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Had planned to take a trip to Possession Point with my wife, weather over the weekend nearly dissuaded me, but we headed out in the early morning, not knowing exactly what kind of water we would find. Took the early Mukilteo ferry and was at the Possession Point Bait Co. about 6:15. The tide was high at 5:45 and on its way out, but waves were crashing only feet from the parking spots. Wind was gusting at 25mph to 35mph... conditions very difficult... Admiralty Inlet was insane... huge waves on the open water. I got my gear together, my wife Boni stayed in the truck to keep warm and to keep from blowing out to sea! I have a bit more girth! Bought my first bucket of herring, and the challenge began. Trying to cast a float under these conditions was not for the feint of heart... even if you are able to get your float out a ways, hoards of hungry Gulls are waiting to dive down to grab your herring. After a dozen casts, I had a fish on... turned out to be a Coho of about 18", foul-hooked, released unharmed. Nothing much more for an hour, then landed another Coho of about 16", released unharmed. About 9:00, the bite really came on... saw several fish beached, I had two nice fish on, but the strong winds made it very difficult to play the fish. About 9:30, I finally was able to land my first "keeper" Coho, a nice small native buck that weighed in at 3# 2oz, dressed, on my digital scale. Lost two more Coho in the crashing waves, before finally beaching my second, about 10:00... this a hatchery hen that weighed in at 5# 7oz., dressed.
I kept thinking that the wind would die down, but if anything, it got stronger as the morning progressed. I finally was able to lure Boni out for a try at a Coho... the wind nearly lifted her off her feet several times. She is a real trooper and tried for an hour, actually had three fish on, but the wind made it nearly impossible to control the line and she lost them (one was lost when she inadvertently reeled the end of her scarf onto the spool of the reel, jamming the reel and breaking off the fish!)... She did a terrific job under the circumstances, very proud of her.
We left the beach a bit after 11:00, the rain had started to pelt us pretty good. Sat in the truck and ate our lunch and marveled at the weather before us.
Saw only a total of twelve to fifteen fishermen (and women) out today. Saw several limits taken. Possession Point Bait Co. is a terrific place to fish... lots of fun, fishing live herring under a float. The owner said that there were over 60 fish taken on Sunday. Highly recommend a journey to this beach to have a really, really fun day and bring home some quality fish.
Boni and I left about 11:30 and were back home in Edmonds by 1:00 PM. Filleted out the Coho, sat down to dinner and writing this report. Couldn't ask for a better day! PTL!

Mike Carey

8/31/2015 9:15:00 PM

Congrats Stan, you and your wife really earned those fish. I checked out the map, what a fun day trip to go on. Maybe my wife would be willing to go, especially as we could take the dogs. Nice change of pace casting herring from the beach. How deep do you set your float?

Stansjoy

9/1/2015 9:24:00 AM

Thanks, Mike. A great day out with my wife... great way to keep her involved with the sport I love so much. Have a feeling that Joanne would take to it naturally. Normally I use most of a pre-tied mooching leader, probably 8' or so (I like 2/0 & 3/0 hooks). Monday's wind made it impossible to cast that long leader, so I cut the leader down to about 3' (which made the Gull problem much worse than usual). I began with my favorite large oval styrofoam float, but again, the wind made it impossible to get the bait out, so I switched to a "dink" type float with a 1 1/2oz. in-line weight below it... much easier to cast. For anyone interested in this fishery, it cost $3.00 for six dipped herring (the owners don't seem able to count, and you usually end up with ten or twelve in your bucket... they supply the bucket). Push the point of the upper-most hook through the lip of the herring, I like to do it from the top, some prefer from the bottom... let the bottom hook dangle... (most challenging part is catching the herring in the bucket). Don't need to be Jack Armstrong on the cast... most fish I have caught here are within 20' of the beach when the fish hits. The herring lip is surprisingly resilient, and you can recast a dozen times with the same herring, provided a fish doesn't hit it, or it gets ripped by seaweed drifting, etc. One more tip... bring along an empty can (coffee can works great...) and pour fresh saltwater into the bucket every fifteen minutes or so to keep your herring aerated. Sooo much fun when the float goes down and you are into a fresh from the ocean bullet of a Coho!!! One last note... you most likely won't catch Pinks on the herring, and casting Buzz Bombs from this beach is greatly frowned on because they interfere with the float fishermen (and women... lots of ladies fish here!). However. about a quarter mile further south are the Possession Point State Park, and the Possession Beach Waterfront Park, and Pinks are routinely taken there.

