The Office... When to come fishing

Halibut Regulations for 2012 Finalized!!!

For the 2012 season non-residents will be able to keep one halibut per day with a “reverse slot limit” meaning you can keep halibut that are under 45 inches or over 68 inches. This translates to being able to keep a halibut about 43 pounds or over 160 pounds.

The Office

Our season begins with King salmon fishing in late May and ends with Silver salmon fishing in early September.

King/Chinook Salmon

All of our salmon fishing is primarily done by using the salmon mooching technique and occasionally trolling with down-riggers. The average size of our kings range from 20-40 lbs, though it is not uncommon to catch 50, 60 or 70 pound kings. For those who love and wish to catch kings, the best time to come is from mid-May to the end of June. Although kings are still around until the end of August, their prime time is early in the season. This fish will truly test your stamina.

Silver/Coho Salmon

An adrenaline pumping and exciting fish to catch is the Silver salmon, especially when everyone on board hooks one. Silver salmon usually start showing up in the first week of July and at this time they weigh between 6 to 10 lbs each. During the last part of August and early September, the Silvers weigh about 10 to 15 lbs each, making them an enjoyable sport for the family and every fish enthusiast.

Halibut

A highly sought-after fish by those who enjoy their delicious and exquisite white meat is the Halibut. The halibut in our region average from 15 to 75 lbs. It is not uncommon to reel up 100, 200, or 300 lbs "barn doors." One of the unique aspects of our fishing grounds is the archipelago features that do not required us to go very far for Halibut. Our average running time from the dock to the halibut grounds ranges from 30 minutes to an hour. This keeps guest from getting sea sickness or getting beat by rough seas is kept to a minimum. The best taste halibut comes from fish in the 25 to 50 pound class, due to the excellent texture quality of the fillets.

Lingcod and Yelloweye (Red Snapper)

Lingcod and Yelloweye often inhabit the same rocky reefs and structures as other bottom fish. Targeting this schooling species is always a delight. Lingcod and Yelloweye are available year round and their sizes can vary greatly. Lingcod can weigh up to 80lbs – the largest brought in my boat was 71.4 lbs, caught in 2007 by my 10 year old brother. Yelloweye typically weigh between 10 to 15 lbs. It is not uncommon to reel in 20-30 pound "snappers."

2012 Fishing Limits Per Person

King Salmon: 1 per day, 5 per year
Silver Salmon: 6 per day, no annual limit
Pink Salmon: 6 per day, no annual limit
Halibut: 1 halibut per person no annual limit (1 under 45 inches or over 68 inches) Under about 43 pounds or over 160 pounds)
Yelloweye "Red Snapper": 1 per day, 2 per year
Black Bass (pelagic* rock fish) : 5 per day, no annual limit
Non-pelagic fish: 2 per day: no annual limit (We are required to keep the first two fish we catch, a yelloweye may be one of them. : )
Lingcod: 1 per day, 2 per year 1 between 30-40” and 1 over 55” inches

*Pelagic fish are critters that live in the open ocean and away from the ocean floor.