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Specific
area, run timing questions – San Juans
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Q: Tom,
Great site! We are coming to the San Juans Sep 7 to the 13 and have chartered a
boat for a 7 day cruise of the islands. We will be going from Bellingham to
Lopez Isl, to Victoria, to Roche Harbor and then Stuart Isl, to Friday Harbor,
to Orcas Island, to Sucia Isl and then back to Bellingham. Are any of these
areas good for salmon fishing and will the fish be in the area during that time
frame? Would we need downriggers to have any success? Is there good fishing for
other types of fish? How about crabbing? I realize that this is a very broad
based question but any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks, Eric
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A: Hi Eric,
Although I haven't finished the map story on San Juan Islands, I am forwarding
you a rough draft of the San Juan Islands. You have picked a good time of year
to be there. I would suggest you fish the west side of San Juan Island in the
Lime Kilm Point area. There should be some late run Chinook and the first Coho
showing up at that time. Good Luck! Tom
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Q: Hi Tom,
great site - way too much info to absorb in one sitting. My question concerns
the San Juans. For the past 4-5 years we've been going up to Roche Harbor with
a bunch of guys and 2-3 boats, renting a cabin, and filling our freezers. This
is at the last weekend of Sept or first weekend of October. The regular routine
is to drop some crab pots on the way out, make a beeline to Pile Pt, troll the
morning bite then go back to the Lime Kiln or the south end of Henry Island in
the afternoons. I'd love to know if there's a more productive spot or two at
that time of year. We do get our limits and get to watch the orcas, but I would
like to try something else. Thanks, Eric
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A: Eric, the
areas you identified (Pile Pt. & Lime Kilm Pt.) are the best spots to fish
without crossing into Canadian waters. If you just want a change of scenery,
after September 30th Decatur Island and Rosario Strait open up. If you are
fishing before then, the northwest shore of Orcas Island will produce fish.
However, your regular places are the two prime spots in all of the San Juan
Islands. Tom
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Q: I would
like to commend you on a very well put together website. I came to the West
Coast compliments of the USAF 30 years ago and thanks to my CMSGT who was also
a transplant I learned how to salmon fish off the Oregon and Washington coasts.
I moved up to the Puget Sound area 2 years ago and have wondered how and when
to fish the myriad of areas available ever since. I have primarily fished off
the coast of Oregon ( Newport we boated 3 nice halibut there in the 2 day
halibut thing 23-24 Aug) and off the CR Bouy (closed to chinnok as of AUG 11
when I had to put back a 35 pounder and a 40 pounder on the 12th) and Bouy 10 (
limited 2 kings on Aug 13th for me and one each for my fishing buddies and
right in that Church Hole below the bridge that you suggested someone go to in
your Q+A section) for the last 20 years. I am usually successfull in filling my
tag fairly well year after year. BUT.... the fishing is so limited down there
now with the seasons being cut short just as the ODFW sees too many of their
pet fish being caught I need to expand my fishing opportunities up closer to
where I live in Monroe. My question is when and where in the San Juans is the
most productive for Chinook salmon and for Halibut. I noticed that you have no
info on that area yet with updates to come.....I need a place up here to fish
my old 1962 Owens Sea Skiff. Thanks, Jeanne
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A: Hi
Jeanne, I am working on the San Juan article for the web page at present and
expect to have it up in the next two weeks. You won't need to go all the way to
the San Juan Islands for good salmon fishing. The next month will offer you
excellent fishing at West Point and in Elliot Bay for Coho. There should be
good numbers of fish and they are fairly easy to catch. Read the Elliot Bay
article on our website for tips on how to fish that area. You might consider
taking our Salmon University Class on February 22nd in Renton as this is the
most efficient way to learn how to fish Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands
for salmon and halibut. Check our website for Class information. Tom
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