GH, I've always fished for Blackmouth with at least a herring strip on my hoochie.......But I have seen the light. I now believe that you can be just as successful with artficals.
This winter I've become a true believer in Coyote Spoons behind a green glow Hot Spot.
A green glow Spackle back hoochie has also worked well for me. And then I resort to a Point Wilson Dart in the white Sandlance/Candlefish pattern.
Me personally, I try to stay within 5'-10' of the bottom and troll at about 2 mph. I've also found that trolling with the tide and not against it has produced best.
I know that alot of poeple preach about finding the bait which by all means doesn't hurt, but I've caught fish many times when there was no bait showing on my screen.
But being you're fishing Pt. Defiance, you won't have any problem finding bait.
This is by no means a know it all about how to catch BM, but it works for me!
Ya know, motor mooching a fresh cut plug herring isn't too bad of a way to go either!!