Hello from Bridgeman

Hello from NWKA's newest rookie, I'm Bridgeman and live in Tacoma (just above the Narrows Bridge).  I have lived in the NW for the past 7 years and have really enjoyed fishing the local waters, mostly rivers for Salmon and Steelhead. I recently purchased a Hobie Pro Angler 14. I am really looking forward to expanding my horizons and my ability to get on the water to fish.  I had her out for the first time on Monday (American Lake), I chose someplace that I felt would be an easy paddle.  I basically took the yak out for a shake, rattle and roll.  I was impressed with the stability and felt it still moved through the water fairly easily for a tug.  I have a million questions and look forward to meeting some folks to fish with.  My real goal is getting out in the salt for some fishing. I lived in NW Florida for 14 years and got hooked on salt water fishing.  I plan on being at the Hobie fishing seminar this Saturday in Bellevue at 2 p.m. if anybody else is going to be there.  Thanks for the chance to join the forum, I look forward to the education…oh yea, I am really jealous after looking at some of the pics posted…Fish On!

  No need to be jealous there Bridgeman----welcome to the cure..........

Welcome. You & Olyspec should meet up.

Welcome Bridge..  Im close, in Lakewood.. A couple others and I will be goin out Sunday to Crab and fish if your interested.  Chambers Bay, not sure what time yet though.. 

Welcome Bridge..  Im close, in Lakewood.. A couple others and I will be goin out Sunday to Crab and fish if your interested.  Chambers Bay, not sure what time yet though..

NWnoob...Thanks for the invite, unfortunatley Sundays is a day I'm in the office (I'm a pastor).  If it were another day, I would jump at the opportunity.  A few questions from a newbie:

1.  Where do you park/launch when fishing Chambers Bay?

2. What species do you target in the area?

3. I do a lot of river fishing (wading in usually), I have everything from 8 1/2 foot - 13 foot rods.  What kind of rods are prefered when fishing from a yak?

And a salty hello to you Bridgeman!  We should definitely hook up sometime and compare notes on the PA14.  I  would love to see how you are setup and hit the water with you sometime.  Westport is great salt and close. 

See you on Saturday BM!

Bridge, We park at Sunnyside Park and launch from the beach.  There is a $5 parking fee there though.  Right now, its mostly flounder with Greenling and sculpin thrown into the mix.  As far as rods, I've used old bass rods and slowly started to gather bigger "PNW" rods.  Right now I use a Okuma Citrix on a Lamiglass 8'6" heavy rod or a Shimano Corvalus on a 8'6" Shimano Medium fast action rod. 

Bridgeman -
I'm a fairly new kayaker myself, and am looking forward to meeting you one of these days.  I live in Bonney Lake, so i want to try the south sound a bit when the salmon are in - that is, when they are in areas without huge currents like the Narrows.
these links might help planning outings:

http://www.deepzoom.com/#/Views/Boat.xaml

http://www.fishweather.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=119&siteID=514&Isection=Forecast+Graphs

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew/get.php?wfo=sew&pil=cwf&sid=sew

i dont really like fighting currents more than 2 knots, and hope for winds less than 10 knots.

Welcome aboard!

PS - Chambers Bay is usually good for jigging chinook in August.