I just would like some input from the public on why you fish Sekiu instead of Neah Bay, or Neah Bay instead of Sekiu? They're close to one another as a seagull flies, but the regs, ports, and especially the fisheries are quite different in terms of quallity, quantity, and seasons. That last leg of Hwy 112 is a pain as well. Is it like a traditional thing or what?
Your response is appreciated.

Neah Bay hands down

There are many reasons but heres some.

1. Better fishing.
2. Its always an adventure.
3. Less people.
4. I like the rush of being out in the ocean in my boat.
5. more whales to see.
6. Incredible scenery.
7. bottom fishing after a limit of salmon.

I'd like to spend more time at Neah Bay but,

1) It is far enough to Sekiu
2) My boat is small (15' Arima)
3) I don't want to buy a reservation stamp
4) I don't know where/how to fish at Neah Bay

I keep telling myself I'm going to go to Neah Bay but seems like I always end up stopping in Sekiu. Bad habit I guess.

Like Elkrun said, Neah Bay.

I feel that fishing Neah Bay one needs more boat than the flats of Sekiu.

After dragging a larger boat to Sekiu , many have had enough and are ready to launch as opposed to dragging her all the way into the happy fishing grounds.

It is hard to find a State store in Neah Bay if you know what I mean.

Many fish with their families and just don't want to get to know the Makah.

The weather can turn for the worse at Neah Bay in a heartbeat, which goes back to that bigger boat deal.

When it comes right down to it, it is like the difference between elk hunting and deer hunting.

there's no question, neah bay wins.

-better fishing. more kings, halibut and bottomfish.... and the coho fishing is better and lasts over a longer time frame.... plus, closer access to canadian halibut.

-better facilities... forgive me, but power and water on the docks is important, plus docks that don't move when walking on them is nice. imo, camping @ the cape is better than any of the camping/rv spots at sekiu (trees are nice).

-better tackle shops- sorry, but washburns has a better tackle selection than anywhere in sekiu, and then add the two other tackle shops and you're covered if you need anything.

-more serious fishermen.

-close access to ocean beaches if your family doesn't like to fish or for pukers.

as for that extra 20 mile drive, it's not that bad, but if you can't stomach it, you probably can't stomach fishing in the ocean.

i always ask this same question in late august/early september when sekiu is plugged with crowds, and neah bay is empty (and last summer, still open for kings). all i can do is shrug, smile, and head out fishing (maybe the pink fishing was better in area 5 later )

chris

LaPush hands down. Dont have to run as far as you do when fishing out of Neah Bay. Less traffic on the water and tons more fish than Neah Bay and Sekiu. Who wants to fish where you can only keep one bottom fish.

Mr. Graham,
I think that you should know that bottomfish regs are the same in area 3 La Push, and area 4 Neah Bay, same limits; and Sekiu can even keep 3 rockfish, all with out a bar crossing. As far a better fishing, I saw the Lu Push Charters up in area 4 quite a bit. That tells me that they're running all that way to the best Chinook fishing in July and August, right amoungst the Neah bay fleet.
Hey, what's wrong with a Makah? An angry Clallam yokul with a half gallon of whiskey in him isn't pleasent either. (Right Lingcod Dave?)
Topwater hit it on the nose. During the coho run with Sekiu now a "clipped fish retention only" fishery, why not make the extra 20 miles? Less crowds, more and bigger fish and way, way more feed, and they had chinook fishing till the end in mid- September. Best marina, and if you don't want to be on the Rez, there's snow creek outside of town.
Great King fishing last year from opener in June, on through Sept. Hmm.

My vote goes to Neah as well. Way less people and lots more fish. You should have a bigger boat for Neah though. As far as finding the fish...the tackle shops will give you coordinates. As far as I'm concerning the more people the better when you are off shore!

have done the neah bay thing for years, but switched to LaPush this last summer...love it great bottom fishing,super salmon and great places to stay with the family. lots of NICE camp grounds.B&B's etc. and forks is just 15 miles away for what ever u need. boat ramp/morage is old.

sekiu don't get sick there do at neah bay

What do you mean you just don't want to get to know the Makah? Being a Makah myself, I take great offense to this statement. A lot of Makah are very generous and would do anything to help a visitor who comes to our beautiful corner of the world.

There are gorgeous beaches, hiking for the family, a museum renowned by the Smithsonian with a fine collection of Native American artifiacts; and an annual celebration of the Makah heritage with traditional dances, activities for young and old, a street fair not to mention a firework show and parade.

You do not necessarily have to "get to know" the Makah to have a great fishing experience (weather permitting) and god forbid expose your children to a little culture.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by papaslap:
[QB]
Many fish with their families and just don't want to get to know the Makah.

Speaking of the Makah Museum. I used a couple of midafternoon hours to tour the museum and was glad I did. Very interesting a well worth the small entrance fee. It is a shame to go all the way up there and not visit. I would put it on my list of "must do"s while in Neah Bay.

Look at the old pictures...everyone of them shows the Makahs barefoot...even in winter. Can you imagine spending a winter in Neah Bay hunting and fishing without shoes?

Havnfun.......shhhhhhh.

Steve

Pillar Point - lousy boat launch, no facilities, no people. Dang near filled a card with kings doing that last year - now please forget you ever heard that

Welcome bubs, don't be shy.

Have not fished Neah Bay or Sekiu but have fished La Push many times. The launch and the docks aren't in great shape but who cares. The fishing is excellent.

