It's nearly halibut time!

You know how I love me some Hobuck!!
What is opening weekend? Is it the same for OR and Wa?

Wa. Area #7 starts on May 5.  It runs every weekend in May on Thu., Fri, and Sat. except for Mem. Day weekend when it runs Fri., Sat. and Sun.  I like area # 7 because it has several good launch spots that I can chose from, all of them are very close to either Sequim or P.A., all have good looking halibut sites (to me any way) within 2-3 miles of my launch points, and all have good looking shrimp drop locations near them.  One is INSIDE of Discovery Bay (I admit, I've never actually fished this one before) and so it's even more protected from westerlies than out in the straight should the weather dictate.  And the straight is quite a bit more protected than Hobuck, especially in May.  But what's the chances of actually getting a halibut bite in #7?  Totally shooting from the hip, I'm guessing that they are as good as they would be anywhere within kayak distance (2-3 miles) from Hobuck.

Anybody interested to see exactly the areas that I'm looking at?  Just P.M. me your email address and I'll shoot you a TIF off of the Straight of Juan De Fuca  map showing the contour etc, and of course the locations that I'm thinking of and the launch that goes with each location.  Hey, I trust you guys!

Sorry, no idea what the Oregon season looks like.


Fishin-T

Eastern Straits is MA6.

MA7 is San Juans.


MA4 (Hobuck/Neah Bay) gets hammered- especially with charters- thus the shorter season. Fishing the inside (even in MA4) is a lot easier and more protected. The 'but in my avatar was caught a few miles east of Neah Bay. I dropped in from a roadside pullout, and rowed out to 100' FW.

Fishin T, those areas you want to target are closer, and if I can make it, I'll come.  How is the camping and such around there?  I'll pm you my email for details.

DHOA !!!   My bad.  Pisco is exactly correct... the area that I keep touting is area #6 and includes the Ediz Hook and the Dungeness Spit.  Pisco and myself once camped at a county park near Sequim and he hooked a nice 25# halibut the next day off of the end of the Dungeness Spit.  I don't like camping at that particular park because they lock the gates overnight and it'll impact your launch time.  With no further direction, I'll be inclined to camp at Sequim Bay state park.  Getting a res. for a site or two shouldn't be any issue at this time of year.

One upside that I'll have to admit to when fishing in the Sequim/P.A. area is that meals will be really easy to find at lots of fast food joints.  And you are right, Lee.  Those areas are about half the drive for you as Hobuck.  I like to look at these halibut runs to area #6 in increments of 24 hours.  I can leave the north-of-Seattle area as late as maybe 6:00 pm and have time to set up a tent over there for a night, fish that next day, get all my gear off the water, and still be back to the north end by bed time the following night.  Or maybe it's a 48 hour trip... etc.


Fishin-T

    So? What is everyone else waiting for? T to send engraved inviatations??? get off your backsides, join up, and go get 'em!!

Hey, no worries WR.  I need for at least one other angler to make one of these weekends because there's NO WAY that I'll be paddling out 2 miles from shore without at least one buddy along.  Not wanting to start a whole new thread there, that's just the way I roll... I mean paddle.  I personally see the "buddy system" as a big deal here in our waters and I know that other people don't.  Please, nobody commandere this thread over that issue.  If you feel like that can needs some more kicking, please just open a new thread over in Saftey.  I'm just trying to successfully hook up with at least one more angler to allow myself this particular trip and then to share it with anybody else that wants to join in.  I'm really liking our chances over in area #6 this year.

Lee sounds like he's likely "in" and I think a few others will get more excited as we go along.  If I can get just one participant beyond myself, then beyond that I say "it'll be whatever it'll be" and I'm not the least bit concerned to try to grow it any.  But hey, thanks for the moral support WR.  I think that this trip would have your name all over it if you were just back in town right now.


Fishin-T

I'm thinking.........................................what were we talking about? I'll let you know. It's been a long time since we fished together. I have a good Butt rod and reel but don't know squat about the terminal setup. Keep me posted by PM.
Rich

Unless something stupid happens at work, or we get unsafe conditions, I'm in.

My biggest jig heads are 6oz and I haven't had a chance to review those maps yet.  Those big enough?

Got promoted at work so I've been kinda busy the last 2 weeks.

Edit:  Looks like Lings will be open too!

I don't know what kind of water your fishing up there, but you should set yourself up with a couple of spreader bars Lee.

I am in for at least one weekend. I have some gear for rigging up terminal tackle. If you guys want to meet up in the Seattle area for a leader tying party before we go I'm in. I don't have many spare jig heads but a have a bucket ... or two of cannon balls 6-16 oz that I got a great deal on so don't waste your money on retail lead.
Lets make it happen!

So far:
Fishin-T
Lee
Funngunnin

Anyone else want to play?

T,

You need to take these boys back to Sombrio.  Has anyone been there in the recent past?

-Allen

I'm in.

T,

You need to take these boys back to Sombrio.  Has anyone been there in the recent past?

-Allen

Hey Allen!

Yeah, Sombrio is a fantastic place alright.  When I looked at the regs last year, it looked like there were NO rockfish at all allowed at Sombrio and NO lingcods either.  I didn't store that data and so now I don't know if I was dreaming it or what.  The important thing is that the limits over there THIS year are the same as we remember... one hali per day, 3 lings, 3 rockfish, etc.

God's honest truth on this issue though, I am thinking that our halibut chances during May are better in area #6 than what you would have if you went over to Sombrio.

Fishin-T

God's honest truth on this issue though, I am thinking that our halibut chances during May are better in area #6 than what you would have if you went over to Sombrio.

Why?  They are the same fish migrating out of the Straits.  Might have a few more resident fish further west at Sombrio.  Less pressure out that way too.  And you know a long weekend to Sombrio is what the soul needs!!!

-Allen

God's honest truth on this issue though, I am thinking that our halibut chances during May are better in area #6 than what you would have if you went over to Sombrio.

Why?  They are the same fish migrating out of the Straits.  Might have a few more resident fish further east at Sombrio.  Less pressure out that way too.  And you know a long weekend to Sombrio is what the soul needs!!!

-Allen

Mostly it's the kayak reachable underwater structure that I see in area #6 compared to where we fished for them at Sombrio.  I'll email you some Powerpoints that I making of 4 of my favorite area #6 target areas and hopefully you can render some input.  Bear with me, it takes me a while.

Fishin-T