hello everyone

hello just wanted to come and introduce myself. I have lived in the n.w. for a long time and have loved fishing for a long time also. last year I bought my first kayak and fell in love with it. I spent last year fishing any fresh water lakes I could find but I want to go salt water this year.  since I have never done it was wondering if any of you guys get together and go? would be nice to go with people that know a thing or two about it.

thanks.

Welcome!   Lots of opportunities for fishing meet-ups, tournaments, and seminars for information.  Do some searches on the forum for the topics of interest, you'll find lots of people willing to share what they know.   Definitely respect that ocean, it is unforgiving and will snatch the life outta ya, be safe!

Welcome to the madness (might be a disease) either way it's catching .and addicting  .. Bay fishing is a good way to work your way up to the ocean. If you were closer to me and the Tillamook bay, I would take you out there a few times in preparation for a beach launch at Pacific City. If you didn't mind the travel I still will or anyone else that wants to work there way up to it for that matter. Bottom line is don't jump I n head first and hope for the best, work your way up to it and safely enjoy it. I have been doing this for two years and still won't go into the ocean alone or unprepared.

I have heard that Westport and lapush arn't that bad because of the protected area inside the jetty. so figured I would head out there first.

  Welcome fizlefish,

 Though I have yet to fish La Push-- I have fished Westport quite a bit. It can be a good "training ground" for a 1st salt water trip . but it can also kick your ass. Please don't take it too lightly.
  you might want to check out some of the threads concerning  GO-NO GO to give you an idea or two about salty conditions. Then start checking surf reports like magicseaweed and a few others you can find as guidelines before you jump in. The surf and swell has been pretty big the last few weeks-- bigger than I am comfortable with-- but it will be laying down eventually. Find that window and have a go at it.
  There are a lot of threads about fishing Westport in the Washington sub-threads. Take the time to look them over. You'll be glad you did.

 edit.... Post up when you are thinking about going. Odds are strong that someone will be happy to join you out there. I'd volunteer --- but am only a month out of neck surgery and my body isn't quite ready yet. A work in progress for now.

Being in Olympia, you also have plenty of less-demanding salt water to start out in...  Lots of opportunity to chase fish and get used to dealing with tides and currents and swell, without the challenges of big swells and surf launches and landings.  Even the Sound is enough to demand some respect when floating about in Tupperware!

Jim

What he said...check just north of you in Nisqually for the Luhr Beach Launch... that gets you to the mouth of the river for salmon, access to flounder, and other small species fish that will give you plenty   fun.

thank you for all the advice I will consider it all. my landlord happens to live right on the sound and told me to come out and put in at his place. thought that was really cool. it is just across the water from DuPont so I think ill start there.

as far as when I can go out to a place like Westport it might be a while as my job is to busy right now. but when I do I will certainly come here and ask if others want to go.