Hobuck 17 August

So yesterday when everyone was out fishing the Pink tournament...I decided to try out Hobuck for the first time! 

It started off great...as I pulled up to the luxury resort, I pulled out one of the payment envelopes, and to my surprise someone had stuffed $25.00 in there for me! Some poor individual couldn't figure out you stick it in the drop box/and forgot to take the window tag! After pocketing $10, and paying the $15.00 parking fee I found a good place to park and unloaded the gear.  Was a little worried with the 3-4 swells, but from some tips from Nangusdog(thanks!) I was just fine going out and coming in.

What an amazing place! Fishing Makah bay is unreal...had some encounters with some whales, porpoises, and a sea lion that scared the SH!# out of me(popped up 20 feet in front of me, and stuck its head/neck a good 4 feet out the water) and I thought it was some monster.

Had a good day of fishing! I tried a few areas on the way to Strawberry Rock, but only landed a couple 16" Rockfish.  Once I finally got out there(to the amazement of a few boaters) fishing was ON!  Caught lots of Black Rockfish, with a few being around 19", a 23" ling that I released, and a 20" Cabazon. Wished I had gone straight there, and then tried a few other areas on the way back.

My non-waterproof camera got watersoaked and stopped working, so the evidence of my larger rockfish is not present...I'll have to make another trip out there with my GoPro that I use for diving. 

Short summery: I'm hooked.

Nice report!  Blue Outback right?  I saw you on base but just found out who you were yesterday from Nangusdog!  Welcome!!

Nice report!  Blue Outback right?  I saw you on base but just found out who you were yesterday from Nangusdog!  Welcome!!

Yup! I'm the one driving the Subie with a blue Outback strapped to it.  Thanks for the welcome.

Way to go Martin, sounds like you had a blast!...I had no doubt.

Welcome to the addiction

Oh yeah, most importantly...did ya Huli?

Oh yeah, most importantly...did ya Huli?

Nope! Paddle steered a wave to shore, no problem!

am going there thru the weekend Wednesday for my first time...care to share the tips on launching or takeout?....or anything else that would make the trip more  ? worthwhile? on what to use/go etc..?? am hoping to get into some rockfish but should I bring salmon gear?  anything like current to watch out for ? was planning to find and fish strawberry rock /Duncan rock, Umatilla reef, waddah island and rock gardens in no order and if I can find them....anything to look out for or what not to do/go? launch sites other than hobuck beach to get to these area`s ?

Ducan Rock holds a ton of fish but that is a serious paddle! Good luck. Enjoy.

Sent from my Motorola Flip phone.

lings in that area only need to be 22" so you could have kept it. i think I will make an end of summer run out there soon.
Tell the truth the camera got wet upon huli?

AS far as duncan, umatilla and waddah. This time of year you can only salmon fish legally on umattilla reef. Duncan rock is a very high tidal zone, so if you make it out there be very aware of huge and I mean huge currents. Waddah island is on the strait side and usually gets pretty fished out, but if you decide to go out that way salmon fishing is really hot out close to the tip of the strait but it's a 5 mile each way hump and once again the tides in that area are huge.
All of that being said, what an adventure it would be if you don't die.

If you make an attempt to get to the cape from either Hobuck side or NB side you should have the currents schedule in mind or written down. It can make the difference between a 2 hour paddle and a 4 to 5 hour slog. It should be obvious, but ride with the currents both ways whenever possible. If you go from Hobuck side expect a strong northbound current to form after about 1 in the afternoon, it's less impacted by tides and more wind driven. Yes, it flows against the wind most days. Your only way out of it is to go very close to shore, 10 to 15 feet of water if possible. Of course, if you have big swells or wind waves this strategy won't work due to all the boomers on the inside, so watch the wave forecast closely. Here is a good website for the currents in the strait:

http://www.deepzoom.com/#/Views/Boat.xaml

Great report. I'm really interested in Hobuck from all the reports on here. It's on the list for sure.

lings in that area only need to be 22" so you could have kept it. i think I will make an end of summer run out there soon.
Tell the truth the camera got wet upon huli?

I had enough Black Rockfish to fillet, and figured the ling could grow a little before it's eaten.   NO HULI! I'm a master wave rider, showing off to the surfers on my yak.

One hint of advice from me: I was using a large Berkley Gulp Squid, and having luck with the rockfish... I fished with it most of the day, but should have switched bait earlier.  Once I switched to a different Berkley bait that was gold/copper in color I finally got the ling/cabazon.  So try different baits if you're not getting what you want.

So did it live up to the  hype that gordon and myself built it up to be?
Like disney land, the most magical place on earth?

So did it live up to the  hype that gordon and myself built it up to be?
Like disney land, the most magical place on earth?

100% Yes.   Wish it was closer, it a helluva drive for a day trip