First winter Blackie

[Ripper]

 FC and I hit the water yesterday Friday Dec 9 at 9ish am to try our luck for Blackmouth and winter crabs. We motored out of the Everett Marina in a dense fog that never lifted on us all day. Temps were a balmy 29 or so. The deck of the boat could only be more slick and hazardous if you ran a Zamboni over it.    This was nuts, yet we pressed on in our mindless glory.    Dumped 4 pots on the south east side of hat Island the motored around to the west side and set our gear down about 120 feet in 130 feet of water. The idea was to troll north along the drop offs following the bottom contour then head out to the race track which is a shelf that runs between Hat Island and Comano Head. This ended up being way more difficult than I imagined. The bottom is very inconsistant, but it's sand, so it's forgiving.  If it would have been rock, we would have lost a ton of gear. We pressed on though doing our best to keep our gear in the fishy zone. After a flounder and about a 18" shaker the rod started to dance like another shaker was on. I reeled down and pulled the line out of the clip and started reeling. all of a sudden the rod tip goes down and line starts peeling off the reel. Woooo nelly, get the net, I think this ones a keeper! After maybe a 4 or 5 minute tussle a nice 12.2 lb fin clipped hen slides into the net. My first winter Blackie is a good one.  Thank you Santa. That was the only fish of the day, but then we pulled up the crab pots and were rewarded with 10 keepers. Winter fishing and crabbing is not for the faint of heart. It's cold and no matter what, your hands are going to freeze. However there are rewards out there to be had if you put in your time. I know we lucked out on our first trip, the fish checker said since they closed area 9 they check about one Blackie a week. Yesterday they checked 2 for 5 boats, so I guess it was on fire!  The pic is of me with my prize.    Bundle up and get out there guys.   

Mark

[rtspring]

Ripper,
Use to have a buddy that lived on Camano. This guy fished every day he could. We use to hug the bank on the west side of Camano. Some nice holes there. Just got to pay attention when trolling.

We caught some really nice fish...

good luck..

RTSPRING

[Elk whack master]

NICE!

[Ripper]

Thanks rtspring, I'm going back out today when my fishing partners wake up. I think I may try that side.

[pjb3]

might head out myself for some crab up north of U

[Button Nubbs]

I'm out on whidbey today, stopped by posession and watched a guy bang one thru the binos in the 10 mins I was there

[longknife]

I thought possesion(area 9) was closed waters til Jan 16?? wanted to fish it last weekend.

Nice catch Ripper! It is a cold day on the water this time of year, but well worth the rewards! I hit the west side of Camano, do well at times, but its a hit or miss type fishery. But one of my favorites!

[Button Nubbs]

not a saltwater guy...

[Ripper]

yes, Possession and all of area 9 is closed until Jan 16. Bums me out, I caught and released a ton of slightly under sized blackie's in the fall. They should be fat and legal by now. It was a different story out there today. Not foggy, a little chop and wind and only a couple shakers. Also only got 2 keeper crabs. It was MFing coooooold today. Girlfriends toes got so cold she couldn't feel them so we called it quits after only a couple hours. I had to, or should I say got to, come home and warm her up. A man has to do what he's got to do......
 Anyway I'll have to hit it again the next time I get some time off from work. Get out there if you can. Yes it's cold, but it's good for the soul. Tight lines my brothers and sisters      Mark

[longknife]

not a saltwater guy...

Understandable, but its our responsability to know rules, and regs. Hope they didnt get caught, for not knowing.
Just like David Chappell says, White guys can get away with the phrase, "I didn t know, i couldnt do that", everyone else gets the book! If he only knew.....LOL

Yes Ripper, when the wind kicks up, its a total diffrent game this time of year! What, no stabbin' cabbin' on board?
Crazy how the summer was loaded with shakers, just a bit small, but like footballs!

[Button Nubbs]

So, should I really read the regs for everything? I don't saltwater fish. Or should I just check the laws everytime someone does something? Do scuba divers have a reg pamphlet? Wonder if I shoulda checked on them too? I'm not a game warden.

[lokidog]

Congrats on the blackie Ripper.  I'll try to keep an ear out for any activity up here.

[longknife]

So, should I really read the regs for everything? I don't saltwater fish. Or should I just check the laws everytime someone does something? Do scuba divers have a reg pamphlet? Wonder if I shoulda checked on them too? I'm not a game warden.

I wasnt saying anything twards you,,,The other fishermen you saw, and posted on shouldnt have been fishing there. or you should read the regs if your going to post something thats illegal hope it was a sturgeon, or a big flounder!

Im not trying to give you crap, just know whats being posted, thats all.

[RB]

Nice fish! 

[longknife]

Reports of south sound fishing is doing good.