Guide Recommendations

Well, I have been following this entire kayak fishing phenomenon from a distance for sometime now. Finally, a chance has presented itself for me to take a whack at it, and I was wondering if any of you gents might be able to recommend a facilitator.

Am looking for a guide on the OP (will be in Sequim) in July who can provide a kayak and give me some basics in general sea kayaking and kayak fishing techniques.

I am an ex fishing guide turned middle aged desk jockey living in Europe. I spend as much time as possible flyfishing for trout and have lots of experience in small boats.

I've been reading that most of the good fishing for salmon around the OP in July is in the salt and not on the rivers, and I simply can't bear chasing fish on a heavy tackle charter. Yakking just seemed like the natural thing to do.

Presumably, just renting a sea kayak and OJTing it is a bad idea given the tides, surf etc. What do y'all think?

BigDaddy
Vienna, Austria

Welcome BigDaddy to the Northwest.  Floating Cowboys will probably respond, since he lives in Port Angeles if not you can try PM'ing him.

Rob.

There are no guides for saltwater salmon, because of how the state has structured their guide/charter licenses.

Salmon Guides are allowed to work in freshwater, except the lower Columbia and Lake Washington. Licensing is open, meaning that more people can become guides simply by filling out an application and paying the fee.

Salt water salmon fishing has traditionally been done on charter (day) boats, requiring a state license. (The user and boat are licensed.) There have been no new licenses issued for around 30 years, since the first big declines in NW salmon populations. (The state and feds actually bought back some of the licenses, in the 70s.) It is possible to buy the license of someone getting out of the business (and usually the purchase of their boat is a condition of sale). There is a state transfer fee, for switching the license from one user to another.

The state's system is not conducive to beach guides (there are some flyfishing beach guides) or to kayak fishing guides. Since in kayaks, (and by maritime law) each paddler is technically the captain of his own ship, it seems it could be argued that a charter license is unnecessary. I'm sure the state knows that there are beach guides that sometimes target salmon, but the state leaves them alone. (They're not likely to put a big dent in salmon populations.) It may be that kayak salmon guides would be left alone, too, but so far no one has challenged the state. If I ever end up living on that side of the state, again, maybe I will.

Surf is generally not a problem along the Straits, in the summer. It is a good to know your tides, for best fishing, and to avoid long uncomfortable paddles. It may be possible to rent and follow one (or more) of us, depending on schedules. The best fishing in July is likely to be to the west, around Sekiu or Neah Bay. If you can't manage the kayak thing, it may be possible to rent a "kicker" (small outboard boat) and mooch on your own.

Good Luck!

A salmon charter license sells in the $30K range without boat ... at least I saw one recently go for about that much.

Pisco, I believe you can legally beach guide for cutties.  What do you do with a salmon bycatch?

-Allen

Guiding for cutties, on the beach, is legal (for C&R). Salmon bycatch is the responsibility of each angler. I would suggest following the catch regs, at the least. A lot of fly anglers are accustomed to C&R, so might find it easy to release even keepers. Since the state has assumed that any guiding for salmon, in the salt, would be off the guide's charter boat, beach guiding and kayak guiding are big gray areas. I still think someone could start a business and the state would have a very hard time prosecuting.

Guiding for cutties, on the beach, is legal (for C&R). Salmon bycatch is the responsibility of each angler. I would suggest following the catch regs, at the least. A lot of fly anglers are accustomed to C&R, so might find it easy to release even keepers. Since the state has assumed that any guiding for salmon, in the salt, would be off the guide's charter boat, beach guiding and kayak guiding are big gray areas. I still think someone could start a business and the state would have a very hard time prosecuting.

I've tried working my way through the system in the past.  Didn't get too far.  Very few emails and phone calls were actually returned.   

-Allen

That's part of why I think someone should just do it. Just because the state can't think out of the box, doesn't mean we can't. Besides, it would probably be years before the catch would exceed the dock catches, and those have separate seasons because of their minimal impacts.

I'd love to ... but keep thinking about insurance implications.   

-Allen

There are companies that insure kayak touring; I think the trick would be to convince them that kayak fishing (and your leadership abilities ) would not create any more risk for them. Having some sort of kayaking certification, plus wilderness first aid/first responder training would probably be extremely helpful. I'm certain there are companies in the San Juans that offer training for a nominal amount (they're hoping to hire trainees).

Insurance is available, but the cost is typically prohibitive, particularly on a part-time level. That was easily the most expensive cost for the schools I worked for in the past. I've considered setting up a part-time guide service here in the Gorge (more for paddling than fishing), but insurance is always the first deal-breaker.

Wow, I hadn't meant to ask a legal question ;-)

I forgot though that when it comes to pacific salmon all questions eventually boil down to legal questions. Thanks for the discussion. I reckon I will rent a kayak and just start fishing.

BigDaddy

Hah!  BigDaddy ... sounds like you know a thing or 2 about this area and the politics.

I guess you didn't get a complete answer to your original question.  Let us know when you're there and perhaps someone can come out and fish with you.

-Allen

There are no guides for saltwater salmon, because of how the state has structured their guide/charter licenses.

Salmon Guides are allowed to work in freshwater, except the lower Columbia and Lake Washington. Licensing is open, meaning that more people can become guides simply by filling out an application and paying the fee.

Salt water salmon fishing has traditionally been done on charter (day) boats, requiring a state license. (The user and boat are licensed.) There have been no new licenses issued for around 30 years, since the first big declines in NW salmon populations. (The state and feds actually bought back some of the licenses, in the 70s.) It is possible to buy the license of someone getting out of the business (and usually the purchase of their boat is a condition of sale). There is a state transfer fee, for switching the license from one user to another.

The state's system is not conducive to beach guides (there are some flyfishing beach guides) or to kayak fishing guides. Since in kayaks, (and by maritime law) each paddler is technically the captain of his own ship, it seems it could be argued that a charter license is unnecessary. I'm sure the state knows that there are beach guides that sometimes target salmon, but the state leaves them alone. (They're not likely to put a big dent in salmon populations.) It may be that kayak salmon guides would be left alone, too, but so far no one has challenged the state. If I ever end up living on that side of the state, again, maybe I will.

Surf is generally not a problem along the Straits, in the summer. It is a good to know your tides, for best fishing, and to avoid long uncomfortable paddles. It may be possible to rent and follow one (or more) of us, depending on schedules. The best fishing in July is likely to be to the west, around Sekiu or Neah Bay. If you can't manage the kayak thing, it may be possible to rent a "kicker" (small outboard boat) and mooch on your own.

Good Luck!

YAWN
What was the Question? Oh ya, Yak fishing.
Easy Bill I am just funning with ya.
Bigdaddy I have some things going on in july but let me know when you are going to be around and maybe we can get together and let you get your feet wet, so to speak. I would be  little wary about taking someone out in the straight if they are new to Kayak fishing. But we can go drop some crab pots in Sequim and let you try it out.
I do want to do a run from Freshwater to salt creek for salmon with any one that might want to try it. with more then one person we could drop one vehicle at salt creek to drive back to freshwater if we need to beach there. other wise we can paddle back to freshwater. Heck we don't even have to go all the way to Salt creek. Just troll for Salmon outside of FW. Bigdaddy we can also go to lake Crescant to let you try it too. So let me know and if schedules work we can try it.
Matt

Ya some day I'll learn to use that Quote button right