JK - the "garbage dump" area is just west of the break water that connects Waddah to the main land. The Neah garbage dump is on the hill above and there is often a fire burning at the dump that makes it easy to spot. Duncan rock is north of Tatoosh a little. The swells sometimes build and break not too far from Duncan so be careful on some days.

It can sometimes be very calm outside of Tatoosh - in fact it is often nicer outside the straits than inside. You really can't tell how nice the ocean will be until you're about 2-3 miles south or west of Tatoosh but the NW Swellwatch link I provided will give you an indication as will the weather radio reports when you're there. There are some good king fishing areas just 2-4 miles S. of Tatoosh. Troll early in the AM (sun up) over some of the sunken plateaus that come up to 120' from deeper water. However, again, the water has to be pretty nice to take your boat "around the corner" - e.g. outside of the straits. Most people who do go 'round the corner cut through "hole-in-the-wall" - the area between Tatoosh and the mainlaind as opposed to going around Tatoosh. It can get really choppy in that area for a few 100 yds. but I find it is often better through hole-in-the-wall than just N of Tatoosh where the swells can sometimes really build. The biggest concern for a small boat is the ammount of freeboard, if you don't have much, don't go outside of the straits. Also be aware that the conditions coming in and out of the straits can be very tide sensitive. E.g. just at the tide changes there will be rip currents that can make the water very confused and it can also get ugly 1/2 between tide changes when current is at a max. Outgoing tides against a wind from the west will build bigger waves than an incoming tide in the same wind conditions. So it's possible to go out in nice conditions and return in ugly conditions just a few hours later if you don't time things well.

All of my warning aside, I can tell you that I have been outside the straits on many occasions where it was close to glassy and I'd have been fine in row boat. I've also been out in times when I didn't feel comfortable in my 22' C-dory and I wound up turning tail and coming back.