Seattle and San Juan Islands ('yak and/or boat fishing)

Hey all... I posted here about 6 months ago in anticipation of our family vacation and now we're already here. We flew from our home on Oahu to San Diego and were there for a bit visiting family and old friends. I snuck in a one-week kayak fishing trip to Baja where we hammered some huge yellowtail and grouper, among other nice (smaller species)... but that's a whole 'nother story! So now we are in Seattle today and tomorrow (7/7, 7/8), and then off to San Juan Island on Monday.

Today is Saturday, which only leaves us tomorrow. I have lots of fishing gear, but no kayaks. It's probably too late to put together a Sunday kayak fishing trip (tomorrow) and I don't even know if there is inshore fishing around here (staying 1.5 miles from Pike's market). It may be easier to just find a local 1/2-day fishing boat charter and try to get my son on a salmon??? Maybe it's too late for everything?

Worst case scenario, we will have one full week at Friday Harbor, and I will try to muscle up some kayaks there (although I'd have NO idea where to fish). Any tackle shops there to get advise? I'm sure we'll track down some sort of salmon trip one day there, but my older son and I are just itching to get OTW!!!

Any advice helps. Everyone in Seattle has been ridiculously nice, so I'm sure it's a Northwest thing 

Thanks,
Trout

I have some "spare" kayaks you would be welcome to borrow.  Ammen 206-947-3923

I forgot to mention that I am an ex-kayak fishing guide in CA and Baja, so don't worry about safety issues. I am well versed with fishing rough structure, strong currents, etc. I know that can be a big factor here!

Hey Ammen... any chance you can make it out to SJI this week? I have all of my own gear, and could use some photos if I write a story/article. That's be cool....

Hey Trout!

Look out on Elliott Bay there.  See all those guys fishing towards the upper end of the bay.  Fish there.  The bay just opened on Friday.  It's as good a place as any to get a king.

I'm out of town right now, otherwise I'd be out there right now.   

I'll PM you my phone number.  Feel free to call if you have any questions.

-Allen

I can.  I have:
Wildy
Tarpon 160i
   Ride
   Pungo 120
Perception   Prodigy
   Search
Mad River   Synergy
   Angler 14

Oops, premature posting...

Who are writing for, or do you know?  What's the angle of your article?

How many of there are you, you and your son?  Where are you staying?  Is there room for me there too?

Ammen

To answer your question... I dropped all sponsors and business affiliations a while ago, and am on total cruise control. I do keep tight with a lot of the Southern California kayak anglers (Coastal Kayak Fishing, Big Water's Edge, etc.) purely for fun and good times. I'm actually tightening up with the kayak angler's on Oahu now that I live there, and there's lots of big game stuff happening. Very exciting. But for now I'm in your guys' neck of the woods and can't wait to check it out.

The article that I just wrote was an adventure piece on my BajatTrip with the "Usual Suspects." No angles, other than good big and giant fish from the 'yaks. The one that I would write on the San Juan Islands would also be strictly adventure writing. If there are places that are "better left unsaid," please let me know now, as I completely respect local fishin' holes and saving them for the kid's of the people that fish these spots every day. No need to exploit something good... but it seems like most people in the sport around here are pretty mellow. I surf and kayak fish every chance I get and I've seen all levels of localism - I resepect people and places 100% and won't print anything that someone wants to PM me about.

Anyway... just here with with wife, two sons, and am meeting my folks coming from the Bay Area and my sis and her boyfriend from NY. We're all over the map. As far as fishing, my dad and I have lifetimes of experience and my older son (9 1/2) is on the verge of jumping into the madness, too.

Anyway, we're here to meet up and enjoy your backyard. Thanks for the offers and advice.

Hey trout, aloha! I'm heading out @ my local spot Richmond Beach @ O'darkthirty. It's about 10 minutes north of where you're at. If I had an extra yak I'd set you up but if you can figure that out you're welcome to come on out in search of Salmon.

Z

Sounds good, I'm off to Cle-Elum for a shoot (and Icicle and Cooper for some whitewater).  I'll be back tonight.  Give me a call if you are still interested in the SJI idea.  Ammen