Salmon fishing Westport???????

[gasman]

Ok, so I am considering heading to Westport next weekend for salmon, but it is something I have never done on my own 


Looking for advise, do's, don'ts, where to, etc........ basically, I have no idea where to go, or where to start fishing 

Crossing the bar, never done it before....... Looked at the tides for the 11th of July and I see there is a -2.55 tide in the AM.... My thought would be to cross on the outgoing and or slack tide, then return on the incoming or flood tide also, but I have never done it, so I'm just guessing at that.

How far off shore do I need to go to find salmon?
After crossing the bar, head north, south, west, to find fish?


I have a 18' Rainder, here's my boat.



Thanks for any help and advise 

And yeah, Tony, we should talk also 


Pete

[WSU]

Here's a good start: http://www.salmonuniversity.com/wtc_westport.html

Keep a close eye on ocean conditions, especially in that boat.

[Encore 280]

With a minus tide there's gonna be a big runout and that means big swells coming at ya There were minus tides this week and the CG was turning anything smaller than 30' back. The fish have been out 10-12 miles in 250-300ft of water. I went out earlier in the month and we got one in close by the two red cans at the end of the south jetty. Went there a couple weeks ago and there was nothing. Go to Salmon University and check the Westport report on Wednesday morning. It gets rough off the end of the south jetty and ya gotta go way out to get around it. Some guys cut it really close right of the tip of the jetty. I would wait til the fish are in closer.

[gasman]

With a minus tide there's gonna be a big runout and that means big swells coming at ya There were minus tides this week and the CG was turning anything smaller than 30' back. The fish have been out 10-12 miles in 250-300ft of water. I went out earlier in the month and we got one in close by the two red cans at the end of the south jetty. Went there a couple weeks ago and there was nothing. Go to Salmon University and check the Westport report on Wednesday morning. It gets rough off the end of the south jetty and ya gotta go way out to get around it. Some guys cut it really close right of the tip of the jetty. I would wait til the fish are in closer.

I go to Salmon University regularly 

when are the salmon closer to shore?

and hay Larry, can you email me those pic of my boat again (if you still have them) I was going to post those pic up, but I forgot to save them before deleting 

[Westside88]

It would be worth taking a charter trip there before even considering going out
In a boat that small. Just my thoughts. I went on charter trip Saturday you wouldn't have even crossed the bar that day. I have an 18 ft Sea Ray...... Not gonna happen. I'll stick to the bay and the area right by Westport

[The scout]

father in law went out last sat. the fish were wnw 230ft of water (the main school). not a bad run if its decent weather. fish have been moving in and north slowly

[Encore 280]

Aye Pietro, pics on the way but that boat sure has a starboard list to it!

[gasman]

It would be worth taking a charter trip there before even considering going out
In a boat that small. Just my thoughts. I went on charter trip Saturday you wouldn't have even crossed the bar that day. I have an 18 ft Sea Ray...... Not gonna happen. I'll stick to the bay and the area right by Westport

I have been on several charters over the years, Westport and Illwaco, salmon and bottom fishing, so I really dont think I can learn much more them (unless the capt is willing to sit with me and pick his brain, but I would presume he has better, more import things to do then chat with me at extent), except GPS cord.  and I would presume, the charters are going to travel much farther then I am willing to in my boat   

Aye Pietro, pics on the way but that boat sure has a starboard list to it!

Thats because I had the center of gravity off a bit 

Thanks Larry 

[Crunchy]

It shouldnt be too difficult to find fish.  Sometimes Westport is like glass, and you could do it in a 16ft boat no problems.  Just keep an eye on the weather and tides.  The silvers for the most part are in close from what I hear.  Usually a ten minute run from the launch and drop your gear.  Kings you probably have to run out further to get into them good.  Watch for the charters or other boats and that will give you an idea. 

[cohoho]

Pick the day for sure.  Here is something I read a while back and kept a copy.   This past weekend, no way in heck would I have been out there in my mind!!! But the weekend before it was slightly rough in my mind, but very doable.  Some thought it was super mellow, some thought it was too bad to go...  Again, whatever you and your boat are comfortable doing.   I like to run with (Robodad) that is ex-coast guard, when he thinks it is bad, I believe his thoughts really quickly..  I think it is all about comfort levels for sure and I increase mine every trip.  BD guys have a great connection, might want to go on there and run with someone - buddy boat.  A couple other guys on this site (Buckhorn2) have a lot of experience fishing that area, I do not in that area.  Learning myself the area every time I go out.

If you are new to fishing salt with your boat, maybe hit Sekui several times first to get he feel of the bigger water than the Sound. 

I was a converted river inboard jet guy, fished a lot of Salt in AK, but in protected but in protected waters.   The Pacific "COMMANDS" respect 100% of the time... A lot can happen in the big water!!!!

[gasman]

Thanks Cohoho, I plan on doing as much big salt water fishing I can. Definatly want to get some place I can salmon and bottom fish and Neah Bay and LaPush are on the list to fish too 

What is the "ideal" tide to look for? (minimal water exchange?)


And Larry, I think with how off-center the weight distribution is, it sits pretty good 

[Buzz2401]

Tides with less the 8ft of swing are gonna be best.  Personally with your boat you would be better off doing the Neah Bay Sekiu thing but what ever you choose make sure you are safe and have all your safety equipment.

[singleshot12]

   I had a friend who took his boat over to Sekiu every year to fish kings. All he had was a 17ft Glassply and he fished close to shore off the kelp beds and always came back alive and with fish.

[Hunterman]

Pete give me a call.

Hunterman(Tony)

[mkcj]

Gasman go here www.bdoutdoors.com there is a really good thread on crossing the bar in the Washington section, along with many sites for tides and flow.