Don't attack me on the Makah statement. It wasn't a personal feeling just a statement.

no doubt la push has great fishing, and i certainly would pick la push over sekiu, even with the poor facilities at la push. but there are some serious drawbacks to la push. there were plenty of days last year where we fished and the coast guard had the bar closed at la push. of course, if i were a la push loyalist, i wouldn't want more people showing up, because the salmon quota will go real fast (and the framework isn't going to allow more fish).

of course, most neah bay fishermen's main beef with la push has to do with the way they want the halibut seasons managed (which is bad for the local economy).

chris

Neah Bay hands down and thank you Bubs. My family and I have been going to Neah Bay for our family vacation for many years. I have yet to ever have an incident. It is far my favorite place on the face of the earth. If there is a prettier place I would have a hard time believing it. There is more fish there of every kind. I halibut fish there Canadian and US. Last year the kings were so thick at Umatilla Reef that we didn't fish for much else. If having to small of a boat is a problem, buy a bigger boat. It worked for me. The Makahs are very nice and helpful, I talk to many of them every year. They will let you know where the hogs are being caught by some of their fishermen. Last year the huge kings were being caught at Bluedot-50&60 pounders-but that is a long run. Joey and Wendy Lawrence are dong a great job of running the new big Salmon. Everything everyone said above is true. But if you get seasick, you might not like it. As far as the state stores not being there, I go to fish not to drink.

How did LaPush ever become part of topic?
Thanks for the responses.
By the way Topwater, still got your canner and some tuna for you!

What it boils down to is if you've got enough boat, Neah or La Push are hard to beat. If you're a small boat guy, Sekiu (or Pillar) is hard to beat.

Bubs..although I am extremely critical of tribal abuses in hunting and fishing I am with Ron. Neah Bay has cleaned up its act alot since I first visited. The Big Salmon crew has been great the last two years and everyone around there was polite and helpful . The marina is first class. There is still work to be done by the tribe to convince members not to steal from visitors. It is sad to still see warnings at the motel about not leaving things unattended. In 2003 it was gas cans and coolers (with beer) that were the booty of choice by the thieves. It used to be that you could not leave your boat unattended if you wanted your electronics and downriggers to still be there after you walk away. At night you can count on run ins with the Makah police by crazy kids chasing around in cars on the 3 or 4 blocks of city streets...All in all it is a great place.

I have moored my boat there and parked countless times without any problems. Now dont get me wrong, i dont leave the electronics sitting out, or rods laying around the deck, but i woudn't do that anywhere. I really think that things are pretty good there as far as vandalism/theft go. I'll bet sekiu is worse simply because there are no officers patrolling.... I see them every time I'm at Neah. Topwater is the expert on this area, he has a charter there... what do you think Chris?

WRT Neah Bay and small boats:

I'm thinking of towing my 18' glass cuddy to Neah Bay first week in May. Is there worthwhile sheltered water that I can hide out in, or is the whole area pretty rough? I'm not worried about seasick, just safety. For the May trip, we'd be bottom fishing. Would I be better off sticking to Sekiu?

Thanks, and regards.

Finegrain
Woodinville

I think, as being that I have been in the charter industry in Neah Bay for 10 years and my wife Bubs for 7 of those 10 years, and residing there 5 months out of each year, that your property is at least as safe there as it would be in Sekiu. Actually, I had four rods/reels stolen when living at Olsen's last year (2002) but luckily there was witnesses to the theft and I was able to handle the situation myself. I was staying at Olsen's most of that summer. They were accually tourist fisherman if you can belive that, in their 20's I'd guess. I got 'em back within 15 minutes after they were taken.
Chris and I fish with each other in our free time and I'd bet he'd say the same.
The cooler thefts are a tradition amongst the kids on the rez. Apperently, that tradition has gone on for years. Just a few dumb kids won't let it go, but I haven't had anything stolen yet. Strange things happen to kids when they need to keep themselves amused I guess.

theft is not a major problem at neah bay. i have had nothing stolen from my boat, and imo most of the thefts of tackle on the marina is by transient sport fishermen. i think this because the docks with more long-term moorage clients see next to no thefts, while short-term docks see the tiny bit of thievery that goes on. i feel more comfortable with my boat being moored at neah bay than either of the other ports mentioned.

as for the coolers, don't be stupid. i don't have much sympathy for those who fragrently disobey tribal law. show some respect, drink privately, and don't leave it out for young people to get at.

you know, i hear about problems people have with the locals at neah bay, and from my experience they are all by the types of people that have run ins regardless of where they are. i haven't had problems with the neah bay locals, or the clallam bay locals, or forks, etc.

i think most of the talk about theft comes from those who have a financial interest in people not fishing at neah bay and want them to fish elsewhere.

chris

I know it happens, but I've moored my boat at the Coho marina in Sekiu probably 50 times over the last 20 years and never lost a thing to theft. I have, however, dropped a pair of pliers and a nice filet knife over the side there, and once saw a guy jump off a boat and miss the dock...

One of my clients realized that he didn't have his fishing license this past summer while onboard and was ready to leave the marina before dark with us. He said he'd be right back.
Then I heard a loud splash.
I looked off the stern an there he was in the water. I plucked him out ofcourse
He took a left turn in the slip a little too early and took a swim before he made it to the main walkway.
I had some spare clothes for him and he gladly accepted.
We went fishing, he had a great time, and he returned my clothes via mail this fall.
Good guy. He laughed it off and I look forward to seing him this year.
Why is it that people like to swim in the Stait of Juan De Fuca anyway? Its COLD!