Scene on the Sound: Hopeful anglers

A sea full of hopeful anglers
Photo by Jan Hansen

By Jan Hansen

Looking across the Shoreline Sea Sunday morning, the mosquito fleet of fishing boats hold hopeful anglers waiting for bites. Shoreline is in Washington State Marine Area 10.

The following information is from the Washington State Dept of Fish and Wildlife. This is an even year; the “humpies” are fewer. They are technically called Pink Salmon and not the preferred salmon of the locals.

The fishing today is directed toward the Coho and Chinook. As when fishing off of Possession Head, most of the boats are fishing the contours of the bar, changing locations with the tide. It would appear that the best fishing is from a white boat.

Marine Area 10
Seattle-Bremerton Area
Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton area) is located within Apple Cove Point to Edwards Point and north of Vashon Island.

This area provides good bottomfish and resident and migratory salmon fishing opportunities from both shore and a boat. For those who live near Seattle, this area provides a very unique opportunity to catch fish out your backdoor.

Small boats have plenty of access in many protected areas, while shore anglers have numerous piers to fish from.

Additional pink salmon can be kept during odd years from July through September which provides a perfect scenario to take kids fishing; however during 2017 there will be no bonus limit due to the lower forecast but you can keep pink salmon as part of your daily limit.

Winter resident salmon fishing is a unique opportunity to catch salmon in the 'off-season' and typically runs from November through February. Fishing for squid in the winter is a popular activity at many of the piers (particularly at night).

Jefferson Head
Fish parallel to the shoreline in 90 to 140 feet of water by trolling or mooching for salmon, including pink salmon closer to the surface. Flatfish can also be caught here along the shelves.

Species

Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, Flatfish, Pink salmon