Northwest Fishing Reports

I remember a few years back at the les davis pier in Tacoma there was a group that would only come out at night to fish for nurse sharks for sport(catch and release of course).

I've tried for some today with no luck, just curious as for what would be a good bait?
I used some sandshrimp and caught a bullhead, cut him into a chunk and tried that with no luck..

Anything that's meat but just use the regular herring. Not sure if sharks are really in the sound at this time of the year. Best time it seems for shark in the sound is summer when they annoy the heck out of the salmon anglers.

I'll give it a try, a couple days ago I managed to catch a small ray off of squid...I didn't even know they had those here in Tacoma

Be sure to chum as well. Grind or chop your bait and put some in a sack for slow dispersion, the rest just gets flung in the water where you are fishing. You aren't trying to feed them, just load the area with scent to draw them in to you. Anchovies and mackeral work well as they tend to be more oily.

I recall this became an issue with WDFW as the night anglers had gotten quite good at targeting the six gill sharks and WDFW didn't know if the fishery was sustainable. Be sure to check for any special regs. Even with catch and release if you're specifically targeting a closed fishery it could be a problem. This was for Elliot Bay and I don't know if Tacoma was an issue as well.

When you are talking about shark fishing, are you sure you are talking about nurse sharks or six gill, or a "full on shark?"
Or are you talking about Dog Fish? Sure they are sharks too but much easier to find. They are usually about 3' in length. I take my son out fishing for them some times because he thinks he is "Shark Fishing" Whoo hoo.
I have found that what works best is to use a full size herring fished drop shot style so that it is not quite on the bottom.
It will be too big for the flounder and general bottom fish to deal with, but works well for the dogfish. You have to move around to find them, and generally I find them in about 100' of water. Not usually in shallower water.

(no children were hurt in the taking of this pic.) Later he loved the photo.

I have talked to people in the Olympia area that catch dog fish off the beaches. Most people I talked to said they use hot dogs for dogs lol

It doesn't matter what you use for dog fish. They'll eat anything. Shrimp, clams, hot dogs, cut up sculpin, salmon spoons....what a PIA. I think catching the first two is fun, then they're just annoying. I have never caught any other shark out of the sound besides those, so maybe something else would be fun....and a little more picky?

All I remember the guy saying is that he caught a nurse shark, I don't think it was a six gill as it was caught off the dock and they don't cast all that far out & I don't think it was a dogfish because It was pretty fat for being it's size. Hotdog for dogfish? seriously? lol

The Quadfather wrote:When you are talking about shark fishing, are you sure you are talking about nurse sharks or six gill, or a "full on shark?"
Or are you talking about Dog Fish? Sure they are sharks too but much easier to find. They are usually about 3' in length. I take my son out fishing for them some times because he thinks he is "Shark Fishing" Whoo hoo.
I have found that what works best is to use a full size herring fished drop shot style so that it is not quite on the bottom.
It will be too big for the flounder and general bottom fish to deal with, but works well for the dogfish. You have to move around to find them, and generally I find them in about 100' of water. Not usually in shallower water.

(no children were hurt in the taking of this pic.) Later he loved the photo.

Nice job Chris!!!! My boys loved to catch doggies when the salmon catching was slow. That face is a look of pure excitement of a shark hung above his head.......

r.sok wrote: Hotdog for dogfish? seriously? lol

Yep...

I used a whole herring frozen or fresh and would nail them off les davis. I would fish right on the bottom with about a three oz lead and cast as far as possible.

Geez Quad...I know just how your kid feels...I have the same reaction everytime I catch a dogfish too! But judging from the smile on your face, tells me nothing good can come from this!!! haha

hey quad the doggie wants your beer lol

Man I hate this part guys. but I have to use my expansive knowledge of sharks and fish again lol... The sound has six gills spiny dogfish and the occasional ocean stray blue shark salmon shark or yes I will say it cause 8 years ago there where 15 sightings of White Sharks in the sound. as for the rays there are guitar fish big skate yes they are called big skate and occaional angel shark. one species that is a common stray is the basking shark but you would have to snagg one to get it to bite and you would probably get towed out the straight to the the big blue. if you want a 30 foot shark on the end of your tuna rod lol....

Herring or Shiners are best for Doggies IMO.

Anything, and I mean anything will work. Hearing works real well, but I think sculpin work best. Just grab a dozen crawlers and use what ever you catch with them for bait, natural forage. But even more important than bait selection is the wire leader. Sharp teeth on them puppies

r.sok wrote:I'll give it a try, a couple days ago I managed to catch a small ray off of squid...I didn't even know they had those here in Tacoma

This may be a skate.



I always caught dog fish when fishing toward the bottom (not laying on the bottom) fishing for other species.

I used to catch real large Skate in the Saratoga Passage area between Hat and Whidbey.

Yep, i caught one of those on the les davis pier using herring. I was fishing right on the bottom and i was fishing on the walkway. I gave a report about it. You can read it in the area 11 reports. It should be on the first page.