Okay, my brother-in-law and I are purchasing an old 12 foot boat to chase kokes in the local lakes. I was wondering if we could take it to point defiance as well. I'ts got a 8 hp evinrude that runs great. This question may be a great one or I may look like a complete idiot for even wondering. I never said I was a salt fisherman fellas so this is totally foreign to me. HELP.....
Cuttie

Shouldn't be a problem... lots of folks out there in the little alums... Just be caution of the weather and swells from the big guys...
Also, make sure that you have all the required safety gear... the Puddle Pirates (Coast Guard) do check often.

The water out there can get BIG very quickly. People do it all the time though. Watch the tides and weather. Some people in small boats feel safer at the slag pile but, big boat traffic can cause some choppy water that could stern swamp a small boat if you don't pay attention. I wouldn't do it in a 12 footer.

A 12ft'er is just a little small for me all I can say is be careful.

We saw a guy and two of his friends in a 7-8' Livingston out there last year. He couldn't have had more than 6" between the top of the gunnels and the water.

It's pretty hard to say how choppy it'll get at a tide change. Some days a 12'er will be o.k.,the next day my 15' aluminum is on the small side.

I think a 12' boat is OK. I use to do Pt D with a 12' fiberglass boat with an electric motor. I have a 14' now. Just gotta watch out for the "other guy".

What about the Narrows Bridge area. There's less boat traffic. Are the swells and currents bad for a 12 footer.

The current can be very fast (need good motor) and the tidal chop can be nasty.

Pt Defiance, watch the weather. Narrows... no way. My feel on the matter is that in a 12' aluminum you you won't have any problems at Pt Defiance but if you do, you can probably row your way to safety and if not, someone will pick you up. I wouldn't go around the corner though. Watch the weather and bring your safety gear. You will be checked!

I've towed two boats in Commencement Bay with my 15' Arima. One was a 25' sailboat and the second was a 20' Bayliner. Both boats were totally unprepared to be out there. I'd be happy to tow a 12' aluminum.....

I would never go out there with you or anyone in a boat that small in big water like that

It would depend alot on the 12' boat you have and the weather. I have seen alot of boats less than 12' out there. If your boat has pretty high sides it should be ok when its calm. But I wouldnt try it when its rough out.

calm day- no problem.... i have fished dolphin point and some other spots from my steelhead pontoon. (of course they dont have freeboard problems like an aluminum)


narrows can be to much for our 22' sailboat with a 10 horse on the wrong tide.

Wow! Some serious mixed responses. In a couple weeks I'm going to go hang out by the boat launch and talk to the people that seem to be using similar watercrafts. I'm not much of a risk-taker so better safe than sorry. I also wonder what it would be like towing around a 25# king in such a small boat

You know what they say - You can always go out it's the coming back that's the question. Is there really a fish out there worth risking your life? As everyone else has said - on the right day no problem. It's a great adventure. On a day when you can't see around the corner to the south and the weather blows up, you'll be wondering what the heck happened!! It was so nice then all of a sudden? You have to pick you tides and there is no reason to be in the Narrows. The Oregon screwup this weekend points to the importance of tide and weather watch. Those guys were Professionals??? Obviously there's no bar etc. at Pt Defiance but it 's part of the big water and not your aunties bass pond!! Just my 2 cents.

Since December I have been fishing Pt. Defiance & the south sound from a 10' Avon inflatable with a 9.9 hp motor. No problems so far after maybe 12-15 days on the water including many days with big tide swings & wind. Every once & a while while cranking up the downrigger & leaning on the back corner I take on water from a big wake. I would be more wary in an alum or fiberglass boat of the same or slightly larger size. The inflatable is extremely bouyant so I don't worry about it very much. That said, I am planning to trade up to a 12-14' foot "real boat" so we'll see. Particularly at Pt. Defiance with a small, non-inflatable boat I would be a lot more careful in the rips off the point as these tend to amplify boat wakes.

A quick follow-up to my prior post.

The thing that scares me the most about fishing from a small boat at Pt. D is not swamping but actually falling out of the boat near the rip. In a small boat the risk is much greater as the sides are lower, the boat rocks more, and a small stumble will leave you swimming: there's nowhere to fall but in the water. If you were swimming in those rips I think you would not stand a chance just judging by how they suck in logs etc. On Saturday the guy next to me fishing out of a much larger boat, maybe 22' with a hardtop, fell overboard in the channel while trying to net a fish. He was fine, just changed & kept fishing, but this is the thing I worry about most.

I fished for almost 10 years on the South Sound out of a 12 foot Gamefisher. This boat was a lake boat so I had to keep an eye of the waves and weather, but for summer fishing did fine. Wear your jacket and use common sense and you should be fine.

