Still fish to catch....

[lokidog]

No salmon, no rockfish, no lingcod.... But, there are still fish to catch, Cabezon and Greenling, even Sole for example.  However, these might not be worth a special trip, but since I'm out anyways, it works for me.

The less fished for, yet more common, Sculpins are what I'm talking about.

I downsized my gear to target Rock Sole (with some success) and happened on these tasty morsels. I've been using 3/8 to one ounce jigs and Gulp tails. The jigs have mostly been ones I've made as arabou jigs are quite expensive. We've caught them on just a leadhead with the Gulp though.

My favorite feathers to use are from my long gone Barred Rock hens. If anyone has these feathers, 4-5 inch, I'd be happy to get them. 😉

The first five photos are of last night's dinner. I did let the Buffalo Sculpin, with the big spikes, go as it was too small. The last photo is a day's catch that included my first Whitespotted Greenling, three large Staghorn Sculpins and a smallish Rock Sole. From here forward, besides the Staghorns, I'm not keeping any under 13 inches unless I need to fill out a plate....

Good fishing! Will edit to post pics from my phone.

[lokidog]

Photos

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[Jonathan_S]

We used to catch so many and always threw them back.  Finally tried one and regretted all those that we returned. They had a reputation of being trash fish in my family for some reason.  Whatever the case, yeah they are a tasty little bugger.

[lokidog]

Staghorn, Whitespotted Greenling, Red Irish Lord, and a couple of Rock Sole.

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[lokidog]

The last jig pic was when it was new, the first ones were after it has caught thirty or more fish and was dragged from my house to the ramp....   

[ctwiggs1]

Starting to regret all the sculpin I've sent back down!

[Hilltop123]

Dang, the pic's don't open.

[lokidog]

I catch weird "stuff"   is a shirt I want to make.😄

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[Stein]

Sole fishing is the kid's favorite activity.  They are great eating as long as you can get into the bigger ones.  Just about anything you throw down there will work, we usually either use rubber tail jigs of some sort or squid on a hook.  The squid really stays on good and will last through many fish.

I've never seen sculpin that big.  Those things are monsters.

[KP-Skagit]

Any one try Red Irish Lord scuplin? I released a big boy last week and am still wondering if it was a good decision. That said, we ended with 5 cabezon all over 20" so nothing to be disappointed about. BC not WA.

[blackpowderhunter]

two of my hens are barred rock hens...might have to start saving some feathers!
looks like good times 

[lokidog]

Any one try Red Irish Lord scuplin? I released a big boy last week and am still wondering if it was a good decision. That said, we ended with 5 cabezon all over 20" so nothing to be disappointed about. BC not WA.

RIL's are in two of those photos. They taste almost as good as Cabezon, which are also sculpins.

Sole fishing is the kid's favorite activity.  They are great eating as long as you can get into the bigger ones.  Just about anything you throw down there will work, we usually either use rubber tail jigs of some sort or squid on a hook.  The squid really stays on good and will last through many fish.

I've never seen sculpin that big.  Those things are monsters.

Apparently the record for Great Sculpin, the big brown ones in the pics, is over 4#.  I thought mine was a big one at 1.7 pounds. The record for Staghorn is only 0.8 pounds.

[Stein]

Ah, we only catch the staghorn. 

[lokidog]

Ah, we only catch the staghorn.

The big Stags are edible but not as good as the Greats or RILs. They are easier to filet though as they have little to no scales.

[Buckewe]

I have a barred rock I will have to save some feathers. If I can get enough I will let you know

[Angry Perch]

This is great. Just the kind of fishing I'm interested in learning about in area 6.

[lokidog]

I have a barred rock I will have to save some feathers. If I can get enough I will let you know

Thanks. The stiffer feathers like the one on the right are probably not as good. Two to four inches would be the best.

This is great. Just the kind of fishing I'm interested in learning about in area 6.

Look for gravel/cobble bottoms for the Sole and sandy gravel is where I am catching the best sculpins. They seem to like the moving water areas also.  I back troll a lot to negate the wind and try to stay mostly above my lightweight jigs.

[Angry Perch]

I have a barred rock I will have to save some feathers. If I can get enough I will let you know

Thanks. The stiffer feathers like the one on the right are probably not as good. Two to four inches would be the best.

This is great. Just the kind of fishing I'm interested in learning about in area 6.

Look for gravel/cobble bottoms for the Sole and sandy gravel is where I am catching the best sculpins. They seem to like the moving water areas also.  I back troll a lot to negate the wind and try to stay mostly above my lightweight jigs.

I need to get used to 1 ounce jugs being “light”!

[lokidog]