Northwest Fishing Reports

Hey guys,

I could greatly use any and all advise that you can offer. My wife and I are heading to Long Beach in June and I really want to try some saltwater fishing. She gets sea sick, but enjoys fising, so we decided not to go out in a boat. What we both do want to try, however, is fishing off of the North Columbia River Jetty... I noticed on a map it is only a few miles from where we are going to be staying. As I said, I am completely ignorant about salt water fishing and jettys. What type of bait does a person use while fishing off the jetty and what can I expect to catch? I know that Rock Bass and Sea Perch are a possibility. Another important question is, does the tide ever come up far enough to cover the rocks on the jetty? I don't want to find myself stranded in the ocean. Like I said, any and all help would be greatly appreciate. Thanks!

Joe

Joe/Beerman,

I'll leave the answers to your questions to someone else.... just wanted to say that it is good to have you back on the site.

Here's a decent article to help you out beerman:
http://www.sschapterpsa.com/ramblings/Jetty_Fishing.htm

Hi Beerman,

I've never fished the Long Beach area, but I do enjoy fishing the jetty at Westport. Hopefully this advice is universal (and doesn't conflict with Sam's article which I'll read after I post). For rockfish (including lingcod) I like to bounce a dark 7-inch curly tail grub jig off the bottom. I jerk it really high up into the water column, and allow it to hit the bottom for a second before I jerk it back up. I use a jig head of 1/2 an ounce to 1 ounce depending on the conditions. The most important thing is to get your jig noticed, because saltwater fish aren't choosey about color and size or whatnot. If a rockcod sees something that looks halfway edible it'll ram into it.

Be sure to fish a slack or incoming tide. I've never had a shred of shore-bound luck on an outgoing one for rockfish. Fish rocky terrain and be ready to lose several jigheads/grubs. I've historically used 12-pound test, but I think I'll step it up to 15 this year. The last three Area 2-2 Gray's Harbor reports are from me using the afore mentioned methods (http://www.washingtonlakes.com/ReportList2.aspx?id=4). In the first one (April '07) I don't say what I was using because I thought I was pretty slick at the time. I was using a 7-inch watermelon curlytail grub (can't remember the brand, probably generic). If you want to go for surfperch, use sandshrimp or clam necks for bait on a classic hook, swivel, and weight (1-3 ounces) set-up and cast into the surf. If you catch one, there's probably several more to be had. I've never been very good with surf perch though. They like a sandier bottom typically.

As for getting stranded on the rocks it really depends on the jetty. Typically where the barnacles and other marine life end doesn't see standing water on a regular basis. However, be sure to be safety conscious if the seas are rough (and even if they aren't, those rocks can get slippery). The Westport jetty is as solid as they come but if Neptune is freaking out waves will come crashing over the top. Of course you'd see that coming if conditions were that terrible (but they can change quick).

Good luck! I'm going to fish the jetty in Westport this weekend, if I pick up any tips I'll pass them along.

Best Regards,

Fish-or-Man?

I do a lot of jetty fishing in the Westport area and can offer the following advice:

- If it is raining, stay OFF the jetties. The jetties on the WA coast are covered with an algae dust. It's fine if it's dry, but once it gets wet, look out. It's like walking on grease. If you must walk on them when it's raining/wet, consider wearing studded wading boots or felt soles.

- Wear a life jacket. And watch out for big sneaker waves

- Do not go out too far, or stand on rocks near a deep drop below.

- I've had better luck with smaller baits (3 inch light colored curl tail grubs, in whites or yellows, for the rockfish). The rockfish at Westport do not seem to bite as well on the heavier and bigger jigs.

- If you want to use bait, grocery shrimp, pieces of squid or clam, or sand shrimp are good starters. You'll catch greenling and surfperch with these small baits (use size 4-6 hooks), and the occasional cabezon or rock fish.

- Try fishing a jig or bait under a sliding float-- you'll lose a lot less gear.

- Don't try to cast a country mile--many of the fish are in the rocks near the water's edge. Also these fish move around... one minute they are there and the action can be fast and furious, and the next minute your spot on the jetty may be a biological desert.

Try surf fishing off the beach as an alternative. It's a bit safer and easier on your legs/back, than rock hopping. But then again, getting slammed for a few hours by surf waves can take it's toll.

Good luck and be careful.

Dang guys, a big thanks. You have me pointed in the right direction now. I'll let you guys know how it goes. Thanks again.

Joe

The state once published a little paperback guide to surf/jetty fishing on the WA coast. I wish I still had one of those. It covered a lot of info from places, tackle, techniques. I saw one a couple of years ago.

with that crazy sandbar at ilwaco/longbeach, i would ask a few locals about fishing the jetty there. it is a very dangerous spot. the ladies at pacific salmon charters can give you that info. also, there are trips on the lower columbia from ilwaco/long beach, that do not even go on the ocean, thus, a smoother ride, by boat. right now is the springer salmon run, and, sturgeon will be opening back up soon if it is closed. i, too, was very afraid about the seasickness, but, we always used paul knowles with pacific salmon charters for bottomfishing. he hugs the coastline down into oregon a little bit, but, at least you never leave the sight of land. im going next month to fish for halibut. i will ask around about those jetty's. good luck if you go.