Some random new guy from Sequim...

Hello everyone! I am Ian. I'm a grand 30 years old, married, and a machinist by trade. I'm new here, and to the PNW in general, but I've been 'yak fishing for about 6 years. I moved from Florida just shy of 2 years ago, and sold my very awesome Redfish 14 before moving out here. I just recently was able to get back into a kayak this Christmas. The wife was able to pick up a Perception Access 11.5 for my present, and I love this thing. Threw on a paddle holder and anchor trolley within an hour of having it, grabbed a PFD and was on the water the next day. I'm sort of new to fishing up here, I'm used to fishing in 75* water and shorts and slow, lazy rivers, so if I ask a lot of questions, forgive me. As the title says, I live in Sequim. I work in Port Angeles and am looking forward to getting out in the Strait in the coming year. I do have quite a bit of open water experience, but again, the surf temp was 80 degrees, so the cold Pacific is going to be quite a change for me. This is getting long winded, and I'm basically an open book, so if you want to know something, just ask.

Welcome. We have a lot of misplaced Florida's on this forum. I'm one of them. Every one here will answer questions that you have

This guy too. Welcome aboard! You're in a great place to catch the best of what WA has to offer! I hope you've got a wetsuit, or some other immersion gear. The Straits can be unforgiving, especially this time of year. This aint our Sunshine State!

Welcome.  I am going to skip the immersion gear and rape whistle safety rant as I hope you are smart enough to use the search function.
If I lived in your neck of the woods my wife might never see me.
Use the winter to get your gear ready, lingcod opens April 15! (in area 4)

I'm looking forward to hearing about your adventures up there.  I was packed and ready to move up in the Port Angeles area, but The Boss had a lower target, and we landed in Port Orford.
   

Welcome to the GPNW. Though I am basically a native to WA, I used to fish a lot in LA (the state) with a buddy. Still miss the redfish. And the warm water.

I won't skip the immersion gear mention.

Cold water is your greatest danger. And that is YEAR ROUND. My advice is to get a one-piece dry suit or a semi-dry suit.

You live in a prime spot for salmon, lingcod, and halibut. These are probably the 3 premiere species in the area.

How far does one have to kayak to get to the good Halibut, Lingcod and Salmon areas near Sequim? 

I've seen some of the previous posts on NWKA about fabulous halibut catches and really fun ling cod catches - just wondering how far offshore one has to go?  Do kayakers primarily go out of Neah Bay, or do kayakers launch from Sequim Bay, Discovery Bay, Dungeness Bay?  I spend a fair amount of time visiting friends in Sequim and would like to do some kayak fishing if I knew more.  Looking forward to reading your posts of your Sequim kayak fishing adventures.

The problem with launching straight out of PA or Sequim is the seasons are more restrictive on lingcod and the current can rip, making halibut from a kayak tougher. You are much better off driving to area 4a or 4b.

I've only fished out of Sequim once and though I didn't get my Halibut, it was one of my more memorable trips.  Dungeness Spit is almost otherworldly!

I think you'll enjoy your new surroundings!

-Mark-

Spot - please tell of this otherworldly trip...

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone. Yes, the cold water immersion concept is definitely not lost on me. I know about the cold water all too well (former stupid kid who participated in a couple "polar bear" type challenges when I was younger and dumber) So yes, before I end up a floating iceberg, a dry suit is in my near future.

Yes, the kayak fishing in the south was excellent. Redfish could easily take you for sleighrides for 20 minutes or more, trout would jump into your kayak and flap and flip all your loose tackle into the river, and even baby sharks can create quite the pucker factor when trying to unhook them.

The only Strait fishing I've even done so far was in a PB with my ex-boss, turned out to be decent. A couple blackmouth, and a half dozen or so rockfish (last year). Haven't been on salt since then, been doing a bunch of bank river fishing, and not having much luck with salmon, although I slay the rainbows. Once the holidays wind down, and the temp comes up just a bit, I'll be on the water pretty regularly.