MA 7 for 2 weeks

I will be fishing the north sound starting on July 15. MA9 opens on the 25th. Probably Washington Park, West beach (MA6), or Semiahmoo. Anyone that wants to team or share intel, send me a PM. Always fun to have company, but mostly fish solo. Hope you all are finding some fish this summer!

I fished Fidalgo Head for the first time mid morning yesterday and today.  It is a quick paddle but an hour drive for me; I got blown out today after about 45 min.  Tomorrow looks windier.  I caught a lot of dogfish and a large rocksole mooching herring.  Lost a lot of leaders to the teeth and my hook grabber.     

I saw a PB net a fish close to burrows pass, 500ft offshore, the guy said it was "18 lbs" and in 50 feet of water.  MA 7 is hatchery only until Aug.1 and there are no cohos showing up in the creel reports.  Lots of boats at reef pt.

I plan on camping at Cypress Head (nicest free campground ever) the week of July 15 and fishing Deepwater Bay.  Perhaps fish Eagle Bluff/Tide Pt which is a 45 minute paddle from Pelican beach (another free campground).  It is a 3 mile crossing to Cypress if you can do that at slack-ish tide I would love to have some company.  There is a scary tidal bore and rips near buoy 2, not to mention ferry traffic and oil barges.

I went all of the way around the island last labor day weekend, staying at PB for 3 nights.  I estimated paddling 35 miles over four days.  I hiked up eagle bluff in my booties twice.  I packed camp and left before dawn to fish on my way out.  It was amazingly calm while the sun came up but a rough pass back in 1-2 foot seas and 15 knot wind. 

I live in Bellingham but I don't know where to fish around here, except Samish Bay.  "Bellingham Bay" is closed until Aug. 16.

- Nick

Another north sounder! good news. I've thought about that crossing before. It may depend on the weather. I'll look at it tomorrow and PM you if it's feasible.

Sound like some serious paddling! You should post your trip when you're done. What is your itinerary, how many nights will you camp? I most likely will not make the crossing solo, wrong time of day and too far for a round trip, plus fishing. Where is Reef Pt. (East side of Jan Juan I?) Look forward to meeting up one of these days.
As for MA7, Bellingham, there is a steep trail to a launch on the west side of Lummi I. Fidalgo head, of course, and I may experiment off the coast between Birch Bay and Blaine.
I'm staying in Ferndale and will be moving to Blaine in 2 years with more time to fish!
Dan

Reef Pt. is the southeast corner of Cypress, very exposed.  I like Deepwater bay because it is sheltered and not much current to fight.  The eddy at Fidalgo Head can get rough.

My plans are not set yet...  I was thinking tuesday through friday or saturday.  Not camping and just fishing every morning at Fidalgo Head is an option.  I am determined to land a legal fish in the yak.  I had considered going the the tyee pool at Campbell River (Canada) but I am not sure if my passport will arrive by then...

I plan on camping at Cypress Head (nicest free campground ever) the week of July 15 and fishing Deepwater Bay.  Perhaps fish Eagle Bluff/Tide Pt which is a 45 minute paddle from Pelican beach (another free campground).  It is a 3 mile crossing to Cypress if you can do that at slack-ish tide I would love to have some company.  There is a scary tidal bore and rips near buoy 2, not to mention ferry traffic and oil barges.
- Nick

I used to put in at the county park at the north end of Guemes Island,   then paddle over to Cypress.  Used to leave vehicles there but Young's Park seems to be day use only now.   Not sure if parking overnight is allowed or go next door to resort and ask.  Less vessel traffic to get over to Pelican Beach but there is a rip area at the north end of Guemes to be watchful of.

I plan on camping at Cypress Head

I heard there's a good drift for jigging on the mouth of that bay just south of the campground. Might be worth it if you're right there.

That's pretty interesting. Park at the park at 9 and ride the tide to Cypress head. Be in time for the ride back. The website say dayuse 9-5, unless the resort would allow parking for a fee. I assume you miss the rips by staying close to shore on the turn. We may have options. Thanks for the info.

FYI I was fishing Orcas (Spring Pass) this last weekend, the chinooks I caught all had sand lance in their stomachs. Caught at bottom up to 60’ deep in 50-100 FOW, jigging and trolling

Nice, thanks Dawn. MA 7 is pretty active if we can get to the right spot. Where did you put in?

I was in Deer Harbor, put in there. A bit of a way around the corner, but a nice area. I’d like to paddle over to Sucia some time from the northern end, Jones is awesome camping too. Love the San Juans

Winning patterns for trolling were red racer flasher w/herring aide silver knight kingfisher, and herring aide pattern Flater with cookies & cream kingfisher with same color hoochie on hook. They weren’t biting on herring for me.

Thank you Dawn.  The weather is looking rough tomorrow and baker lake is soaked. 

Fishing in the rain was lovely!

The stars aligned, sunrise, full moon, and slack tide all at 0530. I set the alarm for 1:30 for the second time this week and decided I had to try. My last king 2 years ago was the exact same combo. Launched at 0400 and trolled to Fidalgo Head. Stopped to jig a huge bait ball at the corner and came up with 2 kelp greenling. At least they are fish! Then made a trolling pass through the same ball and hooked up a monster ling (wrong season, Dan). So, I left the corner and headed back along the cliffs, this time for a dogfish. Busy morning, I'm getting tired. Switched flashers and lures and continued trolling thinking about taking a break because my perfect window was about over. 0700 bam. Played the fish a bit to tire it out then under the boat, then a hand line pull to the net and on board! Man does that feel good. I did my part for the 0.2 average.