Any one out there started fishing bellingham bay for kings yet? I know it opened up on the 16, just havent had time to go out and try yet. Samish kings should start showing up out there I would think. Any one have much success jigging? Last time I was out there was 2 years ago with 3 kings in 5 trips, using small crippled herring white and green w/ black stripe.
Thanks in advance.

I was out last week and saw one fish jump all the way out of the water and watched a seal snuff out a 20+ pound slab. I also noticed a commercial boat out in the middle of B'ham Bay on my way in from camping last Sundsy. My friend hooked a big fish that broke him off yesterday but that was a little further north.

If anyone really knows this fishery, I'd love to talk to you. I'm out there a lot but have never even really tried the Bellingham Bay salmon thing.

FFnFM, with the jigging deal down south, do you actually have the "creek channels" marked on the GPS or are you just in the general area? When I was down there last week, it was about a +5 tide and I was in areas ranging from 3 feet deep (with eel grass)to about 30 feet deep. Even with the chart and fish finder, it is a little stressful because there isn't much extra water under the boat. I'm thinking that I was "in the game" but I didn't hook any fish and it will take a couple of more trips to really figure out if I'm wasting my time or not.

I have fished Bellingham Bay in Sept for Coho up Hales Pass and catch the occasional King. Sunday afternoon I fished for a couple of hours just to see how things looked. The west side of Lummi to Village point showed nothing. Plenty of bait but no Salmon. When I ran home I went through Hales Pass to see if there were any Coho jumping....nothing. I can usually put 4 coho in the boat when they're there. It's a little early from my experince (for silvers) as I have done my best after labor day.

I haven't put in any time in the southern part of the bay to interecpet Samish or Whatcom Creek Kings except Indian Village off of Guemes. I am very interested in learning that fishery from someone.

If you guys know where to catch kings in BB give me a PM. I have some free time coming from the family and would enjoy taking someone out. It's a fishery I'd like to figure to keep from running all the way to the outside or whatever....

The gill netters have been out in force latley so that's not making things any easier.

I've got a 19 foot runabout with a V6, Downriggers, GPS , etc...... Fishes two guys really nice.

Kaiser, the first time I went out there I went out on the south end of the bay where there were 3-4 other boats and fished there landing 2, I just happened to think to mark it on my GPS and returned there another few times w/ some success. I've also tried over by fish point with numerous other boats anchored nearby without much success. You are right that end of the bay is extremely shallow, but where I was at was in about 20-22 feet of water at high tide. Upon leaving I went straight north and this seemed to be in the channel, but I kept a close eye on the deph finder.

Just seeing if there are any fish stacked up out there heading for the Samish before I take a day off to go hit it.

Salmon Leader,

How are you fishing for the coho in hales pass? It isn't very deep in there is it? Are you using spoons and flashers on downriggers or herring? Anytime that the bite is better than others?

Thanks.

When the fish are in Hale's Pass I strictly have fished with my DR's. Yes, it is shallow and I have had great days fishing in less than 20 feet of water! Those little cookie cutter silvers are all about 4 - 5 pounds and are either feeding on small shrimp or crab (plankton size). By the first red bouy there is a shelf that holds fish and drops off to around 60 feet most of the way up the pass (heading north). I am eager to try casting for those fish though. Slug-O's and flies work. I use hoochies and flies off the DR's.

What kind of flies, I am not fimiliar with them. Like bucktails?

Full sized hootchies or smaller ones.

Ever use coho killer spoons?

Thanks for the info SL. I'm really going to make an effort to get into the silvers this year. I'd suspect that casting to the fish you mentioned would be both successful and fun. Do you ever head over near Sandy Point? Before I got my boat, I used to drive to the end of Slater, park there, and then walk to the right on the beach to fish right near the pier that goes out. There were almost always fish there. I know those same fish will also move in and out of the entrance to the Sandy Point marina.

I have also seen lots of fish near the entrance of Padden Creek but I believe that was late last fall and they were chums. People do fish near Marine Park for silvers though (although I'm not sure how successfully)?

As far as the Whatcom Creek kings, do you know if anyone fishes in that entrance to the creek near Jalepeno's Mexican restaurant? I wonder if they mill around there? I've heard those fish can be caught very close to Squalicum Harbor as well. I'm not really sure about the number of kings heading to the creek though.

When you talk about "Slug-O's", are those the soft plastics usually used for bass? Do you just fish a pearl color?

This has already been an informative thread for me because I really haven't found anyone that knows the fishery at all... at least this is a good start. With the commercial guys out there and the larger fish limit for BB, they must be out there somewhere.

Waterboy, I have used a standard salmon fly a couple of time with deadly effect when nothing else was working and the fish were jumping everywhere (even splashing the boat). Most other times I put a GSB fly on my son's rod and he will always get some action. This is all in Hales Pass when the fish are there. I have to admit, the last couple of seasons it's been really hit and miss to find them in Hale's Pass. I have a friend that lives right on the beach a couple hundred yards north of the fuel dock in Hales Pass (Goosberry Pt). I get up to the date reports of netting, visuals on fish and seeing people fishing for them. So far, nothing of importance to report.

I have fished Sandy Pt a few times. It's shallow and I always see bankies fishing from shore. The Slug-O's are a soft plastic worm type bait (bass product).

