Offshore Salmon in Washington - way out this year

Like a lot of you I get the itch for salmon this time of year. Yeah, I get it real bad. So I watch the reports, the water temps, the weather and I push out to sample the conditions when possible. At this point the signs are all pointing to offshore water to hold fish. So I've pushed offshore the past 2 weekends and it's been hot or cold but never disappointing. There is a different type of water offshore and it begins about 10 nm out where the coastal shelf drops off. Out there the water is a blue-green and clear, not the milky upwelling water we get inshore. The life outside is different too, lots of birds, some whales, and what I call signs of pelagic water. I could wait until the El Nino pushes this water close to the beach, but like I said already I get that itch real bad.

Below is a map showing what I mean by far out. I've scored big kings off Neah Bay and off Westport these past 2 weeks and lots of smaller salmon that I CnR. It takes me about 3 to 4 hours each way to get out to this water. This means I only have a short time to fish, just a couple of hours per day. So far this year I've put in about 20 hours into the inshore water with nothing to show for the effort. I estimate my total offshore fishing time at 6 hours with a much different outcome.

Yes, the conditions are rough at times. When wind comes up there is no place to hide and you need to be prepared to take waves over the boat for hour after hour. I'm not here to debate what type of kayak works best or to preach the benefits of paddling. I don't care if you mount a drive to a telephone pole, if you feel comfortable in your set-up then that is the most important consideration. As always be responsible for your own safe return and don't say - I'll call for help if I can't get back. I train seriously for this type of effort and I've never called for help when the weather moves in. Take it seriously and the payoffs are big. Tight lines.

Lap full of King for sure.  Great looking fish.  It's good to see your being rewarded for paddling that distance

Fishing under birds working bait has always been one of my favorite things about saltwater.  Did you pick up any fish near them?

Good stuff Todd!!!

-Allen

You're a badass for sure Todd!  Not a lot of people could handle the things you call fun.  But a lot of us love reading about them!

-Mark-

Still, the Bear Grylls of kayak fishing.

Great stuff Todd. I have my eyes on a 2016 Tandem Island for similar reasons.

Lap full of King for sure.  Great looking fish.  It's good to see your being rewarded for paddling that distance

Fishing under birds working bait has always been one of my favorite things about saltwater.  Did you pick up any fish near them?

Birds are always worth a stop, but I'm finding the majority of bait and marks out in the open or near current breaks. Thousands of birds out there this year, they must be feeding on something.

Simply an awesome report.  I love that you train hard to extend your range.  And, that you're taking very measured risks, that are within your abilities, but way beyond most.  Keep it up!

Hardcore. You know we're expecting non-mothership tuna from you this year. Right, mile burner?

Hardcore. You know we're expecting non-mothership tuna from you this year. Right, mile burner?

That's the edge of tuna water. I can smell them they're so close. Bringing big lures with me from now on. It's gonna happen this summer.

Todd definitely put in a lot of hours to find the fish.  I remember at least 2 days where he was out all day with nothing to show for it, and it was nasty and windy too.  Press on man!

I'm gonna run my camera full time the next time we head out. It would be cool to catch some video of some albacore from the kayak.

My PB friends report that the fish at westport are now in about 120 FOW, which is exactly where I was finding them this time last year.  It's about 7 miles out.  Now if only the winds would calm down...

Very cool, man!