Yaquina Bay flounder?

Many years ago, I used to do really well on starry flounder fishing from the beach off Idaho Point in what really would be some yakkable water. Any of you coasties catching any flatties inside the bays?

Bumping, because I'm interested too. From talking to people and looking around online it seems there aren't a lot of bay flounder to be had in Oregon, or at least people are tight-lipped about it. I'd sure love if someone spoke up and proved me wrong.

just an aside if you are planning to fish Yaquina Bay anytime soon.  I was out there a couple weeks back and they were actively dredging in front of HMSC.  I don't know about the range or duration of this dredging activity.  Probably need to check with the Port office to know the schedule.

Redbeard, I have heard comments that sea lions pretty much wiped out the Yaquina flounders, but have no idea if this is in fact the case.

Redbeard, I have heard comments that sea lions pretty much wiped out the Yaquina flounders, but have no idea if this is in fact the case.

Yeah I've read the same when I was digging around. I keep hoping there are a few healthy populations somewhere on the Oregon coast that just haven't been noticed yet.

Redbeard, I have heard comments that sea lions pretty much wiped out the Yaquina flounders, but have no idea if this is in fact the case.

Yeah I've read the same when I was digging around. I keep hoping there are a few healthy populations somewhere on the Oregon coast that just haven't been noticed yet.

Well...go find some sandy substrate along the coast/bays and jig off the bottom. Who knows, you may get skunked or you may pioneer a new fishery!

Try driving up to Luhr landing, just north and east of Olympia Washington. The nisquilly delta is absolutely loaded with them. Its probably about the same drive as going from Portland to Newport. Day license is 20 bucks or so out of state.  I buy a yearly salt water license for 58 every year, which includes your vehicle access pass that you need to park in most marinas in Washington.  Go over to Ifish.net and check out some of my posts about fishing the south sound.  Especially last years post about fishing out of luhr landing.

Give me a holler if any of you decide to fish Luhr for flounder. Those are my stomping grounds. Would be happy to show you the ropes! Typically fishes best in the winter. They're around during the summer, but the vegetation makes it all but unfishable starting around May.

This would have been your view from Luhr yesterday.

Wow, neat waterspout photo!
Good to hear about Luhr fishing well for flounder in winter. I did best on them in February in Yaquina Bay.
Codeman, amigo, your Ifish posts have been very inspiring! Don't forget my invite to demo my Raptor.
(Bill Rogue V.)

Give me a holler if any of you decide to fish Luhr for flounder. Those are my stomping grounds. Would be happy to show you the ropes! Typically fishes best in the winter. They're around during the summer, but the vegetation makes it all but unfishable starting around May.

I live in Lacey and would love to hook up with you to fish Luhr. My weekends are booked until the 2nd weekend in November, but I do have a few Mondays free. Wouldn't mind setting a crap pot or 2 before we started fishing.

Wow, neat waterspout photo!

Can't claim credit. It was on KOMO 5's Facebook feed. Awesome shot though!!

I live in Lacey and would love to hook up with you to fish Luhr. My weekends are booked until the 2nd weekend in November, but I do have a few Mondays free. Wouldn't mind setting a crap pot or 2 before we started fishing.

Sending PM

Thats good to hear that the fishing is better in the winter. It was pretty good in aug, but we did have to paddle a LONG ways to get out of the weeds and find fish.  We ended up clear over against the east bank, almost to solo pt before we found fish.  But it was loaded with them. According to my GPS, we paddle around 28 miles in 2 days,  thats not fun     So in the winter, ALL the weeds in delta are gone?  Do you need to just paddle straight out to the edge of the drop off ?  Or, will the flounder be in somewhat shallow if the weeds are gone ?  Any info you could pass along would be great.

The large majority of grass is gone. Head out to about even with the pylons, and target water between 15-60'. Big thing to remember is they have small mouths. So if your using a 1oz saltwater jighead to hold the bottom, your gonna miss a lot of fish due to the big hook. If jigging I use the 1oz freshwater heads Cabelas sells in 25pks. These are also my preferred jigs for greenling and rockfish too. Dropshot rigging catches the majority of my flounder though. Use a #2 or 4 octopus hook, and a small saltwater gulp. The swimming mullet, and ghost shrimp in either white, chartreuse, or pink are my favorite shapes/colors. Almost anything that smells, and can be kept in contact with the bottom will catch'em, but the methods described here will catch enough to shingle a roof most days.

I slayed the flounder in there this year. I had a post about it but it seems to have vanished.