I am thinking of heading to Neah bay for some halibut in may and would like to know if there are any places to throw out a tent and camp. I know there are some inexpensive hotels, but I like to stretch the bucks as far as possible. I also would like to know what type of terminal setups you use when fishing the close in spots (near tatoosh, the garbage dump, etc..). I also would like to know how much weight is needed to get to the fish in these areas, with either spreader bars and bait or jigs.
This will be my first trip to Neah with my own boat and I want to be as prepared as possible.
Thanks!

The snow creek area would fit you best,As far as weight that will depend on how strong the tide is.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Cape Motel also has a campground, but the docks at Snow Creek are right next to the camping area.

The docks in NB proper are about a 1/4 mile walk from the Cape Motel campground.

Can't give good advice on gear. I'll defer that to others w/better knowledge.

Go to your local sporting goods store and get the new Neah Bay map that's out.

The best camping and probably the nicest rooms in NB are to be found at The Cape Motel.

Although to say you have the nicest rooms in Neah Bay is not saying much.

The Cape is about 2 blocks from the marina, but right next to the grocery store. The marina is 1st class.

The Cape is the place, Snow Creek probably will not have there docks in by then. Weather can really make that a tough place to get out from. The cape has a nice camp site and with the marina there is a good place to park the boat and not worry about it.

We will be there over the 4th for the big springers. Last year was a ball. Oh and just a word of advice, stay away from Silver Salmon, I had a very bad experiance last year with them.

I have stayed at the silver salmon, and although it wasn't anything to brag about, it was available. I would be interested in what the bad experience was (JRfishing). For halibut gear I used 32 ounce sinkers (ball) on a large spreader rig. Put the 10-11/0 bait rigs on that for the big herring bait, or octopus. Last year we downrigged "cop car" spoons (black and white3.5 or 4") with a hotspot flasher for salmon when it opened. Really it was so good last year that almost any lure got salmon right in front of the island. No pinks this year, might not be as much fun. The only disappointment was the bottom fish, you could tell they were really down compared to years past.

If you really want to stretch your bucks, you can pitch a tent next to the Sooes river, according to the visitor rules. All you need to purchase is the visitor pass. (Less than 10 buck for the year) Great view, but not all that convenient.
If you'd like anymore suggestions or details concerning camping (etc) at Neah Bay from me, go ahead and contact me (through the board) at anytime.

J.D.

JRF,

So? where's the problem?

JR..First I want to say that after a very very tough day today I am sitting here with tears running down my face laughing my butt off!!!

What a great description of the sorry state of Neah Bay motels....Once I had a room like that with the toilet in a room so small you had to back in to sit on the pot...and then with broad shoulders you had to kind of fall backwards letting the walls on each side hold you up til you hit the seat....then it was a hoot to get off the thing..you had to grab the door jambs and pull your self out into the hall then turn around to fetch the TP from the floor and you can picture the rest.....We stayed at the Cape last year and I slept on my boat...I did have a motel room too and it was really clean and well appointed. I think it ought to make it into the Neah Bay newspaper as the only 1 star room in town...The campground is a different story..it was beautiful and secluded...get too close to the road and you risk getting run over as there is a police chase almost every night..Infact, last time someone stole the cop car and went crazy speeding up and down the three or four blocks of town..I think the cop had to borrow a car to chase after his...too funny. Bring a camper or a motorhome and live in style in the Cape campground and then all you have to wrry about is how to rig padlocks on your coolers.

Ah yes. Everybodys got to experience that "rustic charm" once!

OK, here's my Silver Salmon story:

About 5 years ago, our group of 2 vehicles & boats arrive in the evening. The town is pretty full & we are looking for a place to camp. The SS was all we could find, so the owner shows us our camp "site" which is a small grassy area in the middle of the motle parking lot. We say fine --- and then he warns us: "don't be noisy out here, you have to be quiet".

Well, as if on cue, right then a local drives by and lobs a M80 near us...

The next day we realize that we know the guy staying in a room next to the tents. I'm looking thru the door (he has to leave it open cuz the windows don't open) and it's like the crazy house of illusions in there with all the angles of floors and kitchen counter. Then I notice the "planters" in front of the rooms are built up so that 2' of dirt is piled against the exterior "siding". Too funny.

They did have an very good free fishing map of the area in the gift shop, however.

I was thinking about fishing it this summer instead of Seiku...Any thoughts from anyone on whether my 19ft Stryker could handle the water up there? I'll have kids with me. I'll worry about the thievery and bad accomodations later....

A 19 footer would be just fine for fishing "inside" (Waadah Island to mushroom rock) and if the weather is extra nice, for the ocean.

besides beer in a cooler, thievery is not a problem in regards to your boat (just treat your gear as you would at any marina).

imo, most of the thievery on the docks comes from transient sport fishermen.

chris

chris....you're not biased are you?

Thanks for input.....As far as theft in that area goes...that's pretty much the same all over...I have seen a lot of negative information about the place. I'm sure you'd be more likely to have stuff disappear from your boat in downtown Oly or Tacoma. But, obviously disaffected youth sometimes do see "transient fishermen" as a nuisance or prey. I think the main thing for people tp remember is to show respect for whatever community you're visiting. I Just try and catch fish, mind my own business, and be happy.

I have found La Push to be the really rough place of the bunch. On the other hand, Neah Bay was fun for us every time we went. Easy parking, easy moorage, fantasimo fishing. Only problem I ever heard about was water in the gas.

We always camp at Snowcreek.
www.snowcreekwa.com

grandpa2,

a bit biased, yes... but i truly believe that the supposed theft problems at neah bay are just not true (besides the beer in the coolers.... which wouldn't exist if people respected the law).

i've moored my boat at neah bay for years with zero problems with theft (ZERO!). tribal members leave my boat alone.... but transient sportfishermen think nothing of jumping on board to look around, cooking food on my gunnels, stealing my spot (with knowledge).... etc.

as for my bias, yes i run a charter at neah bay. but theft rumors aren't keeping my customers from coming out here (the fishery keeps them coming back). this has nothing to do with increasing my customer base, but is solely about clearing up untrue rumors.

in fact, if most sportfishermen steered clear, i would sleep more and get less aggrevated from the inconsiderate behavior many of us sportfishermen display on "vacation" so my bias is not really in effect <G>

chris