G-Man

9/1/2015 12:43:00 PM

Just a friendly reminder, that technically there is no such thing as a foul hooked fish in saltwater. Per the regs...

"Snagging: Attempting to take fish with a hook and line in such a way that the fish does not voluntarily take the hook(s) in its mouth. In
freshwater, it is illegal to possess any fish hooked anywhere other than inside the mouth or on the head."

Just something to keep in mind in the even that your next foul-hooked coho turns out to be decent sized.

Stansjoy

9/1/2015 1:20:00 PM

Thanks, G-Man...
Guess I just feel it unfair if the fish isn't actually eating the bait. Coho are notorious for getting themselves wrapped up in the hooks, so I appreciate the "heads up"! Next "foul hooked" Coho may be the 10# "er I have been waiting for !! Thanks again!

G-Man

9/1/2015 6:46:00 PM

I'm certain that any fish that is hooked on your float and live herring setup was planning on eating your bait. Coho remind me of the overly excited and uncoordinated kids & pets you see from time to time crashing into things with reckless abandon. Good luck out there and I look forward to your future reports.

eaguigui

9/1/2015 10:26:00 PM

Stan, I truly enjoy reading your reports! They are both fun to read and informative. I would love to take the family out to this fishery. How much longer will the coho's be running in decent numbers? Thanks!

Mike Carey

9/2/2015 9:43:00 AM

Planning on going next Tues to check it out. Sounds like a blast. Takes me back to the days we would fish off the Ilwaco jetty. I'll have to cast for joann, her thing is sitting and waiting for the downrigger to release. We can bring the dogs so that will be fun.

Mike Carey

9/2/2015 9:43:00 AM

Planning on going next Tues to check it out. Sounds like a blast. Takes me back to the days we would fish off the Ilwaco jetty. I'll have to cast for joann, her thing is sitting and waiting for the downrigger to release. We can bring the dogs so that will be fun.

Stansjoy

9/2/2015 5:42:00 PM

Mike, have a wonderful time... Had to cast for Boni as well, as she has had several shoulder surgeries. Don't need to cast far, just get the herring out 20' to 30' and let it drift north or south with the tidal current. The owners are great people, love to assist the fishermen (and women) with any questions you may have. The dogs will have a great time as well. Going during the week will certainly limit the crowds.

Stansjoy

9/2/2015 6:12:00 PM

eaguigui... A couple of years ago one of the women who own the Bait Co. told me that they can count on a decline in the fish caught at Possession Point beach around the same time that the Edmonds Coho Derby takes place... about the middle of September. Not a hard and fast rule, but I certainly do better at Fort Casey from mid-September on. I think that what happens is the later running Coho, by the time they hit the south end of Whidbey Island, are making a bee-line for the rivers and don't follow the shoreline so far south as the earlier Coho do. That said, I think you would have more than a decent chance of catching fish here, through the end of the month. Don't be afraid to give the Bait Co. a call... they are wonderful people and will tell you what your prospects are there. Phone # is (360) 579-4704.

eaguigui

9/3/2015 2:31:00 PM

Stan, thanks so much for the info! Planning on taking the family the middle of next week. Hopefully it won't be too crowded. I have a couple young boys that may need room for casting. I'll definitely give the Bait Co. a call. Very excited to get into some silvers! Thanks again for sharing! Ed

Dan

9/3/2015 6:27:00 PM

Such good reports, thanks for sharing your fun & the tips Stan.
1 Question: assuming you buy herring at Possession point, how do you transport them to Fort Casey & keep them alive? Will the Coho take dead herring to or live ones. Thanks,
Dan

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