Area 7 this weekend

[jamesfromseattle]

Any early reports from the San Juans?

Based on the reports from across the border in BC, it sounds like there will be some fish around. Taking the boat up to Orcas this weekend and would love to exchange some intel with whoever else is up there.

Conventional wisdom says the east side of the islands should be good right now, but based on the pink that have been showing early up in  Sooke, my guess is that the west side of the islands might get going early this year.

[Ripper]

I will be up there a couple of days this weekend. I'll start on the West side of Orcas then move around to the East if necessary. I haven't heard much but there should be fish around. We'll be targeting kings but there should be some sockeye and a few early pinks.

[WAPatriot]

I think I am gonna fish Stuart island for kings usually pretty good and maybe try west side San Jaun for some pinks

[jamesfromseattle]

I'm thinking that I'll probably start of w/ the morning ebb at obstruction pass, mostly because it is convenient, then head to San Juan if no luck. Will report back and will be curious to hear how you guys do elsewhere. Looks like we'll be covering quite a few different spots.

[jamesfromseattle]

Fished a little bit yesterday and today. Fished near obstruction yesterday and didn't see anything caught. Barely even marked any bait. Lots of boats out there, so I may have just been there at a slow time.

Set the shrimp pots out in San Juan channel. Never been shrimping before and was pulling by hand so it was a bit of circus. 13 shrimp on 3 real pulls and one pull with too many technical difficulties to really even count. Picked out one early pink with waiting for the shrimp pots.

Haven't put in as many hours as I'd hoped, but will hopefully locate some kings this evening.

[lokidog]

A friend got four pinks yesterday off of Eagle Point ( I think, since he has a place on the SW end of Lopez).

[Ripper]

The pinks are in big time. I couldn't believe. Fished a few spots looking for kings the hit Eagle Point and caught 2 limits of pinks on king gear. Must have lost 15 of the buggers. Hit it again today and got 6 more. Lost a bunch today also. Orcas were every where in that area both days. Cool to watch.

[James]

Good to hear the Pinks are in already, hopefully that means lots of kings in Haro Straight and and Port T in short order.


Picked up one 14lb king in Rosario Straight friday. Lot of boats, lots of pressure, hoping that will ease off soon.

[CP]

Long way to go for some pinks, for me anyway. 

[jamesfromseattle]

Hit Rosario strait yesterday (from obstruction down the east side of Blakely. Didn't mark much bait and didn't see anything caught. Heard from some people that found the occasional pocket of Chinook, but overall it was a little slow on that side of the Islands.

[Ripper]

I was hoping for better King action but it made for a fun couple of day's Those chrome bright pinks are great to eat. The basher's can bash away, I like them fresh grilled. I smoked up 6 yesterday and they turned out great. I have 8 more going in the brine when I get home. I know we had one King on but it came unhooked. Hit hard, pulled off the DR cable and was pulling line, then pop, it was gone. It's going to be hard to hit any kings in that area with all the pinks out there. Then you have the Orca's hanging out all day with so much food there. I could have made a small fortune taking people out to whale watch this last weekend.

[Ripper]

Hein Bank was pretty hot for Kings. John's Sporting Goods on Facebook had lot's of pic's from out there this last weekend. I will probably hit that this next week.

[lokidog]

I'm going to try to get out later this week as well.  I've never fished Hein though.

As far as pinks go, we are more than happy to fill the freezer with them versus struggling for a couple of kings or coho....   

[Ripper]

I'm with you Loki. I like to catch fish and I use fairly light gear anyway so we have a blast catching pinks. I do like to catch some big kings and some feisty silvers, but if they won't cooperate then I'll take pinks over nothing. I just ate some freshly smoked pinks and it was awesome. The guy's in the shop love it when I bring in smoked fish so there are a lot of happy tummy's right now.

[tbonewwu]

Hit Eagle Bluff yesterday (7/7).  Got 1 King at tide change, about 17lbs, also threw back a shaker about 20in just before that.  Tides are tough right now.  We were the only one that had a net out.  Hopefully it picks up in the next couple weeks.  I heard up around west beach a few fish were being caught too.  pretty hit and miss though.