rat fish

[pjb3]

where and how can I get one
I've been trying for years and heard the are the most populated fish specie in the sound but heard the are deep
I think they are really cool looking even though I never seen one for real
Any input?

[fishnfur]

Once you find them, you'll never get out of them.  Ugly, ugly, ugly. 

It's a hit and miss thing.  I would never try to catch one, but sometimes when I was young, we'd catch 30 or more fishing in 50 - 100 ft off the mouths of bays.  Dead bait on the bottom.

[trophyhunt]

Nasty looking fish, why do you want that thing? You going to eat it???

[h20hunter]

Worthless weird fish. What you going to do with it?

[pjb3]

Just cause I never caught one and I will mount it or a replica
I heard they can get like 3' long?
Thats cool for someone that likes "nature"
Its weird to go with my other "weird " stuff

[Smokepole]

Ratfish aint good for nuthin.  You can catch them on the west side of Vancouver Island.  Nasty looking. 

[Bullkllr]

I believe they tend to come shallower at night. At any rate a lot are caught off the piers in the Tacoma area at night.
Don't see why that wouldn't work in other places around the Sound.

Um...good luck (?)

[pjb3]

I tried catching them last year because I heard they were deep fish so I fished at 300+, guess I'm wrong

[Fowlweather25]

Not necessarily deep, but definitley bottom.

[WSU]

Last time I fished shilshole for kings there were a bunch at the launch.

[Becky]

In the evening,  use a bottom fish setup on Les Davis pier at the Tacoma waterfront. You'll get one, or a starfish on your line,  almost guaranteed lol.

[trophyhunt]

http://www.aqua.org/~/media/Images/Animals/Spotted%20Ratfish/animals-SpottedRatfish-slide2-web.jpg                                                                                                                                                            Pic of a ratfish, they look worse when you pull them out of the water!

[RadSav]

We would usually pick them when leaving one rock pile and continued to drift and jig to the next pile.  Not sure we ever caught one in the mouth.  Think every one we ever caught was an accidental snag on a treble jig.  Have caught them in nearly every depth of water from 4 fathoms to 100 fathoms.

[jay.sharkbait]

I've caught them in the Tacoma Narrows.

[xxlx7]

they are all over the oil docks by the mukeltio ferry.. I know that spelling is wrong, but you get the point. I've caught them out for halibut, but if you want a ton of em and easy shore fishing, go to the oil docks.. I wouldn't eat any
fish caught from around there though. They are a neat looking fish though, first time I ever saw them was my first time diving the salt water, they are not shy and not scared of people, one swam right up to me, eyes glowing and all.. It was pretty awesome