Trolling at 9mph is good for Wahoo and tuna, but for salmon 3-4 mph is top speed, more than that will result in twisted line or lost gear.

people eat those dock shrimp at friday harbor? we caught a ton of them last weekend but just let the kids have fun and tossed em back seemed too small to mess with.
guys on BD keep MA7 pretty tight on info. but you can always ask. either way you will have fun and there will be enough pinks to keep you company in that time frame.

You guys are full of information! Thank you! I am going through all the information provided and clicking on links, so I am a little inundated with info at the time. I am also compiling a list of terminal gear I think I will try to find here before I go. I am lucky enough to have a cabellas about 45 minutes away from me, so I think a trip is mandatory at this point. As recommended in an earlier post, it sounds like some places right on the water might be sold out when I am there, so I will get several things here as well.

Keep this in mind, I want to catch as many fish as possible. Big or small. I Am on vacation, so I have all week to play around and do different things. I want to catch as many and as many different kinds of fish as I can. Baitfish, "trash fish", small fish... anything is fun to me. Actually the fishing is what I like. If I catch anything, that is just a bonus. I would rather catch several small to avg fish than 1 big one. I have never caught a salmon, so I am thrilled to be able to catch pinks - since that seems to me the fish mentioned the most to me and the likely fish I will catch, but not the quarry many of you go after! That is perfectly fine with me. If I get anything else - great! If not - so be it.

Thanks again, and keep the information coming! You all have me super pumped about this trip.

Doing research on marinas to stay at, and the route up. Deception pass sounds really neat, but also makes me nervous. Should I be? What about in a bigger boat? I will not be familiar with the area, and I know rocks and fiberglass do not get along. I do not want to risk anything, but if it is a matter of having to take your time, making logical choices and just a little extra care, I am game. Having to take my time and also have to be perfect in speed, drift, timing of tides and boat position in relation to currents, that risk does not sound worth it to me. Any advise from those who have navigated through there? Is it worth it? Or am I possibly worried needlessly?

Deception Pass is way cool, seals, otters, eagles, and a ripping tide. is there risk... yes but the flight out here has risk. my motor quit once at the worst I ever saw it tide going out high wind going in. scared me bad, and if I hadn't restarted it would have been really bad. but I still go through at times. most people just blast through it and don't ever have a problem. it's worth the risk to me. my opinion is give it a healthy respect, if the weather is bad or the tides really strong wait a bit till the tide slows and the weather improves. and if you don't trust the boat yet then go around.

also the pass looks tiny from a distance but its a lot bigger when you get there.

in the end it's your call.

if you have put a 50' Vicking in a slip you have nothing to worry about. I wouldn't skip DP. It's just to cool . You'll have a slack tide every 6 hours and its only bad running into the current on a heavy exchange. Just ask about a current chart for it when you pick up the boat. You will want to play the currents whenever you are going any distance in that boat. If you go to La Conner on the way up DON"T take a short cut. Be sure you have water on your way into the channel. A half mile from shore it can be 2' deep.

@ hybridcx yes I ate them a few times a few years back. they end up looking like small cocktail shrimp. just boil and pop the heads off and peel the tails.

you pay $8.95 at Anthony's for about 20 of them over chopped celery with some sauce. it isn't fresh king salmon, but its bounty of the sea that's easy to get. and they sell those little nets right at the store for getting them. for like $5. the only hard part is getting out fished by a 6 yo in a life jacket, but most of them will be more than happy to teach you how.

Since you mentioned you've never caught a salmon before, this may be helpful in identifying what species you are catching. This is in the regulation book as well.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/pac_salmon_id.pdf

Every pink run people end up keeping fish they think are pinks but turn out to be species they can't legally retain.

The San Juans are in Marine Area 7 in the regulation booklet.

Have a good trip.
SF

sounds good yeah we got the net (13$) last weekend. and my son had a blast trying for them. and we got a fair amount, but like i said we would just toss em back.

Yes, I guess I will have to see what the current is like. I suppose it is like putting the boat through a bridge and against the tide. I will have to youTube it and see if anyone has video of it. I do not want my first attempt to be the last and the mistake. It is unmarked hazards under the water that makes me nervous in an area I do not know.

Saftey is always first though.

Thanks again!

About docking the Viking - interesting fact thing I found is that the bigger the boat, the easier it is to dock - but it takes a bit longer. The fact that the boat has twin screws is also great. You can spin on a dime: one forward, one in reverse. The other thing about bigger boats, is that you use weight to your advantage. Once in motion, it stays in motion. That and little adjustments. When docking, I bet I put switch each engine in forward and or reverse about 10-12 times. There is never a reason to rush. Ever. I would rather put the 50' in a slip with no bow thruster than a 25' single engine outboard on any given day. On a day it is blowing, even more.

current chart - it is on the list!!!

Just one, and she is mine - at least I think she is mine - she now has my
last name.. ha ha ha..

Best catch of my life - no way was going to release her!

Deception Pass is a must see. My buddy often will split his trip up from Seattle in 2 pieces and anchor up in Coronet or Bowman Bay (essentially one is on each side of the bridge/pass). Bowman Bay is shallower and is more exposed but is usually fine. If you do hang out there for a night, take a walk up to the bridge and check the sunset from up there. Top notch.

Deception Pass current charts: http://www.dairiki.org/tides/monthly.php/dec

If you just want to catch some random fish, drop a herring or a smaller Point Wilson dart near the bottom. Keep in mind that very little of what you catch will in season.

