Coast charter recommendations

[Chase2008]

Thinking of a Christmas gift for my dad and looking at charters on the coast. Mainly for salmon but open to a combo with bottom fish as well. Have been to Alaska and wcvi a couple times but looking for something closer.

Not looking for a party boat. Some thing smaller 2-6 people. What reomendationsdo you all have? Neah? Westport? Something's else? And what would be the best timing?

Main thing is a great trip with fish and family. All ideas welcome

[2labs]

That small go with mark Coleman for tuna at Westport 

[Skillet]

Mark Coleman with All Rivers.

Seriously consider a tuna trip around labor day weekend.  Most fun on the water you can have with your clothes on.

[Chase2008]

Great comment skillet. Bouy 10?

[Skillet]

Nope. We went ~30 miles out for them at the time.  Mark's got real nice boats with big power, so the trip in/out was about an hour each way on my trips.  He's a tuna fiend, too - so you are quickly on the fish with him.

Albacore tuna is definitely a high-octane fishery. A bit expensive, but worth it. Two trips in one fall and I had well over 100# of loins to can/steak/freeze/give away. 

Catching king salmon seems kind of tame now...

[jamesfromseattle]

Tuna makes for a long day, which may be something to be wary of depending on your Dad's age.

Neah bay would be a great place for a combo trip. Very generally speaking, It seems like the catch rates on salmon are better at Westport, but substantially better bottom fish at Neah.  I think the creel reports are skewed low by the guys that fish inside the straits. If you're on a charter that runs out into the ocean you should get into the same fish as Westport.

That being said, I'm not really an Ocean guy and could be totally wrong about all that.

La Push gets a little less ink but I've seen some packed coolers coming out of there. I've never fished out of there but if I were to be taking a charter that's probably where I'd go.

I know you said salmon, by we have a phenomenal halibut fishery off the coast as well if you're able to book way in advance. Hali/ling/bottom fish combo makes for a ton of action.

[jamesfromseattle]

Re: timing

Bottom fish= earlier in the season the better in my experience.

Salmon and Hali = whenever WDFW lets you fish. Before mid August is probably best to target kings. Depending on the quotas, there may also be a risk the season closes later in the season. If you are ok with coho, mid to late August will usually have flatter seas and plenty of fish.

[Skillet]

Tuna makes for a long day, which may be something to be wary of depending on your Dad's age.

...

That being said, I'm not really an Ocean guy and could be totally wrong about all that.

Both trips out with Mark we had the boat plugged early in the day.  First trip we were back to the dock at 1:30 pm, second trip we were on the dock at 3pm. Lots of time for beer drinking afterwards.

YMMV, but in my experience 6 pack tuna trips are on the quick side if anything.  A lot of action for the time spent on the water.

Go for salmon and ling if you want, of course - but with tuna you can catch 5x the fish that fight twice as hard as a typical king in half the time. 
 

[fishngamereaper]

I would use Mark Coleman (All Rivers), Todd Girtz (Todd's Extreme Sportfishing) or Pat Walker and the Tailwalker crew. You cant go wrong with any of them IMO.

[Chase2008]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Wil take a look at them all and consider a tuna trip (never been).

Best time for tuna?

[fishngamereaper]

Thanks for the ideas everyone. Wil take a look at them all and consider a tuna trip (never been).

Best time for tuna?

Gets good middle of July into August and stays hot until November.  Later in the year bigger the fish.

[C-Money]

If you like big boat fishing, the Freedom is my first choice.