3 years and no luck

[Alchase]

Point no Point,
if you are staring at the light house with your back to the water, walk straight east out in the water (wear waders, the water is cold). There is a sand bar that extends a ways out that has a steep drop off. Look at the water, the current will tell you where it is. You will see a rip in the water where it gets shallow. Use a white/pink Buzz Bomb 3" or 4", or a Kastmaster Blue/chrome (1oz) and cast out over the drop off. This area can be one of the most productive areas from the shore. Especially for Silvers.
I have caught salmon from the Ilahee dock as well.
Most there seem to be local Blackmouth.
At the base of the Warren Ave Bridge, on the Bremerton side, there is a fishing pier. Rig up a drop sinker (3/4 oz - 1 /12 oz depending on current, it flows through at a good 7 knots) with a tri-swivel with your bait about 2 feet above the drop weight on a 2 ft leader. Use either clam necks or pileworms if you can get them. Cast up current and let your weight bounce a little. That are is loaded with Pile Perch.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Fishing and hunting is fun! Catching and killing is a bonus!
You absolutely wont sustain your family here. So let that pressure off your back and take in the outdoors and luck will find you!

10% of the fisherman catch 90% of the fish. Especially with Salmon.

Shoot me your number in a PM. Im busy this weekend but next weekend Ill get you out for Salmon and show you what it takes. You will have fun and I can teach you a ton while we are fishing. I only target tides as thats when fish bite. So expect only a couple hours, but it could be a productive couple hours of Salmon fishing!  and you will be home for B fast. Lol. If you want to bring the kids make sure they have punch cards for salmon as well yourself. And the kids need life jackets as I dont have any for younguns.

Friday and Sat are extremely good tides in the AM. Id expect you at the Manchester launch at 530 sharp.

You pick the day but Friday is good as its closer to low light.

Send me a PM if interested. And thanks a TON for your service!!!

[JackOfAllTrades]

If you can, take Wildman up on that offer. Hell, I WOULD!
 
There have also been other experienced fishers posting in this forum for 'I have an open seat on the boat this weekend'..   I know your work schedule sucks, but you need to keep in touch with these guys that'll offer such a treat. Some time.. The schedule will work. And that could almost be as good as booking with a guide. A little gas thrown their way, or you bring lunch goes a long way.
 
-Steve
 
Oh, and hunting Whitetail back home is not the same as hunting Blacktail here. 

[Doc Sauce]

I've gotten in touch with Wildman... 

I should have swallowed my pride a while back and just asked for help. 

Thanks for the advice and tips.  I talked with my oldest 2 yesterday and they both said they enjoy fishing.  One of them asked if we could go after supper...   Having read what has been written on this thread, I will focus on "relaxing" and "enjoying the moment" and spend time with my kids instead of putting so much pressure on trying to actually catch a fish.  My kids seem to genuinely enjoy just standing by the water with me.  Amazing.  I wouldn't have had such a conversation with them if some of you had held your tounges.  Thanks for spurring me into that direction. 

I'll be fishing in a couple days and again next weekend.

Thanks again y'all.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Pride..  Most times good to have.   It is really capable of choking the life out of you though.
 
-Steve

[RadSav]

I stopped fishing with my father on a regular basis at about age 11 when I started to work full time.  And you know I can not remember a single trip where the fish we caught was of any significance at all.  Watching my father work the river and his quiet gentle address to my questions and curiosity are those things I remember and miss the most. 

I have a great deal of respect for my father.  Those days on the river go a long way as to why.  Those times spent together went a long way to shaping who I am today and the character I wish to become.  Now after a life of making a comfortable living in the fishing and hunting industries my desires are not so much traveling the world fishing far away lands or making a second or third fortune.  My thoughts float back to those days with my father and I would sacrifice a lot of what I've accomplished to have a few more memories of those days spent fishing with him.

It does not surprise me at all that your kids enjoy fishing even if unsuccessful.  I'm sure any day spent with dad is a successful and enjoyable day.  I sure wish I had waited a few years before starting to work.  As I am sure that would have given more time with my father...whether we had caught fish or not!

[snowpack]

For the hunting part of your concerns, if you look at the harvest reports from WDFW you'll see that you aren't alone.  Deer success is around 25% or one way to look at it is someone likely gets a deer every 4 years.  For elk it is closer to 10%, or one elk every decade.  But that assumes everyone eventually connects.  Reality is it is usually a small group that are consistently killing the critters and A LOT of tags go unfilled.  So for only 3 years, you are still technically ahead of the game stats.