Back from a couple of days at the south end of Whidbey with the eagles flying and screeching and the Indians crabbing.

The concern about Deception Pass is that the high current flows create whirlpools which can quickly throw the bow of a boat in the wrong direction - take note of the high rock cliffs!

As has been written by others it is a beautiful passage but warrants respect.

check this place out also.

Spieden Island

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940619&slug=1916258

it's an old canned hunt site. some cool animals you can see from the boat. and if you are into pictures, a place to get shots that you can't get mast places.

click here for a quick DP run
DPass is at 4min into this clip. Over the next 8 min he covers a good hour of your trip back home to Seattle. The clip ends around LaConner. The area south of the Island on the left is the Skagit Flats. Stay to the west of it. Shallow Sat view click then zoom out a little

Naton: can I borrow a rod for this weekend? Need it delivered in Snoqualmie.

Reviving this thread.

I was forced to take a hiatus in my trip preperation, as both my parents went into the hospital at the same time for different reasons. Now I am way behind, and have to quickly come up with a plan.

So far, I only have the basic plans made:
Saturday: Getting on the boat, food shopping, spending money and contributing to the local economy.

Sunday: Navigating it northward towards the San Juan area. Need to pick a place to stay. I was thinking somewhere in/around Lopez Island area at a marina, so that we can get anything we did not think of getting when in Seattle. Any recommendations?

Monday: No plans other to look for whales for my wife. This is the primary reason for coming out. We got a super zoom lens - 300-500mm, so she is ready to get some good pictures yet keep our distance from them. (We will not be one of "those people".) Hope to anchor somewhere and spend the night.

Tuesday: No plans – Tues night – Planning to stay at Friday Harbor - any “Must see/must do” things? We are not into history, but love old buildings and craftsmanship. Restaurant recommendations?

Wed, meeting up with friends at Friday harbor who are going to stay on the boat with us until Saturday. Wed night – Anchor somewhere, and have a great time away from the world.

Thursday Night: Stay in the deception pass area – but do not know where – Any recommendations? Someone mentioned “Coronet or Bowman Bay (essentially one is on each side of the bridge/pass). Bowman Bay is shallower and is more exposed but is usually fine. If you do hang out there for a night, take a walk up to the bridge and check the sunset from up there. Top notch.” I will look into those places more, but if anyone had any more recommendations, they are welcome!

Friday: Navigate slowly south toward Seattle.

Sat - Drop the boat off, and head back to reality.


Modifications to my original plans:
I am not going to crab – going buy them – easier and quicker. Same with oysters.
Are the oyster fishermen/crabbers approachable on the water and at the docks? On the east coast, crabbers and lobstermen I have found to be very generous if you hail them on the way in. I do not know if it is the same up there.
Fishing – Still need to find a travel rod, and get some lures. Sounds like buzz bombs, and bright spinners are my best bet. I am not out to target specific fish – just any fish. I have to keep it simple. So I think these are my best bets. Also, If there are rods on the boat, does everyone need a license? No one else has the slightest interest in wetting a line, and won't - but I do not know the rules. Here, unless you are holding a rod, you do not need license.

CNCFish – You mentioned: “I could maybe ride from Shilshole to Edmonds or Everett with you. and show you the stuff” Is that offer still on the table? If so, I might take you up on it!

If your primary objective is to see the whales you should spend time at Friday Harbor (south) or Roche (north). Roche is busy but I'd consider it a must for a trip like this. You can either tie up to the dock or anchor out in the harbor. You can go up the inside from Friday and then around the island from Roche. Whales are usually somewhere along the SW side of San Juan Island so you will probably find them before getting back to Cattle Pass to go back to Friday Harbor. Make sure you have GPS and/or charts, there is often fog in the morning this time of year. I was just in that area on Sunday fishing off of Eagle Point. There's a bunch of humpies there which are easy and fun to catch, and not bad, but not the best eating. I like them smoked or BBQ'd. It helps to bleed them and put on ice right away. Troll flashers and squid or spoons, 30-70ft deep or cast pink jigs. I did manage to catch one king about 15lbs to go with 3 humpies for my limit. For more fishing tips look up John's Sporting Goods newsletter.
Good luck, it is beautiful in the San Juans right now!

You only need a license for anyone actively fishing.

You aren't likely to flag down any commercial crabbers. I'd suggest being generous with booze back at the docks/marina and you'll likely end up with someone giving you crab. Try to get someone to take you salmon fishing on their boat too. You'll be FAR more likely to succeed with the right gear, fishing the right way, at the right time, and in the right place.

West side of San Juans is probably your best bet for whales. There are also a lot of fish out there.

Bowman is fairly open to the west so if the wind is blowing from that direction, you may be best in Coronet Bay.

Hopefully we keep getting more of this same weather. This is about as nice a summer as I've ever seen.

Thanks for the tips!

Sad for me, but getting someone to go with me specifically for fishing OR going with someone is not an option. I fish most of the summer, so this is the trip for my wife. So, I will (happily) try and do all she wants. Only when I can, I will try to catch something. I realize that puts the odds against me, but if I catch one salmon, it would be a first for me, so I would consider that a success. That may not sound like a lofty goal to many of you out there, but everything is relative. Right? I have seven days on the boat, so I suspect there has to be one dumb fish that will bite my line. As I often say: Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.