Fishing for surf perch @ Westport

[Dave]

I am going to be in Westport in a couple weeks. A family outing. I know I should just take a charter but won't be able to. So that said, I would love to try fishing for surf perch or other bottom fish on the beach during my stay. Does anyone have info on this? Maybe a certain beach in this area, what to use for bait, tides, is this a seasonal fishery ECT? Also would love to try for other bottom fish if there is a place to do that in Westport, like off a public pier. Thanks for the info.

[jmpurser]

I'd love to hear how you do. I'm thinking of doing the same thing next month. Good luck.

John Purser

[bigastrout]

I am going to be in Westport in a couple weeks. A family outing. I know I should just take a charter but won't be able to. So that said, I would love to try fishing for surf perch or other bottom fish on the beach during my stay. Does anyone have info on this? Maybe a certain beach in this area, what to use for bait, tides, is this a seasonal fishery ECT? Also would love to try for other bottom fish if there is a place to do that in Westport, like off a public pier. Thanks for the info.

Dave you should have fun at West Port there is good access on the north end of town and they do have a public fishing pier.

[The Quadfather]

Dave,

I had a blast doing this about 7 years ago now, went off the beach north of Copalis. I caught what I'd call Surf perch. I won't re post my story here, but you had better look close at the fish meat if you keep and cook them. I had lots of worms in mine. don't let me detract from what you'r e doing. I would be back there in a minute. I just walked out into the surf (dangerous!!) and cast out clams or squid I think.
Then walk way back to a safe area of the surf.

ABSOLUTELY BE CAREFUL IF YOU ARE FISHING LIKE THIS. THE TIDE HAS A BACK DRAW THAT CAN SEND YOU RIGHT TO JAPAN.

People are killed all the time in the surf. I would best look for a pier or structure to fish from. If you go to Ocean shores, you can go into to town on the main road where the go cart track is. Stay on that road going past the center of town, when you get to the end of that road, turn right towards the beach, as you meet the beach there is a jetty. The jetty I believe had some sort of standing structure that you can easily fish from, throwing your line over a small wall.

Have fun.

[Toni]

Years and years ago I fished off the jetty at Westport. I think I used shrimp but I bought it in town. Ask and they will tell you. I don't know what I caught but I had fun.
I also caught a surf perch with clams by Coplais Beach that had no worms and was excellent eating. That also was years ago.
Fish the incoming tide.

[gpc]

Just got home from westport. The fishing possibilities are endless and the crabbing as well. They have a huge marina and a huge dock called the fishing boardwalk. They also have a big jetty with really good fishing. But if you are going to be there before oct. 31st dont even bother with the perch or the bottom fish. There is tons of salmon that will be running through the boat basin back to the hatchery. There is also a $5 big fish contest you can enter. Its a little early still but we saw a school running through and there was already people lined up fishing for them. And I talked to a deck hand who saw a few schools. PM me w/ any questions.

[Fish-or-man?]

I frequent Westport about four or five times a year and almost always catch something off the large jetty at Westhaven State park. For rockcod and lingcod (I'm pretty sure lingcod season closes Oct. 13) I recommend fishing the harborside of the jetti; bounce big dark jigs. If you want surf perch and don't feel like getting knocked around by the waves fish the oceanside of the jetty with sand shrimp, casting into the waves. If you do use sand shrimp I recommend buying some elastic thread to keep them on the hook. And of course, fishing the incoming tide can make all the difference in the world.

Also when the salmon are returning, schools of them go up and down the Westhaven jetty pretty closely (as do anchovies and herring when they're in), sometimes they're right on the surface and you can see them go by. I'll be there the 13th and 14th of October for the Cranberry Harvest Festival; feel free to pm me if you have an jetty questions!

[Reel_Nut]

Hi Dave,
Westport is my home or well it was until two years ago when I moved to Montesano. But I fished Westport daily.
My favorite spot to fish was the Boardwalk. I would go a get "The Bait of Baits for rockfish and the ocational ling and just have a blast. send me a pm if you need to know where to get the bait. Also, Oct is an awsome time of the year as the silvers come into the boat basin. Hundreds of silvers, jacks. come in and just circle the basin. The bait of choice is cut plug anchovie. You can get fresh anchovies at the seafood exchange if your there with your bucket at around 7:am when the charter boats are getting their bait for bottom fishing. Well good luck.......I would join ya but i was thinking about fishing either Capital lake for the kings in my pontoon boat or Lake Aberdeen for Steelies.

[Dave]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I really appreciate that. Great info. I will let everyone know how it goes if I get a chance to wet a line. Thanks again.

[Shad_Eating_Grin]

Next time, try the Half Moon Bay beach. THis is the beach between the big jetty at Westhaven and the smaller finger jetties in town. YOu often see surfers on this beach.

The waves are a lot calmer than the open ocean, and you can use lighter tackle for the surf perch there, maybe just 1 ounce of lead. Small pieces of grocery shrimp has always worked well for me there, as well as small chunks of squid.