The gill netters hit the Whatcom Creek fishery so hard that I never try to fish it once the bay opens. During the week they will be staggered back and forth from in front of the waterway all the way up the shoreline (during the week, evenings). It's difficult to navigate your way back to the harbor through the zig zagging nets. More than once I have had a netter come racing at me telling me to stay away from his net. This is while I am standing up scanning the area in front of me going 15 mph trying to figure out which bow picker goes to which net. So, I just don't fish it during the week and there's nothing left on the weekends. I am not a real expert on trying to catch them as its too much trouble (whatcom creek kings).

I have heard of coho being caught along Marine Park (Post Pt). There have been guys on this board who have said they would fish there while away from class at WWU. This is another reason I want to focus more of my time in the southern part of the Bay. I have spent allot of time learning to fish in the Islands but feel I have been missing out on fish just south of me. Oh, and I have fished the Samish river many times and understand the fishery fairly well. It's time I hit the salt and learn to catch them as well.

I've fished Indian Village a bit, I'm certainly not an expert though. From what I've seen about 90%of the fish are caught an hour or so on either side of high slack. Some fish are caught all through the ebb and the flood, but I feel like I'm wasting time unless I'm there for high slack. If you find bait keep going through it the best you can. If you can't find bait and aren't marking a lot of fish, troll shallow and fast with the tide, and cover lots of ground.
Has anyone fished around Vendovi or Pt. William on Samish Is.? There must be a lot of fish at William, the seiners were lining up to set at the point this morning.

If I read the regs right I can keep wild silvers in the Bellingham Bay fishery, right?

ck,
I never read it that way before but after looking at again, I think you are right. That sure seems strange from a management point of view though. Where do they think those wild silvers are going and why would they really only be "keepers" when they are in B'ham Bay?

Salmosalar,
I'd start hitting all of the areas hard starting now and keep at it for about 6 weeks. Hit Sandy Point just before high tide. I once had a local tell me that there are 2 good times to catch fish. He said the first is in July and was claiming that the area is filled with Frasier River silvers that hang there for a while. Starting now (or very soon), he said that there are Nooksack fish that stack up there. I've always found the July Frasier comment a little strange but maybe he is right?

All, you can catch and keep (4) clipped fin coho in Bellingham Bay. Release all adipose fin fish through the end of Sept. The confusion has been occuring the first year area 7 went to hathery only during Aug/Sept. It says "Entire Area" in the basic section for Area 7 when it speaks to releasing wild fish. I know, I went through this the first year they released these confusing regs. The WDFW let us off easy the first year but from then on it's been a ticket if you are checked with wild fish on your boat in Bellingham Bay during Aug/Sept. No, I didn't get a ticket but I have become pretty good friends with the "fish checker" at Squalicum Harbor which he is always in close contact with Law Enforcement. It's just not worth the ticket to push your luck.

SL,

You obviously fish the area and know the rules but I still can't figure out how you could come to that conclusion just by looking at the regs? I just really don't read it that way at all. Why wouldn't they explictly state that under the "BB Fishery" section like they do with everything else?

I also question anything anyone from the WDFW says because I've personally had them misquote rules in the salt to me and have seen them totally unaware of the cutthroat closure on Lake Whatcom.

When you say, "Release all adipose fin fish through the end of September", I'm assuming you aren't including kings, right?

-KaiserDogg

KD, I am with you on the misleading regs....no arguement at all. It had everyone confused the first year it came out and I am surprised the language hasn't been changed to be more "black and white". It's just I know that area 7 is not for catch and keep coho during those two months because of my talks with a guy I trust who know LE. It's that statement "Entire Area" that gets it done. BB is part of Area 7.

Also, you're right. I should have said "just for coho only" for the adipose fin rule.

Watch the weather, I was out there weekend before last and that area can get GNARLY.

Yeah, I heard about the weather this past Sat too. You add in big tides and a north wind and that added up to some heavy duty swells on the north end of the Islands and in Rosario Straight. Pretty bad north of Lummi on Sat as well. Weather looks nice for this weekend plus some smaller tides as well. Should be good.

Yeah, terribly written regs.

Anyway, thanks for the coho clarification... I think I could have gotten myself in trouble. I'm sure you'll see me out there... I'm easy to spot. Old, red 17'center console Zodiac w/ 90 Yamaha.

And Ichtyoid, if you are referring to Bellingham Bay, I'd agree. It is often a sloppy mess compared to stuff further out. There are often uneven and strange waves when the winds pick up, especially coming into the Fairhaven side. I can't believe some of the boats people crab with out there... seriously dangerous.

If you haven't seen it, this is a great site to see real time shots of the bay and has a link that list the wind speeds every 5 minutes:
http://www.bellcold.com/bhambaycam.html

Cool site. I use it all the time.
All the locals know about how bad BB waters can be.
I will be out there Sat getting my crab (maybe Fri afternoon too). I am taking a neighbor's kids out with me on Sat. Attending a party on Sat night and plan to bring crab for dinner. I hope to get some fishing in while the pots are soaking. Those silvers better be in!! Give me a call on the VHF if you're out there. My boat name is the "Katiemac". 19' Bluewater, runabout, 9.9 Merc kicker, scotty electrics, Volvo Penta I/O you see in the picture.

Salmosalar...clue me in on what "Neptune" is referring to?