Kings?

Is anyone finding a king or two out there? I only started fishing more seriously from a kayak last year, and haven't hit a king yet.

Is it worth mooching off Whidbey for one now, or better just to focus on the faster action of the pinks?

Thanks.

You can do both, just don't have two rods in the water at the same time.  Bring a rig for trolling/mooching/jigging for kings, and a rig for casting buzz bombs for pinks.

Ok, thanks.  I do have several questions about logistics though.

I put in at Whidbey last August, but would there be better locations for accessing pink/king water in the central sound area?

In terms of presentations, I haven't mooched before, but sounds like an effective technique. Can you pick up pinks this way, too?

Finally, given that pinks seem eager to hit various presentations, does it make sense to throw or troll a spoon that kings and coho would be more likely to hit than a bright pink buzz bomb?  I had good luck with those a couple years ago, but why not throw Krocodiles or Cleos in white/pearl shades that could also pick up other salmon? Aren't those lures just as effective as buzz bombs for pinks?

Thanks for bearing with me on all the questions...I've wondered about that for awhile.

John

Ice guy. If you are looking for pinks. Try launching from mukilteo and work down toward the Shipwreck. reports at work are indicating they are starting to mass. If trolling, a 4-6 oz banana weight, white flasher and pink mini squid should do the job. If you see a bunch jumping, cast your buzz bong into the mess. Killfish and i went from there last Sat and it was still slow but the fish are there now. As for kings, I landed a 14-15lb native near the Edmonds
public fishing pier last Sunday in about 140' using a cookies n cream coho killer with the downrigger. They are still nailing some Kings on the westside of Possession, Edmonds, Richmond Beach and one guy came in with pics of a 27lb off Lagoon pt on Whidbey caught this am. watch the tidal currents. Just ask Killfish.

Fishnut, what is a buzz bong?

Gone-fishn. Typo or flashback . It's actually a Buzz Bomb lure. They are smokin' for pinks.

I launched from Mukilteo yesterday morning and the pink action from there is still very slow. I caught one last week and a small one yesterday - but they haven't arrived in numbers yet - or at least not like we expect.

Friend and I caught 5 last nite, look for jumpers in 10-15 feet of water off shore.  The fish travel parallel to shore, so cast and retrieve the same way----
casst ahead of jumping or swirling fish.  Little pink BuzzBomb the best lure, 2 inch size  if you can find them.

Thanks guys. I might get out this weekend. In general, what do you look for with the tides for trolling or mooching?  I'm not well-versed with this tidal thing yet.

Also, my wife wants to try some fishing soon, too, but in general I try to keep kayaking and fishing as separate activities for her. Seems like bad things and frustration occur when she combines them.  Is Fort Casey on Whidbey as good as spot an any for having elbow room for shore-casting for pinks?  Is it generally a high tide show for casting from shore?

Tide depends on where you're fishing.  Generally, low slack to one hour after flood begins is good for kings, especially if tide change is at daybreak.  Let's say there is a 3 foot low at 0700, followed by a 9 foot high. That's a 6 foot swing, which gives about 1.5--2 mph current---ideal for moving bait.  The current will not change when the posted time change occurs, the current lags by as much as an hour after the tide change.  I find that at Point Dalco on Vashon, one of my favorite flood tide spots, the bite is almost 2 hours after the change from low to incoming, thus it's one hour into the current change.  The ebb tide at Dalco/Talequah/Neal point  is from west to east, there's a huge rip at the point from the west, past the concrete bulkhead, along the shore and then the rip swings south toward the Point Defiance boathouse.  This kind of local knowledge is key to putting kings in the boat, you have to put in some time to get to know a spot.  After the low slack, and beginning of the flood, the tide rips disappear, there's a lot of swirling bait, and then the current moves from east to west, the first 1/2 hour of that current swing is usually the time of the Pt Dalco bite. 
   What's your home location??? Area 9? 

I think what Terry said is really key to getting salmon in the sound. Find a spot that's proven, that you can get to easy enough, and put your time in figuring it out. It takes a lot if time to know what happens at what tide, how salmon will react to it, and where they hang out. You will most likely have a tough first season but putting your time in, paying attention to what's going on around you, and talking to locals who consistently put fish in the yak/box will get you there.

There's few fish that put on a battle than a wide shouldered chinook so don't be disparaged. There's a hellova slayride on the horizon.

I think what Terry said is really key to getting salmon in the sound. Find a spot that's proven, that you can get to easy enough, and put your time in figuring it out. It takes a lot if time to know what happens at what tide, how salmon will react to it, and where they hang out. You will most likely have a tough first season but putting your time in, paying attention to what's going on around you, and talking to locals who consistently put fish in the yak/box will get you there.

There's few fish that put on a battle than a wide shouldered chinook so don't be disparaged. There's a hellova slayride on the horizon.

That's great advice applicable to anywhere for Kings.  Much better to learn a medicore spot (as long as you know fish are there) thoroughly than to fish cluelessly at a local hot spot.  Maybe even take a good pair of binoculars to see what people are using while they are landing fish.  Sinkers?  Divers?  Downriggers?  All will give an indication of depth and hot baits.

The advice of not getting discouraged is the best advice.  Even on the world famous Kenai River, the average is something on the lines of 20 man hours per fish.  Instead of getting down on the fishing, just imagine that you are banking the hours.  As long as you do the basic fundamentals, it WILL happen...after one day of getting blanked, it will now happen one day sooner....lol

Hang tough...but just know that once it happens...you will be addicted.  Pinks are crazy fun.  Hook a king?  It's over...you'll be hooked deeper than the king.

Thanks...I am in Kirkland, I've only hit the sound off Whidbey and Camano.

As far as kings go, based on your tide advice, what is the most effective presentation? Troll with the current with weights and a spoon, or drift with the current and try mooching? I don't have a downrigger yet, but I do have electronics and at least a rough feel for how deep I am based on a lot of years trolling for lake trout in canoe country (Minnesota/Ontario).

Thanks again.

Great post guys! Lots of good information for us newbies in the N. Sound. Please keep it coming:)

Hello all,
I am new the area I have been ocean kayak fishing for about two years, all east coast Virginia beach area. I hear you have some crazy currents up here and would prefer to tag along with someone to help keep me out of trouble. I am in the Navy and located in Oak harbor I plan on doing some crabbing on Sat in Crescent harbor, unless someone will let a Northwest newbie tag along on a pinks trip. 

Robin