Elliott Bay derby--fishing info

In 1982, the year after I moved to the PNW, I bought a copy of "The ANgler's Guide to Washington Salmon".. It was a compilation of articles from "Washington Fishing Holes", a neat magazine that is now gone.  Here's the map of Elliott Bay from the article

 

   The article had that quote "If you can see to cut bait without a flashlight, you're too late".  Dunno if that applies today!  But "Fish early and at tide change", and "fish deep and fish slow".  "As to where to fish in the bay, I'd rate the area in front of and around the west channel of the Duwamish as tops.  Many big kings have been taken in front of Todd's shipyard.  The water varies from about 60 to 90 -plus feet, keep the bait near bottom.  The drift lies at the edge of the plume formed by the fresh water coming from the river into the bay".....Other good areas include the east channel of the Duwamish, the Creosote hole (in front off the old creosote works) and the Beach Broiler drift (now Salty's , I think). Further out into the bay, Duwamish Head and the area just around the head are both very productive spots. The buoy at the head helps locate the drop-off."

Ooops---typo!  read "Fishing info..."  my fingers are faster than my brain.

Hah!  I was wondering what "gishing" was.

-Allen

Fixed the typo. Great map KT. Those are all great spots and actually was out there yesterday for the tide switch. The water was really murky and the wind got whipping so lots of waves. Didn't see any action all around but not so surprising considering the conditions. One hell of a workout though!!!!!

Z

The bay can get quite a chop, toobad you didn't score!

.  I moved to Seattle in 1981, had an apt around on Beach Drive, and launched my Chinook rotomolded from the armeni ramp, which was new in those days, used to paddle across to Ivar's.  I was young and feisty then, and Ivar was still "keepin' clam"....  but now that I have pedal drive, lookin forward to the Derby.

I think the tide change is more important that first light.

Was out off Pt. Robinson at 4:15 am on Sat. - didn't get the first takedown until 6:45 (about an hour before slack) and the last one at 9:30.  4 hits, got two of them to the boat, both natives around 10-12lbs.  Lost one that was a LOT bigger - damn.

Prospecting in the big boat - haven't had the Hobie out there yet, doubt I will even mess with the Bay, maybe this Winter for the Tengu Derby.

SC

DId the big one just toss the hook, or did it break off???  Hate it when that happens! 
Saw a woman catch and almost land a monster at the Point last summer, she got it to the net, but not in---the fish snagged the hooks on th side of the net, and broke free.  Looked to be over 30#!!  She was using a Purple Haze hoochie.
   Friend of mine got a 46# there Aug 2 4 or 5 years ago, it's a neat spot, lots and lots of structure on the south side in front of the lighthouse.  Saw a pod of 13 Orcas there 2 years ago, in about 90 feet of water, 50 yards off the beach.
   Where did you put in----Redondo???

Reminder---this is a dawn bite proposition, and htere's gonna be a ton of Powerboats out there, so wear a light! Or have a lightpole, and maybe a flag.  I plan to have a cap light as well as a light on the boat...

Salmonuniversity.com had a report on Ellitt Bay today:

Fishing is starting to pick up on Inner Elliot Bay with double digit Chinook and some small Coho caught. The bite was on early Sunday morning just off Salty's if you followed the bait balls. We picked up a couple before the bite shut down in about 160' of water down 110' on the downriggers.

It was very crowded, a line to get in at 4am, and hard to maneuver while fishing but the payoff was worth it. Cheri Picked up a nice 16lb Blackmouth on a Cuttle fish (recommended by Tim Bush at Outdoor Emporium) tied 32 inches behind a green glow flasher.