Hey guys, so got my sled set up with down riggers for kokanee this year! Normally I wait until later in the summer and set crab pots in area 13 then run up the nisqualy river for Chinook. But thinking I can get an early start this year and fish the sound with my new down rigger set up! But I'm not a salt guy. So question is. What is there to fish for right now? Maybe some methods and rigging info? Don't need any secrets just some info to get me started! Thanks in advance!

Page 125 of the regs tells you what is open in MA 13: clipped Chinook, C&R on trout, and ling seem to be the primary targets.

Oh, and crabbing opens 1 June in MA 13!! But I would be very concerned about setting those pots and then leaving the area. Should be interesting with recreational and tribal crabbers at it at the same time.

I've never had a problem leaving pots except for when I let them get washed away by the very strong tides that happen around Nisqually. IMO that accounts for 99% of the problems people have.

I was trying to be subtle in pointing out that since recreational crabbers will now be competing directly with tribal crabbers during the month of June there may be some associated resentment.

Otherwise, I agree that most "stolen" pots in South Sound are pots lost due to inadequate scope and/or inadequate weight.

Agreed. I've only been crabbing here for about 3 years. The tribes have been crabbing it hard all summer for at least that long and have been going in well before the July opener in years past.

Bacon for sculpin.

Area 13 has been fishing very well. The month of May has already seen a few fish in the 20s and quite a few in the mid to upper teens. The average fish seem to be in the 8 to 12 pound range. The folks I know are catching are fishing around Point Fosdick (The Flats) and Fox Point- depending on tide. The northeast corner of Fox Island is heating up and should be on fire right around the first week of June to Father's Day..

If you are planning on dropping the pots at Nisqually, definitely have sufficient weight to keep them in place with the right amount of scope.. There will be a lot of tidal movement...

You can fish Johnson Point, Cole Point and/or outside of the pots at Oro Bay on the flood tide.

The ebb tide dictates fishing Devils Head and you can drop the pots around Amsterdam Bay.

What rigging should I use? Flasher and herring?

Flasher and bait will work until the dogfish move into the area. Thin blade spoons, hoochies, and tube flies work well as searching lures.

I prefer to jig Darts, Stingers and Zingers around the bait.