What's running in Hood Canal?

A couple of evenings ago, my spousal critter pointed out that her marine traffic app was showing a bunch of commercial fishing boats leaving Hood Canal, with some moored near the bridge by Port Gamble.  There are still a couple of them moored there this morning.

What run are they targeting?  Keta?

yep

Do you know which drainage?

Tenders, Gillnets, Purse Seines getting ready for Chum.

Do you know which drainage?

 Hoodsoort and Skokomoish.

For complete May 2020 to April 30 2021 agreed fisheries see this link:
https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/2020-21agreement.pdf

Below an excerpt for Hood Canal:

Do any of you target Chum from a kayak?

Yes, I do target chums from kayaks. I only fly fish for chums, other people use herring under a float, corkies, etc. See below for a thread on chum fishing from a couple of years ago:

https://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=20948.0

Do any of you target Chum from a kayak?

There's usually a kayak derby for them every year at Hoodsport.

I've only ever done Hoodsport and the mouth of Minter Creek from my kayak. They're both swamped with people, all of whom are bringing fish in backwards, and it's just a depressing scene. The fishing can be good, but I really want to branch out elsewhere in the south sound and hood canal area.

Without giving up your honey hole(s) (though i'm ok with that!), does anyone have any advice on other estuaries in the south sound/hood canal? Timing (are the fish showing yet?), locations and tides, whether fishable by bank and/or boat, etc...

I target chums from my kayak at Hoodsport, Potlatch State Park area, and Oakland Bay/John's Creek. I use anchovy or red-label herring under a bobber. The past few years I have been fishing for them in the middle of the canal on calm days; tons of them will roll on the surface heading towards Skokomish River.

I've only ever done Hoodsport and the mouth of Minter Creek from my kayak. They're both swamped with people, all of whom are bringing fish in backwards, and it's just a depressing scene. The fishing can be good, but I really want to branch out elsewhere in the south sound and hood canal area.

Without giving up your honey hole(s) (though i'm ok with that!), does anyone have any advice on other estuaries in the south sound/hood canal? Timing (are the fish showing yet?), locations and tides, whether fishable by bank and/or boat, etc...

They return to most of the larger creeks in deep south sound and kitsap peninsula. Shame the Skok is closed, I had some reaaallly fun days in there for chum with a bobber and jig.

Good info! Have any of you seen success yet this year?

Good info! Have any of you seen success yet this year?

I've seen guys fishing for them on the creeks off the 101 this past week.

Do people eat them? I've heard they are bad but maybe slightly better if caught in salt.

Can you fish for them with plugs or is it mostly bait?