Sept 1st MA10 North end

Hi all,

I'm planning to fish the waters between Discovery Park and Meadow Point this coming Monday. So far it is scheduled to open Sept 1st. Only worry here is there can be a lot of boat traffic from the locks and Shilshoal Marina. There is usually a lot of small boat traffic too.
High tide is 6:17 so I plan to launch at first light around 6am.

Come out and join me if you like.

Kurt

Hi Kurt---where do you plan to put in???

I usually put in at the very North end of Golden Gardens and fish to the North.
Now that I'm thinking of going South this presents another challenge, where to launch.
I live in the area so Thursday I am planning on scouting out a launch site just outside the locks in Ballard. Somewhere between the locks and Ray's boat house.
Does anyone know if they charge to launch from the ramp next to Little Coney?

Launching at the South beach area of Golden Gardens also can be good especially since we will be so early in the AM. Parking is always a hassle after 9am. The South end has a bit of sand to cart through but the launch is protected from the marina breakwater.

One could also launch from Magnolia but the parking thing is always sticky. They want only residents or military personnel to park at the light house but everyone else seems to park there.

I'll let you know what I find after the Thursday night scouting.

Kurt

Okay! I'm going to try and drag a few silvers out of the water.

It was a slow bike ride but I made up for speed by flying down to the magnolia light house (the climb back up was slow again). I did find a new launch site but it wasn't exactly where I was looking. It is one of the easiest beaches to launch at that I have found.
Take NW Market from the locks past Ray's boat house and about another 300 yards on the left is West marine, behind it is a condo complex called Pt. Shilshoal, (drive behind west marine on the north side) there is a white iron gate with a sign that reads "Public Access". The gate is between the parking lot and the condo building. On the sign it reads, open from "Dusk to Dawn" The draw back is you will have to park on the street (at least it's free). You can park for a bit to unload but you'll have move it and park on the street. Might try and chat it up with the west marine guys and maybe they can clue me in on the parking behind their building.
I couldn't believe it that it was only about 75 ft to the water and someone put boards down for half of that distance.

I will try this launch Monday at 6am to see if it is dusk enough. If it isn't open, I will be early enough to find a spot at the South end of Golden Gardens.

Any one else wants to join in would be great.

Kurt

Might be able to join up on Monday Kurt, will have to see how holiday plans and WAF requirements play out.

Rob.

It would be nice to see/ meet you out there Rob. I am still planning on being at West marine about 6am and we'll see what they consider dawn at the new launch site.

Kurt

Kurt,

How did it go?

-Allen

Got there at first light and noticed the gate with the new launch behind west marine is never locked. Closed but never locked. The wind was up already at 6AM and we had to fight to get out to the Magnolia light house (I brought my next door neighbor with me since mine is a tandem). We turned around and flew back to Golden Gardens. Hooked a nice copper rock fish of about 12" let him go virtually unharmed as he was only hooked in the lip.
I was surprised at how much kelp there was and very shallow from the locks to the Magnolia light house. I saw a lot of boats just out beyond the light house near the shipping channel. No word on how well anyone did. Didn't see any nets being lifted so I suspect it was slow
My neighbor got a bit chilled and I'm not one for puttin up with a whiner so I brought him home and started in on fixing the screen door. Just kidding!
I told my neighbor about this site and he was genuinely interested so even though I called him a whiner I think he will understand its all just poking fun

Going out again with my girlfriend this Sunday. Same launch site but probably after coffee and walking the dog.

Kurt

Kurt,   

Sorry I was'nt able to meet you at the crack of dawn.  I got there about 1 pm but saw your drag marks in the sand of low tide.  There was a ton of boats out there and it was windy as well so I didn't launch-- hate dodgin wakes coming at you from all sides at once.

You must have the nose of a bloodhound to have found that hidden public access-- congratulations.  On the other hand, that place  is right in the crosshairs of power boat traffic coming out of the shilshole marina on the right and the canal going to the "locks" on the left.  Whew! --that is a lot of boat traffic.

Would enjoy showing you a little park on the south side of Magnolia that is a whole lot closer to  the  Lighthouse and has much less boat traffic to fight.

Let me know.

Rob.

I think I know the place off Clise pl W. and then down 32nd to the end where there is a little road to the left that leads to the parking lot?
I haven't launched there yet but I can see the possibilities.

I was planning to go out today but the winds have kicked up again and the reports still look dismal. Guess I'll stick close to the house and see what projects I can knock out today.

Have you ever checked out this site for reports?
http://www.angelfire.com/wa/nwfishing/bayreports.html
When you see reports that say 135 anglers and 12 coho, that tells me the fish aren't here yet. On the other side I want to be on the water the day they get in as the next report will probably show things have picked up.

Kurt

Yeah that's the place.  Only thing wrong is that the launch tends to be very rocky but it is only a short paddle to the tip of Magnolia, boat lanes etc.

Thanks for the fishing reports page--I've bookmarked that one.

Rob.