Educate me on bottom fishing please

[MHWASH]

For Christmas we want to take our boys bottom fishing this up coming year. I've been a couple times myself, but I had no part in the planning.

I'd like to know when to go
Where to go, I have no idea how sea worthy my boys are, for this reason I'd like to go somewhere with calm seas.

[Mfowl]

I suggest Westport between May and July. Bring rain gear and sea sick pills. If you're lucky the ocean will be calm but if not the boat stays out, sick or not, until the fishing is done. Better safe than sorry! Theres a number of good boats and captains out if Westport and bottom fishing charters are reasonably priced compared to salmon or halibut.

[jamesfromseattle]

If you have concerns about sea sickness, if possible, try to find a smaller boat to go on. Generally, these will be advertised as a “six pack”, as the captain is only legally allowed to have six guests.

These boats tend to be faster and not roll as much, which will likely make them less susceptible to seasickness. You may also be able to fill the whole boat with your own people, which means the trip will be more at your pace (I.e. you can call it early if you’ve got a couple youngsters puking over the rail the whole time).

[WAcoueshunter]

Unfortunately there aren't great options in protected water, at least not in WA.  The ocean is where most of the charters are.  You can catch ling cod on charters in Puget Sound and the San Juans (May and June), but that's pretty limited.  If you can find a six pack out of Neah Bay that will stay inside Tatoosh Island (border with the ocean) if the water is rough, that would be a great option.  Just don't know if there are any six packs working out of Neah Bay, and you'd probably need to book the full boat to have that flexibility.  Best timing would be May - September, primarily for weather. 

[jamesfromseattle]

If you can find a six pack out of Neah Bay that will stay inside Tatoosh Island (border with the ocean) if the water is rough, that would be a great option.  Just don't know if there are any six packs working out of Neah Bay, and you'd probably need to book the full boat to have that flexibility.  Best timing would be May - September, primarily for weather.

Just shot you a PM saying essentially the same thing and with a couple names for reputable six pack boats. 

[fishngamereaper]

How old are the kids....neah bay would be best...and not during halibut season.... Westport is hit and miss on the weather since the only way to fish is to cross the bar. Lapush can be really good with fishing right in front in shallow water. But weather can be a factor.

[jamesfromseattle]

How old are the kids....neah bay would be best...and not during halibut season.... Westport is hit and miss on the weather since the only way to fish is to cross the bar. Lapush can be really good with fishing right in front in shallow water. But weather can be a factor.

Agreed that it's best to skip hali season.  Not a very kiddo friendly fishery.  Lingcod/black rockfish are great for kids, though, because you don't fish too deep, the fish aren't too big (compared to halibut), and you get a ton of action.

[Stein]

I've done Westport once, we caught a ton of rockfish and the boat hooked a few lings.  Near constant action and not very far out. 

I don't know about the weather or compared to Neah Bay, but I would be looking for a summer rockfish trip.  The bonus is they are a bunch cheaper and easier to book than Hali trips.

If you don't want to go that far, a few Puget Sound guides do ling trips and I think they do quite well judging from what I've seen and heard.

If you aren't stuck on bottom fish, hit Buoy 10 for guaranteed action but that one can be tricky with weather and water conditions if you go on a smaller boat.

[MHWASH]

Very good information, thanks.

Boys will be 12 & 16 by the time we are on the water. I've got  a pretty weak stomach, so hopefully I'm the weak link.

[cohoho]

I ran charters out of Westport for All Rivers for Halibut/Lingcod season last year.  We ran every day and really one day that was really a coin toss to go or not, but these were in 29ft boats and if you do not know how to cross the bar - don't until you go with someone..  I would highly suggest NOT doing Halibut (Fishing at 400-650ft with 3lb weights and a grind) as your first trip - way too many five gallon bucket fillers on their first trip last year!  Take a Sea bass/Lingcod trip with All Rivers Charters, Offshore Northwest, Tailwalkers, etc...  just to see how the boys do in the water first.  With a Ling/Sea bass trip you'll be relatively close to shore, shallow water and they will catch limits of sea bass and lings..  It is a great trip for first timers and super fun as limits are gained rather easily.    Heck if I officially decide to jump into the charter game after the first of the year - I'll take you out for that same trip.

[Wetwoodshunter]

MHWASH,

One of my good friends runs a charter out of Neah Bay. He specializes in bottom fishing and runs trips in 4b all year. If I were you I would book one of his shallow water lingcod or 4b rockfish trips. 4A is the ocean out of Neah Bay and 4B is the straits, fishing in the straits you typically can have better weather and currently the fishing is phenomenal and is open all year although its currently only open for black rockfish. His bottom fish trips on the ocean run from April - whenever lingcod closes but the shallow water trips the runs are short and fishing is hot, if you go when deepwater lingcod is open there is a spot that is close yet awesome and is by far my favorite spot to fish lingcod.

Neah Bay may be a longer drive but has benefits. 1. There is no bar to cross. 2. The straits are protected and fishing is great. 3. Tom's boat is a 6-pac boat so your experience is different. 4. He is used to taking kids, if the weather cooperates we will take a 3 and 5 year old out this weekend. 5. He is an awesome captain, about 80% of his customers are returning customers, that says a lot. 6. He likes taking 3-5 people if your booking as a group of 4 you can have the whole boat to your group.

Either way, that's my plug. I'm sure others on this site have had great experiences with him.

Here are his two websites he runs the boat, his wife runs the inn. I believe there is a discount if you get a room and a trip.
http://excelfishingcharters.com/
http://www.theinnatneahbay.com/

[jamesfromseattle]

MHWASH,

One of my good friends runs a charter out of Neah Bay. He specializes in bottom fishing and runs trips in 4b all year. If I were you I would book one of his shallow water lingcod or 4b rockfish trips. 4A is the ocean out of Neah Bay and 4B is the straits, fishing in the straits you typically can have better weather and currently the fishing is phenomenal and is open all year although its currently only open for black rockfish. His bottom fish trips on the ocean run from April - whenever lingcod closes but the shallow water trips the runs are short and fishing is hot, if you go when deepwater lingcod is open there is a spot that is close yet awesome and is by far my favorite spot to fish lingcod.

Neah Bay may be a longer drive but has benefits. 1. There is no bar to cross. 2. The straits are protected and fishing is great. 3. Tom's boat is a 6-pac boat so your experience is different. 4. He is used to taking kids, if the weather cooperates we will take a 3 and 5 year old out this weekend. 5. He is an awesome captain, about 80% of his customers are returning customers, that says a lot. 6. He likes taking 3-5 people if your booking as a group of 4 you can have the whole boat to your group.

Either way, that's my plug. I'm sure others on this site have had great experiences with him.

Here are his two websites he runs the boat, his wife runs the inn. I believe there is a discount if you get a room and a trip.
http://excelfishingcharters.com/
http://www.theinnatneahbay.com/

Agreed on all fronts. They run a great operation and the winter trips would be perfect for first timers.

[WAcoueshunter]

That's the trip to do, right there.  I'd wait til ling cod is open too, but a six pack out of Neah Bay tailored to your family is what you want to do.   

[lokidog]

You won't be able to keep rockfish, but the lingcod fishing is pretty good in the San Juans and the seas will not be an issue for your kids.  Highliner Charters out of Anacortes puts his people on fish pretty consistently, from what I have seen at the dock.  Season doesn't open until May 1 though.

[Mark Youngblood]

I run seabass/lingcod combo trips out of Ilwaco starting in May, these are "near shore" trips but it is i the ocean.  I run halibut out of Ilwaco as well starting in May and I do provide electric reels for all my Halibut halibut charters so depth is not an issue.