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Hoping that the Coho were still running north to the rivers along the shoreline, my wife, Boni, and I headed for Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo. We arrived about 6:45 AM and were on the beach fishing by 7:00. Low tide had been at 5:30, so we were fishing my favorite scenario... the incoming all morning long. I was fishing my "go to", the chartreuse Rotator with a pink hoochie (with a little extra!). I began to have hits almost immediately... lost two fish before 7:30 due to spectacular, acrobatic leaps that tossed the barbless hook.... got to love these Coho... they follow the Rotator to the beach and grab it 10' off the end of the rod! About 7:30 I set up Boni's rod with a plug-cut herring under a float. Within the next hour she had several hits, leaving the tell-tale salmon tooth-marks on the herring. About 8:00 a north to south current had developed out front, prime conditions for float fishing... by 8:30 the current was at it's strongest... with a plug-cut herring spinning wildly, I figured Boni would be into a fish soon. I was still having hits on the Rotator, but no hook-ups. About 8:30 Boni's float was jerked violently under the surface of the water... I yelled, "reel fast, honey" and she did. It was apparent immediately that she was into a big fish... the fish began peeling line off her reel and headed north, for Everett. Keeping her rod tip high at my prompting and reeling when she could, she did an awesome job of keeping tension on the leader and the hook. After what seemed an eternity, she was able to coax the fish to the beach where I was able to net it for her... an outstanding job... couldn't be more proud! A big hatchery hen that weighed in at 6# 6oz on my digital scale, dressed. The next hour produced nothing, not even a hit... then, about 9:45 I had a hard hit on my retrieve... FISH ON... a couple of aerial displays, violent spinning in the water, and I was able to beach another nice Coho, this a hatchery hen of 3# 5oz. For the most part, the action all morning was consistent. I had several more hook-ups on the Rotator, losing a couple more fish... had another nice fish to the beach when the leader broke and he swam away... careful examination of the leader revealed that it was heavily nicked, from previous fish... had failed to replace the leader... my bad! With a new Rotator and leader, about 10:45 I had a hit on the retrieve... slowed the retrieve, another hit, then another and when the Rotator was five feet off the tip of my rod the fish grabbed it... turned out to be a Coho of about 15" which was released to put on a bit more weight. About 11:15, half way through my retrieve, the Rotator was slammed, hard! The fish turned and headed for Everett again, peeling line madly from my reel... a major issue developed with this fish, as I had been fishing south of Boni's float and the fish ran directly into her gear. We were immediately tangled in a mess of float and herring and line pulsing off my reel. As I yelled out directions, Boni reeled fiercely to bring in the slack as the float and herring climbed up my line... finally her 12# leader snapped against my 20# braided line and I was free to play the fish. By now the fish was fifty yards out and 100' down the beach... I reeled, keeping the rod tip high to maintain tension as I hurried down the beach. Finally I was able to get the fish to the beach, and without my net, was able to get seaward of the fish in the shallow water and kick it up the beach. My heart was pounding and I was shouting with joy. A magnificent wild hen of 7# 2oz. Biggest Coho I have ever landed off the beach (did land about a 15# Chinook off Fort Casey on Whidbey two years ago, but had to release it!)!
Boni continued to fish until about 12:30 when we had to leave for home. Only a few fishermen on the beach all morning. Saw Chris, fellow Northwest Fishing friend, he had landed another beautiful Coho earlier in the morning, that the only other fish we saw caught. Another awesome day at the beach... hope for a couple more before the season ends! PTL!
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