ahh... Neah Bay

[the shootist]

Hey guys! My family and I are headed up to Neah Bay the week of Aug 9th for our biennial fishing trip for bottom fishing trip. The question is does anybody know with this el nino year if the silvers will be in? We would go for kings, but it will probobly close before we get there, and we can't go earlier aws my daughter won't be getting out of college before then. Any body ever patterned them on el nino years?

[fishcrazy]

From the reading I have done you have asked the million $$$ question. One thing I read is that it tends to push fish in early and they will spend some time in bays before running the rivers. Lack of food in the ocean is what they figure pushes them in sooner.  makes sence to me as we have seen them stay out longer on years the ocean had lots of food. We will probably not only see lower numbers but smaller fish as well.

That might explain why we are seeing so many springers this early in the Big C.

Kris

[the shootist]

Thanks for the info Kris. I need to learn more about catching the springers. Many years ago some friends of mine and I went to go with a guide for the spring kings, but when we arrived he told us that the water had raised, and turned brown thus making the fishing no good so we turned around, and never did go back. I did fish for kings at the mouth of the ocean, at Astoria I think, and caught 3 of them. 1 of them 10 lbs 1 of them 20lbs, and on the second day a 40 plus pounder, but for some reason I never did go back. I here that the spring kinks are even better eatting than the other runs. Has that been your experiance as well? Donny

[WAcoueshunter]

I fished Neah mid-summer during one of the bad el nino years in the mid to late 90's.  Plenty of silvers around, but they were really small, like 3-4 lbs.  There were enough around that we were catching them regularly throwing jigs off the dock at the old Pete's resort.  The mackerel were in thick...I've never seen anything like it.  They'd hit anything that flashed, including bare silver hooks.  No wonder the coho were small, those damn mackerel ate everything in sight.

[fishcrazy]

Shootist,

yes springers are the best eating salmon in the world!!! No joke. Summer hogs are a very close second but bigger fish.

PM sent.

Kris

[lokidog]

If it's a good el nino, you might be able to get into the albacore tuna without going too far out.  Best fighting fish pound for pound imo.

[the shootist]

I know what your talking about with regaurds to the mackeral because we were in the thick of it then too. I just wish that they were good table fair because they were insane! We were trying to catch bottom fish but our jigs were getting hammered almost every cast by the macks. I also went on a tuna charter a few years ago, and agree with you. I have NEVER caught a fish that fought that hard!!! My boat is small for the ocean though so I seriously doubt that the tuna will come within range but one can only hope. 

[lokidog]

If you think you might catch mackeral, put a bunch of ice in a cooler, add some water when you catch a fish, cut the gills after catching and toss in the cooler.  Marinate in italian dressing and grill or bake.  A little stronger than tuna but similar in taste, makes good sandwiches.  Also, bring your trout rod because they are a blast to catch using spoons or jigs on lighter gear.

[the shootist]

yea that's a fact!!! Actually we've been taking our bass boats, and gear to Neah Bay for the last 20 years now, and love to use 1/2 oz jigs, and 3 inch grubs along the rocks, and kelp. I also found a technique when they are hitting candle fish on the surface that is absolutely insane action. So fun it should be illegal.    

[PolarBear]

Fishing the rocks at Neah Bay use to be one of my favorite things to do in the spring.  I make my own plastic worms and would cast 3-4" grubs (secret tri-color combo) on jig heads into the kelp and rocks for greenling, bass and other rockfish.  Hook a 5-6" greenling just in front of the dorsal, 5-6 feet below a big bobber and let it swim around the rocks for lings.  Floating Rebel Minnows, Rapalas and Baby Zara Spooks were great when they were schooling near the surface.  Tons of fun and great eating!

[the shootist]

Ahh I see your a student of the topwater plugs bearpaw.. I learned about it years ago when we were at Seku, and found a school of over 100 sea bass laying in 30 feet of water on a underwater island. We could see them and they wouldn't touch our jigs, so after a while I thought about bass fishing with rapalas on the Pend Oreille river in the shallows, and tied one on. When that bait hit the water it was like somebody turned the free lunch sign on at a fat people convention! We actually had fish racing to the surface to be first, and blew the bait right out of the water! My buddies were all scrambling for top water baits but I was the only one who had any. You should have seen the begging!!!Luckely for them I'm a nice guy so I shared, AND WE COMMENCED TO KICK THEIR TAILS! The next year everybody had topwater baits, and we had an absolute ball. Big zara spooks are my personal favorite, but husky jerks,rapalas, and poppers also work well depending what they fish are doing. And oh the jig fishing when the feed is on!!! For us it's magical, and we long for it. Were leaving in Aug, and I'm already pouring lead heads!!!! Can't wait.  

[kenbell27]

Some friends and myself go for a week in june every year and stay at Snow Creek. Its a great time until you have to filet all the fish.

[BigGoonTuna]

that won't be such a big problem, the rockfish limit is getting dropped down to 6 black or blue rockfish only...

[the shootist]

I haven't heard anything about the limit change at neah bay. Is that really for area4? although it really won't matter as we will be taking 2 boats and have 8 to 10 people fishing. I guess there is something to be said for having 8 kids :tung:he hee

[kenzmad]

oh ya. years ago I caught my first sea bass. looked at it and said to myself, this looks like a largemouth. what do largemouth eat? fish. I had a rapala hj12 in crome in my box. tied that on and OMG I can limit the boat on my reef in 20 minutes doesn't matter if there is 2 or 4 on board. f-- the jigs there is a way better way to put fish in the box. the seals are getting real bad over there though. they lay up under your boat and grab the fish as you are bringin em in. for every 3 fish brought in the boat, 1 is taken by a seal. had more than once last year where I had the bass by the lip and the seal had it by the body. trout rods are no match  when it comes to fightin a seal. that sdaid me and my huntin partner and his boy if he comes home from the military on time) will be over ther towards the end of april. gotta the lings in the freezer.

kenzmad

[lokidog]

I haven't heard anything about the limit change at neah bay. Is that really for area4? although it really won't matter as we will be taking 2 boats and have 8 to 10 people fishing. I guess there is something to be said for having 8 kids :tung:he hee

Saw the email from WDFW today regarding this issue, they altered the original plan a bit though.

[the shootist]

Well report or no report it's still awsome fishing most years. Speaking of the seals the last time we went we were using our bass rods and casting jigs into a school of rock fish when my son Brandon set the hook. he fought the fish for a few seconds when a big bull sealion came out of the water about to his flippers with the bass in his mouth. Brandon jerked back, and pulled it out of the sealions mouth then reeled it in> You could see the teeth markes in the side of the fish when we lifted it in. IT WAS COOL.