No doubt about it blackmouth are where the baitfish are. They are feeders period. But forget about herring in December (unless you can get the fresh small ones from the marina; an exception to every rule). Cause the reason they are near the bottom, their noses are rubbed raw, their cheeks are scratched, they're banging needlefish behind a hot-spot and slammin' darts bumpin' the bottom is, repeat after me:

CANDLEFISH!

We like to troll the bottom with something long & thin, like a squid, needlefish or grand slam fly till we find em' and then send the darts down express mail till things quiet down again. They're not bashful, the trick is finding them. I know fish finders these days are much improved but it's hard to rely on them for candlefish feeders while their bellys are scraping bottom.

One other tip. In the Tacoma area, not everyone will be fishing deep in December, but rest assured they will be fishing the bottom while they're whistling "Fishing Near One of Many Docks in the Bay".

But if you really want to get the lowdown on blackmouth fishing in the Tacoma area maybe Bill H. would care to expound. With all due respect, I have known many incredible salmon fisherman throughout the Sound, but for this time of year (between steelhead runs) I have never seen anyone as unorthodox, catch as many fish and put on such extraodinary clinics, time after time, as Mr. H. Maybe not as well known as a salt chucker to y'all, but when he talks fish I'm listening, when he's fishing I'm watching. Heck, last I heard, he was still in the Tacoma area. If your lurking out there Bill, help us out and God Bless.

Do the Blackmouth Boogie!