fishing the hood canal bridge?

So I want to go out tomorrow to the hood canal bridge and fish those berkley gulp jigs like I was in freshwater bay.  I know all bottom fishing is closed in area 12 which is everything south of the bridge, and salmon fishing is closed to the north.  But it doesn't say anything about bottom fishing on the north side.  I know rock fish, ling cod, and cabezon are closed but i can fish for greenling and flounder and other bottom fish right on the north side of the bridge right?  At least that's how I interpreted the regs.  Thought I might get some advice from you guys before I venture out there.

salmon is not closed north of the bridge during the winter season.  the closure is in the summer months.  it is area 9 north of the bridge and my reading of the regs show it open for salmon from 1/16-4/15.

Look at page 118 note 6 of the reg book.  Only allowed to fish from shore for salmon in that portion of area 9.   Good luck catching these black mouth from shore right now.

Look at page 118 note 6 of the reg book.  Only allowed to fish from shore for salmon in that portion of area 9.   Good luck catching these black mouth from shore right now.

i read that as saying those regulations are only in effect for the dates listed.  our regs in washington state can be a bit confusing but my reading says that area is currently open for salmon.  if it was closed year round for salmon (except from shore) it wouldn't have dates listed.

North of the bridge is currently open for Salmon.  It is only closed July 16 - August 31.  You can also catch a combined limit of 15 greenling, flounder, and other less desireable fish right now.

Sounds good to me...  Just means more places for me to drop a yak and get some fishing in.  Yeah the regs here are a bit intence.  I know it has turned a few of my buddies off of fishing while we are up here.  I understand what they are trying to do (i think) and I'm not really sure how strict the wardens are, but if you don't take the few hours to sit down and read this book you could end up getting some really big, unintentional fines.

They aren't trying to pull a fast one and give out tickets.  This area has very complex ecosystems.  Enforcement is a complete joke.  I've seen 1 game warden in the past 7 years.

They aren't trying to pull a fast one and give out tickets.  This area has very complex ecosystems.  Enforcement is a complete joke.  I've seen 1 game warden in the past 7 years.

+1

There is so much area to cover in WA and so few wardens, there is essentially no real enforcement. The only place I've I got checked was at right outside the Westport Marina and they didn't even ask to see my licence, they said something to the effect of "we know you have a licence".

Another +1. The only time I've been checked was last Butt season 5 miles out at
Partridge Bank with Killfish & Blowjib. They disappered on me and WDFW came upon me and checked license and barbless hooks. They thought I was nuts out there in a yak and then decided I was geared up with all the right safety gear so they felt a bit better. They can't bust you for "being nuts".

I completely agree with all of your statements.  I haven't seen any wardens since I have been fishing here, and by comparison to all of you isn't that long.  That being said.  Instead of making more and more restriction why don't they put a few extra bucks into some more wardens around here to enforce the rules they already have.  For instance when I was crossing the hood canal bridge today I saw two power boats fishing the sisters (rock piles).  And you know there not fishing for salmon, and that is about the only thing up there in area 12 that's legal right now.  I have fished there before, and know how many rockfish are there.   That's all my wife and I were catching so we stopped fishing there, and luckily didn't hurt any of them.  I know how fragile these types of ecosystems are, so I guess the major question is if there are no wardens to enforce these rules what is the point having them.  I wish I could say I have seen more honest fisherman than not, but unfortunately that is not the case.  Ok enough ranting for the night.  I hope I didn't offend anyone here.  I think this is the coolest, most informative, and friendliest fishing site the northwest has. 

I've been stopped twice, once on Puget Sound off Boeing Creek and once on Lake Samammish.  Neither time did they check anything.  The day on the lake was slow, cold, dreary, low, wispy clouds obscuring the tops of the adjacent hills, and I think I was the weirdest thing on the water and they wanted to see what kind of idiot was I was.  The day on Puget Sound was a nice day, and I was the only boat out there.  They were simply transiting the area, and again, I was something weird.