Bottom fishing in the South Puget Sound?

[Gus]

I'll be heading out for crab opener in the South Puget Sound this weekend and was just wondering if there was any bottom fishing to be had. I'll be crabbing out of Boston Harbor or at the mouth of the Nisqually. From what I've seen it looks like heading north is my best bet. Any help would be great. Thanks!

Gus

[Practical Approach]

I am not aware of any south sound bottom fishing.  I will be crabbing in the same areas you referenced, but only if the state gets its @#$% together and passes a budget.  Government shutdown = no crabbing this weekend.

[Holg3107]

I could be wrong but I think your only option would be flounder, dogfish, ratfish, etc...

[h20hunter]

Find some rocks and I believe cabezon is open.  I like a good sized leadhead with a large white curly tailed grub. Double check me on that just in case.

[h20hunter]

Area 13, open to cabezon, may 1 to nov 30. Min size is 18 inches, daily limit is 1.

Closed in area 11, fyi.

[C-Money]

Just saw no State Gov shut down...Looks like we are good...

[jackmaster]

I think sole and flounder are your best bet, 25 feet gravel bottom, not sure how many your allowed but right out in front of chambers creek you can't keep them off a dart when we are jigging for salmon !!

[Brushcrawler]

Be careful to stay in less than 120' of water and have a rockfish descending device ready to deploy if you are bottomfishing!

[Gus]

Just saw no State Gov shut down...Looks like we are good...

That's great news. Would've screwed up a bunch of peoples plans I'm sure.

[Gus]

Find some rocks and I believe cabezon is open.  I like a good sized leadhead with a large white curly tailed grub. Double check me on that just in case.

Thanks! Do they have a certain depth they like?

[h20hunter]

I would stay under 100 feet. Ive caught them at many depths and seen them diving as well. Heck....stabbed a few with a dive knife at Mukilteo a few years ago!

[Gus]

I would stay under 100 feet. Ive caught them at many depths and seen them diving as well. Heck....stabbed a few with a dive knife at Mukilteo a few years ago!

Haha that's one way to get em. Are they pretty good eating?

[Gus]

And would you want to eat them out of the south sound?

[h20hunter]

Most like them....

@lokidog

Personally,  I will beer batter them up fry them but thats it. Decent white meat. Look for kelp edges, rocks, etc.  Also....look at the regs for kelp greenling and look them up online. That is a tasty little fish. Very pretty fish as well.

[Gus]

I think sole and flounder are your best bet, 25 feet gravel bottom, not sure how many your allowed but right out in front of chambers creek you can't keep them off a dart when we are jigging for salmon !!

Thanks for the advice, but the way I read the rules flounders and sole are only open in the hood canal right now.

[h20hunter]

Kelp greenling should fall under other. Limit is 2.

[Gus]

Be careful to stay in less than 120' of water and have a rockfish descending device ready to deploy if you are bottomfishing!

Thanks for the heads up on the descending device.

[lokidog]

Most like them....

@lokidog

Personally,  I will beer batter them up fry them but thats it. Decent white meat. Look for kelp edges, rocks, etc.  Also....look at the regs for kelp greenling and look them up online. That is a tasty little fish. Very pretty fish as well.

They seem to like rocky areas, they mostly eat crab. I've heard Starry Flounder fishing is good on the nisqually flats.

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[kball4]

A caught a starry flounder last year ling fishing in area 9 much bigger than a rock sole.