Keep a rod rigged with a 2.5" pink buzz bomb and throw it at every salmon you see jumping. You should be able to tangle with a few salmon and not detract from the whale watching.

Here is my .02: I get what your wife says and I get that you want to get r done yourself, but; you have one week, you will be spending 2 days each way going up and going back. That leaves you three days; of which your wife will want to see whales; as well as a number of other things she will discover once you are here. I would suggest you get a cheap rod and reel; some pink gear to troll while on the move.

You are not going to get the salmon figured out in the amount of time you have. I would suggest that you send your wife out on a whale watching trip while you go on a chartered trip for Salmon or both of you go on a Salmon/Whale watching charter. You will be fishing in the same area as the whales travel anyway. I know a good charter skipper up there. If you have the boat to yourselves I am sure he will fish you part of the day and then find some whales for you.

If you got a dingy with that boat; just get a cheap crab trap. There are lots of spots in the Islands, after you tie up the big boat, where you can run out to in the dinghy and get crab.

Whatever you decide to do; I hope you have a great trip.

Don't give up hope on salmon OR crab! Pink salmon next week on the west side of San Juan Island, where the whales usually are, should not be that hard. I agree with prior advice - just use a spinning rod setup to throw a small pink buzz bomb at jumping salmon while you're watching the whales. And I have sailing friends that have caught plenty of salmon as they motor from one spot to the next up there. A pink spoon four feet behind a 3 oz. banana weight will do the trick. It can all be done without a detour from whale watching.

You can drop a crab pot under your boat while you're in the harbor. You don't even need a dingy. I've seen plenty of crab caught by sailboaters under the dock at Islands Marine Center in Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island. Lopez is awesome, and IMC can hook you up with all the fishing/crabbing licenses and gear you need. There will be tons of pots just on the inside and outside of the mouth to the harbor - lots o' crab in both places.

+1

You should be able to dredge up some pinks just traveling along. Get some Point Wilson Darts and do some jigging, and who knows what you'll come up with.

You are so going to dig this trip. I just hope the weather holds - it has been a fantastic summer weather-wise out here, and there is nothing as awesome as the San Juan islands in the sun. And don't forget the meteor showers - up in the islands is a great place for viewing the stars.

To tell the truth, I'm a little envious. A trip to the islands in a 50-footer? Awesome.

If you don't mind, get some photos and post us a report when you get back. Hope you have the time of your lives.

Thank you for raising my confidence level! I know fishermen get very set in their ways after spending years perfecting "their" way of doing it, finding special spots and using specific techniques. However, I am not trying to figure all that out I want to, and need to keep it as simple as possible. Sounds like buzz bombs (what size? 2.5" the only size I need? bigger? smaller?) and spinners in #2 and #4 on a med action rod with 12-15 lb test is the easy ticket for success. Sure, I may not catch as many fish as many of you would, but catching them will be no less enjoyable finally, what about bottom fishing for smaller fish when anchored? I am like I suspect many of you are. Once we are set for the evening, and the wine is poured, I will take one last cast to the water and see what bites. I suspect that a chunk of meat (baitfish) on a circle hook would work?

As far as crabbing - we will see what happens when I get there. What do you guys use for bait up there? Fish heads and chicken? That is what we use in NJ for blue claw.)

If anyone is going to be out in that area - feel free to drop me a line on my cell. PM for the number.

Finally - any restaurant recommendations in that area? I want to find the good ones that the locals eat at - not those that visitors ( like me) would normally gravitate to.

I'd add some small spoons to your fishing setup. Humpies will go for dick nites in pink or half/half and you can also use gold star or coyote spoons which would give you a better chance at a silver or king. Bottom fishing however is basically closed.

After talking to someone who offered me their phone number, and talking for 45 minutes today on the phone - he said the same thing. I am going to be on the lookout for some. But they are not very popular around here - I think I am about 180 miles from the closest salmon river.

2" - 3" spoon size I gather is about right. Do you agree?

As far as restaurants in Friday Harbor go, I really like The Place. Blue Water Bar & Grill is also good. We went to the Downrigger a few weeks ago, and it wasn't what it used to be so I wouldn't recommend it. Herb's Tavern is still the best local bar in town.

Friday Harbor also has a good seafood market right out on the dock. If you can't come by any fresh fish/crab on your own, they can certainly help you.

I'd recommend 3.5 kingfisher or coyote. See kingfisher Been using #671, 675, 680 in 3.5 myself. Smaller sizes in rivers or to target humpies but no need to do that in saltwater. You'll have more than you want on a 3.5.

Agreed on the 3.5 kingfisher or coyote spoon in pink.

I just got back from a long weekend up there. Lots of pinks and some chinook around on the west side of San Juan Island. You will catch pinks if you just troll that spoon around behind 3 or 4 oz. of lead. 100' or so of line out, 1.5 to 3 knots, no need to interrupt looking for whales until you have a fish on.

I caught a lot 2 years ago on 3" needle fish spoons made for trout. chartreuse with the pink/orange tail was my best color. they have less drag and need less weight to get them down. they might be easier to find where you live.

http://www.thetackledepot.com/product/sea-striker-fluke-squid-rigs-144713-1.htm

that will catch pink salmon. hang a couple oz weight in front of it and tow it thru a school.... it'll work. and that's from a store in Lancaster.

http://www.thetackledepot.com/product/sea-striker-fluke-rig-with-bucktails-144712-1.htm

that one too.

looking at the products available you should be able to find many pink lures as well as flashers and dodgers in your area. you might have to get kokanee sizes but they will work.

what are your dates?

Thanks!!

Thanks CNC! I could be wrong, but it looks like it is it 2-3" long, pink or silver, you have a good chance! (Boy... someone could have a lot of fun with that statement...)

Well guys I am in the final preparation of going. I leave for the 3:00 flight on Friday. Land Fri evening, get on the boat - and crash.
Sat I hit the vineyard with the wife, get a case of wine, and have to find somewhere to get a fishing license around the marina. Sun AM I am up at first light and we are headed north as soon as I can see well enough.

Boat name is the "Fun Seeker" if you see me out there - feel free to yell on the radio!

For all those that took time to respond and/or send messages - THANK YOU I am sure this is going to be a trip of a lifetime, and you have been a part of making it with me. What a great group you are!

We are certainly going to document the entire trip with both words and pictures. I will be posting it when we get back and filter through the 1000's of pictures I am sure will be taken. If I have a chance, I might be able to do mid-trip update - but that is only if we have total downtime from fishing, cooking, eating, driving the boat, and we are not relaxing by cooking, eating, driving the boat and fishing.... ha ha ha ha.. have to love vacations!!!

Don't forget to get crab.

East coast crabs pale in comparison to Dungeness crabs, IMO.

Have a great trip!

I definitely plan in having my first Dungeness crab while I am out there!
Actually, I am excited to have my first truly fresh salmon as well.

2 weeks ago I saw a group of porpoise while crossing on the Edmonds ferry. make sure the wife is looking for those early in the trip. I have seen them and the little pilot whales between Seattle and Edmonds often this time of year. they seem to like to hang way out in the shipping lanes, but could be anywhere the baitfish are hanging out.

yep 2-4 inches is about what the majority of the bait in the sound is and the salmon like that size. if they can find the bigger bait they will key in on eating it but the little stuff is more plentiful. as you get closer to the islands I think larger bait becomes more plentiful. I would guess that's why you are getting different answers. that and the fact that the fish need to find your offering and its much easier to spot a big lure than a small one. have a great time.