South Puget Sound Surf Smelt/Herring

Has anyone ever done any bait fishing in the south Puget Sound? I have am interview in Olympia with WDFW and though I might try and add surf smelt and herring to my big fishing year list afterwards. I had planned on launching at Boston Harbor as there as many known spawning beaches in the Budd Inlet for smelt. I was just going to use a Sabiki rig but any other advice would be appreciated.

please be sure to post where/what works! I just picked up a couple sabiki rigs but haven't had the chance to use them.

I've done really well for herring using sabiki rigs in Chambers Bay Aug-Sep time frame. Never tried that far south or this time of year though.

Herring, herring, herring! Please share herring info. I do want to try it as table fish.

Not expecting much for herring but surf smelt spawn this time of year in the sound. Might be restricted to the docks given they've changed the forecasts to 35+ mph wind on the day I am up there.

Well, I know nothing about catching them, but, after seeing the retail price of herring jump up every year, to almost a $1 a piece - I just bought myself a sabiki rod ($50.00) to carry on the yak this year.  I'm hoping the sabiki rod helps prevent those frustrating tangles.
The WA regulations mention that you can deploy a second rod for forage fish, maybe I'll try putting it out when trolling.
Looking at some Aussie websites, I see that they generally do some chumming to keep the herring schools interested and close.
My question - does one put bait on the tiny sabiki hooks?

I thought I might try tipping a few hooks with bits of clam neck. It seems to be able to catch anything. I'll let you know how I do.

Surf smelt, we caught out at Kalaloch by standing out in the surf as the waves are breaking on the sand and use a dip net with small mesh to scoop the smelt as they ride waves to the sand to drop eggs and milt.

+1 on sabiki for the herring and anchovies. Best way to save money on bait and they are hella tasty.

Well, I know nothing about catching them, but, after seeing the retail price of herring jump up every year, to almost a $1 a piece - I just bought myself a sabiki rod ($50.00) to carry on the yak this year.  I'm hoping the sabiki rod helps prevent those frustrating tangles.
The WA regulations mention that you can deploy a second rod for forage fish, maybe I'll try putting it out when trolling.
Looking at some Aussie websites, I see that they generally do some chumming to keep the herring schools interested and close.
My question - does one put bait on the tiny sabiki hooks?

Which sabiki rod did you get? The Ahi sabiki rods are far too stiff to detect the little bites from herring and such in my experience, I bought one and returned it promptly...I just use a light rod to feel those little fish nibblin'. 

Which sabiki rod did you get? The Ahi sabiki rods are far too stiff to detect the little bites from herring and such in my experience, I bought one and returned it promptly...I just use a light rod to feel those little fish nibblin'.

I ordered an Eat My Tackle rod from "Eat My Tackle" on Amazon day before yesterday, so I haven't even received it yet.  I suspect its going to be fairly stiff - probably impossible to have much flex in a fiberglass tube.  I was just hoping to be able to use a package of sabiki rigs more than once - I'm very good at getting them all tangled and unusable almost immediately after pulling the leader out of the package.

I just use a light rod to feel those little fish nibblin'.

+1 for the light rod. I tie my own so I can get the line type, length and hook number to my preference. Only takes a couple minutes.

The Herring have been in Crescent City harbor for about 2 weeks now. They seem to be early. The last two years they were later and were within a day of the previous year.
Caught a bunch from my kayak and then took my grandson on his first 'catching' experience and he had a blast.

No bait or scent needed. Just need the rig in their face and they'll do the rest. Those little sharp hooks can be a royal snaggy pain in the ass though.

It was windier than expected (right up until I had to leave of course) but I put in a couple hours baitfish jigging near the Boston Harbor marina just north of Olympia. I did not catch any smelt but I did hook into some nice size herring. I used a couple different Sabiki rigs but the Danielson rigs with the paper wings on the jig produced all of the fish. Pacific Herring was my 14th species of fish/shellfish for my big fishing year.

Did you freeze them so you can use them as bait to catch salmon? How cool would it be to catch a targeted species with a targeted species?? That sounds like good luck to me.