What are all the required safety gears??? Life jackets, paddles,..........???? What are the consequences for not having the proper safety gear?? Thanks

I fish the area in a 14ft Starcraft Seafarer. On the right days, it's all the boat you need. On the wrong days, I stay out of the Narrows, and stay close to the shore. I've taken water over the transom from big boat wakes. The chop around Pt. D can come at you from all directions, and that's made me pucker up a time or two. Conditions can change quickly with a tide change, and the distance between fishing spots and the boat ramp down there is measured in miles. If you're going to be fishing the Tacoma area regularly, you probably should have a boat more seaworthy than the typical 12ft cartopper.

i have a 13' smokercraft alaskan that i bought from one of my dad's friends, they used to use it in the columbia river with 3 guys, sturgeon fishing

i've seen people fish defiance out of canoes and really small boats. i'll stick with the majority and say it'll be fine for a 12' just don't venture out too far and watch the weather

If you don't have confidence in your equipment you should not be out there.

That's my rule of thumb.

let me tell about a small boat adventure.....
we lanched a 10' livingston from brown's point, it's across the water on the tacoma side from where you are talking about, after work(3rd shifters) one morning in december.well the fishing was slow, the sun was warm and we both woke up on top of a 3-4 foot wave looking up at the tacoma narrows bridge. it was a long run back home we had to stop for gas at the marine. but we survied.

we took that boat out in all kinds of weather and once in a while we needed to bail it out but we had a lot of fun. our ruffest day was at point no point in 35 knot winds. the best part of a small boat is if it gets to bad you can beach it and call a friend to come pick you up.

Try it you'll like it!!

We fish a 14ft aluminum boat everywhere in the sound and strait. It has a 25hores moter though. Just don't get caught in the current around the Narrows and you will be fine.

Just watch the weather and tide forecast and you won't have any problems. In a smaller boat you have to be vigilant for boat wakes from Howard Hughes and his 80' yacht and changes in weather, but I wouldn't hesitate to fish the Pt D area in a 12 footer on most days.

The mistake guys make is they get their mind set that they're going to fish Pt. D. on Sunday and then they're not smart enough to call it off if the weather or tides dictate. If you have a small boat, you gotta let the weather decide for you.

Check the weather
Check the tides
Keep your eye out for boat wakes
Don't go around the corner toward the bridge
Wear a PFD
Have Fun

maybe you should try mooching a dart or a herring off the clay bank at pt defiance. there is a cave in the cliff just before the tip of the point. i have done best there mooching in 30 th 50 maybe 60 feet of water. downriggers work better after the tide has changed but that's not your best option off of a 12ft aluminum. one hour before tide change to one hour after. 12 ft is ok in the sound. also, try launching at mcallister creek and running to the mouth of the nisqually to jig a pt. wilson dart (green) at the "green can" bouy. when the pt. getts hot then it is time to run out of totem marine or the pt defiance launch to the mouth of the puyallup. always best for the first hour of light trolling a five or six ounce with a cut plug. try to get a larger boat with a new motor so you can start fishing the mouth of the columbia. don't forget to W-D!!!

you say you never said you were a salt fisherman that it is all foreign to you then i would suggest that you go with someone else that knows whats going on and learn a few things before you hit the salt whether it be in a 12 footer or 20 footer your a teacher i think you already knew the answer to your question i worked on the water for quite a few years don't anymore but a person couldn't imagine the stupidity some get away with well maybe they could all they need to do is read an earlier reply to your post be safe and enjoy yourself

Piece of cake...

I'd do it, just don't go west of the Clay Banks...

I grew up out there in a 12fter...

Only swamped it once

easy limits your a trooper, 12 ft boat with a trolling motor and pt D, YA

Thanks for the help. Contrary to many opinions, I'm gonna sit this one out this summer (for now). The whole tide/rip/wake thing is not worth screwing around with for salt rookie like myself. I have been out @ point D. twice with a buddy that has a 16 ft. alaskan. Each time I was out the water was glassy. I didn't realize that it got that choppy out there. I really appreciate the advice. Next Sunday I'll be @ the launch talking to guys with similar boats to actually SEE first hand what I may be getting myself into. It's possible that I may give it a shot but thanks to the replies I'm going to hold off for a while.
Cuttie

I always thought that the Pt Defiance area was considered a classic small boat fishery. I don't think that the boat house there (where all the old farts have fished out-of since the beginning of time) can even handle a boat over 16'

Come to think of it, didn't the old boat house rent row boats for fishing?

Hey Cuttie, if you're going to be there, you may as well jump in with us! We're in a 20' bayliner, leaving Olympia or actually Tumwater around 4 am or so. The tides won't be so bad as they were last weekend, but you will still get an idea. Let me know, or send me an email if you're interested.

Steve in Oly

I am with easy limits.I fish a 12' highlaker in the salt all the time but then again I used to deckhand up in the Berring sea.Put the boat into some smaller water and build some confidence and learn how the boat behaves in differant situations.Those cuurents and rips can do screwy things with smaller boats under power!

I wish I could post some pics of us up off the Aleautians screwing around in a 16' in fifteen foot seas!Friend had a high quality video camera and got some great footage.We would launch of the crest and free fall into the trough!On the other side of the island the wind was blowing over 120 miles an hour!