into bay.  Brandon and I left the beach and headed out into the bay at an angle so that the waves were not hitting us broadside.  After going out far enough that we were out of the channel we turned towards the narrows.  We were moving along pretty good with the wind at our backs and tide pushing us along.  According to my fishfinder we were moving at about 6.6mph.    Brandon did good with the conditions.  He said he had fun, it was like riding a roller coaster up and down the waves.    I wished I would have remembered to hit record on the GoPro on the way back in but I think I was too busy trying to hold on...
All in all it was a good day with just about everyone catching some fish and everyone managed to stay out of the water (except for Mojo  , but I'll let him explain that story)

You others who were with me, feel free to post up your reports and pictures on here too.

Here is a quick video of a flight of pelicans that wanted to "buzz the tower" yesterday
You can hear how windy it was too.

It was so good getting out with a bunch of others fishing again, thanks guys!  The Berkley Gulp 3” Pogy smelt on 3/4 oz jig was the ticket yesterday. You had to make sure you quickly got the jig down past all the seaweed floating on top. I threw my 5th one back because I didn’t want to limit out but wind really picked up.  All were fun on a light pole, chunky and in the 12-13” range.

The formations of Pelicans skimming the water flying very close past us was awsome!

It was so good getting out with a bunch of others fishing again, thanks guys!  The Berkley Gulp 3” Pogy smelt on 3/4 oz jig was the ticket yesterday. You had to make sure you quickly got the jig down past all the seaweed floating on top. I threw my 5th one back because I didn’t want to limit out but wind really picked up.  All were fun on a light pole, chunky and in the 12-13” range.

The formations of Pelicans skimming the water flying very close past us was awsome!

It was good to get out there fishing with you again.

Looks like a fun, albeit windy day. Definitely need to hear this story about MoJo...

I’ll get around to it eventually. Little busy right now.

Picture of Mojo ... after he wet his pants.  . Will let Mojo tell tell his story.

I’m trying to eat my chicken and noodles here man....... Ok let’s just say That water is waist deep a lot closer to shore then one would think and with a foggy FF screen I couldn’t see that, caught my $5, 6 year old goodwill fishing pants on the way off tearing the inseam from dingle berry’s to the knee on the right leg, traps fell in but no biggie, didn’t loose anything except my dignity.... but who gives a shit I change into my wetsuit on the beach wearing my boxer briefs. We were holding up waiting for the last two guys to cross the channel. I just got tired of peddling against the current and wind.

I’m trying to eat my chicken and noodles here man....... Ok let’s just say That water is waist deep a lot closer to shore then one would think and with a foggy FF screen I couldn’t see that, caught my $5, 6 year old goodwill fishing pants on the way off tearing the inseam from dingle berry’s to the knee on the right leg, traps fell in but no biggie, didn’t loose anything except my dignity.... but who gives a shit I change into my wetsuit on the beach wearing my boxer briefs. We were holding up waiting for the last two guys to cross the channel. I just got tired of peddling against the current and wind.

Thank the lord there's no video of any of that!

The last time I kayaked coming in thru the narrows, my GPS showed 11.5 !!!!! The tide was ripping for sure.

I'll get back on the pedals soon.

Thanks for the report - sounds fun and skill-building. Glad everyone was safe.