Does anyone know about salmon fishing in the PNW? Ideally a kayak operation
My brother is coming next summer and wants to go.
I think we have salmon outside Gig Harbor but I am just beginning to research. He is an avid fisherman / boater so I need to come up with a good 2-3 day trip(s) plan for him.
We lived in Gig for 15 years. Prior to the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge being built it was really nice. Once the bridge was under construction the county and city just allowed stupid growth. Congestion and crime pushed us out.
I kept a 19’ center console boat in the water for fly fishing for salmon. While others mindlessly trolled around deep waters, with beer in hand and hoping to run into fish, there are pods of salmon working shallow water for candlefish. If you know where the candlefish are stacked up, you will get into salmon. It is more like stalking and hunting.
It is definitely not a kayak fishing thing. Yeah, you could use a kayak to get from beach to beach, but with tides and motorboat wakes there is just too much going on to fish effectively from a kayak. Also the tides… You really need some solid local knowledge. Diurnal tide system there. Up to 20’ change. If you don’t have that local knowledge you can seriously have your ass handed to you - or just wait until tides become favorable to get home.
The fly shop on the main drag in the harbor messed around with kayaks for a bit. They may be a good source, if still around.
I’d be hard pressed to combine fishing and kayaking in Puget Sound. Yes, you could do both, but your ability to get on fish will be seriously hampered. Knowing where fish are at what tides, and being able to push the throttles down and get to you next place at 35mph is the ticket.
BTW… the sprint club out of the harbor regularly puts paddlers on the podium at nationals. They also have videos on YouTube getting into the nuances of paddling, and can likely arrange a private session or two.
Enjoy.
Thank you!
Yea I talked to them and i couldn’t tell it was just a tourist thing or they were serious.
The tides are crazy complicated I find.
We like to go to Sunrise Beach but the other day the tide shifted and I couldn’t get back into GH it was so strong. Mostly because of busy big boat traffic.
Where did you move to? We have been interested in Port Ludlow.
We just finished a lot of renovations so probably won’t move for awhile.
Durango, Colorado.
Pitt Island has some interesting structure and used to hold candlefish. Its a decent paddle from a few access points. Check that out. Point Evans is also solid, but you can walk into that. Once September hits, depending on weather, the silvers tend to keg up in estuaries.
Enjoy.
I think I’ll ask around for a fishing charter on a motorboat and the rest of us can take our kayaks out.
Salmon are large and hard to land in a kayak.
In the PNW you have cold water 55 degrees even in summer.
The tides create serious rip currents.
You are better off salmon fishing with guide that can put you on the fish. That could be a larger power boat in the Sound or the Columbia River. It could be a drift boat on local rivers.
