We were on the water by 5:30 am and set 4 crab pots south of the Clinton Ferry before heading to Possession to start fishing. There were maybe 30 other boats in the area. We trolled green Hot Spot’s with green hoochies, green coyotes, and Coho killers for about 2 hours with negative results. We moved west to Scatchet Head where we trolled with maybe 10 other boats for about 2 more hours with not so much as a shaker. We ran one rod with a pinks set up and one for kings, again no results. We left Scatchet Head and motored west to the south west tip of Whidbey Island (Brown’s Point) and were alone trolling the area for about an hour and a half with no results. It was rough in the Brown’s Point area so we returned to Scatchet Head and gave it a second try, this time seeing 3 pinks jump in the area. They looked to be around 3 pounds. We were hoping to at least catch a pink but were unsuccessful. We stopped fishing at around noon and headed back to our crab gear. We located three of our four pots and the three we pulled were empty. No bait in the bait boxes and no crab in the pots. So 1 stolen or picked then tossed back into deeper water, and 3 picked. That is the last time I will ever leave my gear unattended. I should know better but my fishin partner thought we would be safe leaving it behind because there were so many boaters out there. Yea, not the case. Here is my vow: I swear, if I catch someone taking my gear they are going to jail! I will escort them to the Everett launch and forget my trip without hesitation. At the launch, I will see to it that EPD or the WDFW books the unethical thief in the Snohomish County Jail and I will do my best to see that their boat and gear is taken as evidence. That’s my promise…….

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