Tillamook Bay 1-25

Not much else needs to be said.  I got my Vit D for the week.  Started a bit after low tide putting in at the northern part of Garibaldi, humping my boat and gear over the railroad tracks.  The tide was moving in as I was doing this, so I was thankful my kayak was still there after each trip.
I headed over to the northern part of Crab Harbor to get a few varnish clams to go along with my chicken drumsticks for bait.  When I got there, I found gaper clams instead.  So I dug a quick limit of 12 by hand, then went looking a bit further south and higher for some varnish clams.  Once a few of them were found, I put them in the bait bags and smashed them.  Paddled out, set up the Danielson Crab Traps (2 of 'em) and let them soak.  Over the course of about 3 hours up to high tide, I checked them each once and moved one one, before pulling for the last time about 3:45, a bit before high slack. 
Plenty of crabs in the bay, lots of males, but only one legal for me.  And he's fat!  I love the taste of a good Dungey.
To kill time, I fished.  But evidently I suck at fishing Tilly bay for Perch or Greenling, as I was too chicken to go out to the jetty area after seeing just how ripping the tide was on the outgoing.  Next time I'll try to find some perch at the Ghost Hole.
This is a couple days after Surfanor and I went to Yaquina bay to try some crabbing and rock fishing.  We sucked it up on the crabs, but I think that was mostly due to bait.  No fish either.  I finally saw the supreme surf spot under the north side of the Newport Bay Bridge that the surf shop girls always talked about.  Incoming tide, 7' change, huge swells outside.  There were PERFECT peeling rights, up to 4 foot high, most almost that high.  Just a perfect fun little place.  On the way to the Marina, I went and caught one in the 15' OK, and surfed it a bit at it's end.  Fun and exciting way to end the day.  Next time, we'll drop our gear at the beach and just go out and practice surfing the boats.

Awesome pics! Thanks for the report!

Great report, makes me wish I lived closer to to the coast!  I dig the crab pics.  I have never clammed proper, but I love to eat them.  Maybe you guys could add some pics of the clamming operation if you could, I don't know what a varnish clam is.  Sounds like a nice couple of outings between crabbing, fishing, clamming, and playing in the waves...good times!
Thanks,
Scott

saweeeet!!!

Launching where you did is a real workout! I did it once and that was enough for me!   I wish there was better yak friendly access at that location.  Try the Old Mill Marina.  I have launched there in the past.  I wasn't charged anything since the marina/ramp is out of business or at least not used by PB's anymore.  Its a bit more of a paddle but not so much work.  Its a bummer there are no easy access points to the very north end of the bay, still searching though.  Skip the perch etc and fish for Sturgeon while your pots soak   Looks like it was a great day to be on the water!

Great report. Looks like a nice day on the water! Gonna have to try that crabbing one of these days...

Clam pictures- Noted.  BTW, I made clam strips out of a couple of the gapers, and they were the best I've ever had.  Not that I've had that many.  I'll have to add an easy recipe to the recipe section.
Sturgeon fishing- It's on my list.  I know it's time for it.  But I still have hopes of some AOTY points for a big Pile Perch. 
Crabbing- Those fold up Danielson pots are super easy.  I just kept them folded, stacked on the back.  My boat has a couple of bungees with clips that go across the back, so I just clipped it to the top trap and it was nice and snug, not going anywhere.  Arrive crabby looking spot, grab trap, erect and secure one side, secure pre-baited bait bag, erect second side, tie on buoy line, drop.  Too easy.  And the crabs are fat and tasty now.  At least the one was.  As for posting pictures on the forum with text in between, would I have to upload them to a gallery and then use the insert photo icon?  Posting at the end is nice and all, but in order with text would be nice. 

As for posting pictures on the forum with text in between, would I have to upload them to a gallery and then use the insert photo icon?  Posting at the end is nice and all, but in order with text would be nice. 

You can upload them and just copy and paste the BB CODE at the place you want the pic

If you're looking for perch, try the stretch of the south jetty from the last bend where the red light is to the little bay before you get around the corner to crab harbor. I've had good luck with the striped perch there starting around mid-febuary as they come into the bay to spawn. Lot's of greenling in that stretch, too.

Great pics thanks for the post!

... Sent from my Android.