What a great day to be fishing! I planned to meet up with fellow WaLaker Bay Wolf at the Westport jetty to fish for some lingcod. But first had to get bait!

3:10 am wake up. My wife rolled over and groaned with hate, no snoozing, had to get up and catch the tide right for bait. Loaded up the big rods and took off with the dog in tow after a big breakfast, arrived at the secret bait spot at about a half hour before low tide.

It took about 15 minutes to pump a bucket of sand shrimp and we got ready to go. The absolute key to jetty fishing success is sand shrimp. Digging them is free, and you get tons of 'em.

After the bait, we stopped by the park to dig some clams. It was slow pickings; they were not showing at all. It took me almost two hours to get my limit. Granted I stopped to help some new clammers to find shows and give tips on digging them, but it was really tough. I always like to help out fellow enthusiasts.

To the Hungry Whale! Stopped to get refreshments and ice, can't have a full day of jetty fishing without a nice IPA to quench the thirst. Packed up the ice in the bag, and got to hiking.

On to the jetty! I got out there to find Bay Wolf and company already setting up on the rocks. We decided to try out a little further, so we trekked out over the rocks. We didn't go as far out as I usually do, but we were far enough. Our party started fishing with a variety of techniques, jigs, squid etc. I recommended that we fish with sand shrimp right off the bat, and soon everyone agreed with me. Got the first greenling quickly, set it up to fish for lings. The best rig is a big 7/0 circle hook, right through the back of the fish, let it swim around and wait for a ling to grab it. The bait bite was pretty good, so we quickly had a few greenlings swimming around with big hooks.

Mike had the first ling bite, but it didn't stick. After a while of crabs, more greenlings, I got a big bite while fishing for bait. Turned out to be some long eel looking fish, it was pretty big. Not sure what it was, really wanted to get a look at it. I've never caught anything like it before out here. Apparently it had teeth, because while we were scrambling to get a net on it, the swell came up and down, putting tension on the fish and it bit right through the line. Weird looking thing too.

A few more greenling and my crew started to get bored, so they started tossing jigs, and hooked up with 2 undersized or barely legal lings. Unfortunately, with the lighter tackle they were using, both fish bit right through their line before the fish could be landed. Around this time I had my first big ling on a greenling. After waiting for it to grab on solidly, I slowly raised it towards the surface. The trick is to get them to bite, and they don't even know that they're hooked until it's too late. It becomes a game of patience, slowly coaxing them to the surface, while making sure that they hold on. He spit it out for a second, so I gave him some slack, dropped my bait back down, and of course he was too greedy and picked it back up. We sent our guy down with the net and I brought it to the surface. We got a good look at it and it was BIG. Too bad that as I brought it in, the net underneath it, the waves came up at just the right moment to swamp our net guy, and drag the fish out to sea just before the net could come up on him. He let go and we didn't see any more of him. Oh well, that's fishing, right?

The bait was still kicking, so I threw it back out. A little while, and I get a monster slam, with three solid thumps of head shakes and then nothing. Let it sit, maybe he'd come back, but he didn't. Reeled up to find nothing but a tail and mangled greenling. Back to bait fishing.

About this time, everyone was dejected, decided to start packing up to fish for surf perch. I told them that the tide was changing, the current was picking up and the bite was going to happen, and they should give it a few more minutes. They really wanted surf perch, so they started to head out. Just as they were finished I had a monster take! I couldn't help but say "I told you so!” I let the fish munch, he took it hard and I started to bring him up. This time the fish was hooked, when they turn and pull, those sharp circle hooks make them hook themselves. He freaked out, and started peeling off line for a second. My reel is BIG and has a ton of drag, so I know this fish is big! Coaxed him in, and the blood started pumping when I got a good look at him. We had the net ready, the fish made another dash toward the bottom, a swell politely picked him up and deposited him on the rocks and we rushed to jump on him. Fish to shore! Man, it was satisfying. Took pictures, got him bled out and the darn thing bites my hand up. Those teeth are SHARP! I knew that I would be pushing my luck trying for another ling, so I packed it up to go with everyone to fish for surf perch.

We tossed shrimp in the waves for a bit, I picked up a perch. I ran out of leaders, so I tied on a jig and decided to fish the shallows on the bay side for a bit. Sure enough, had a little ling grab on right at the rocks, but as I tried to drag him up (all of my net crew was on the other side) he popped off. Oh well. All’s well when you get to eat clams and ling!

It was a good day. The weather was great, the company was good, and we started off the first day of the official license year with a nice haul. I think I sold the guys (and gal) on my system. Bigger, heavier tackle rocky weights and cheap leaders. Digging your own sand shrimp, using heavy, beater rods and big line. I generally run at least 40 pound maxima out there. On my big ling rod, I run 100 lbs. power pro and at least a 50 lbs. steel leader on my big live bait hook. The power pro has a smaller diameter that allows for the bait to swim around better, the heavy power pro allows for less abrasion on the rocks. Attach the swivel with a Bimini twist and you have a rig that can take the abuse of rubbing up against the sharp basalt rocks of the jetty. For weights, I just grab a handful of jetty rocks; it sure beat paying up to 2 bucks for lead pyramids. Tie them on with a square knot once or twice, and they will pop off if snagged, making retying a breeze. For leaders, I fish two or three bait holder pre-snelled hooks, tie them to the mainline Maxima with an over hand knot. The 1/0 or size 1 work well, they are tied with heavier line, which can bring in the bigger fish if you end up hooking one. I have had lings grab onto greenling as I'm reeling them in, and the Cabezon really enjoy sand shrimp, they have big teeth that can cut through lighter leaders. At 89 cents a package, you're not spending much at all on tackle.

If you can walk further out on the jetty, the sea bass and striped perch are more numerous. About halfway out the depth drops dramatically. Around that drop off the sea bass suspend and on an incoming tide you can catch the schools as they're coming in. We didn't go that far out this time, but the lings come in closer too, so we were fine. When the current picks up, the ling cod tend to bite better. It's an all-day fishery, fishing an incoming tide is usually the best, as it brings the fish in. I think the lings go on the prowl when the current really starts moving. If the greenling bite suddenly dies, it usually means there are a few lings in the area on the hunt, so try to have live bait ready!

It's always nice to have a day off and get some fish that aren't usually on my table. Now, it's back to the steelhead grind! I'll be fishing the Cowlitz for steel and springer’s, and running my bank lessons on the Skookumchuck, so if you'd like to get out, this is the perfect time. I have some dates available, and I'm offering $25 dollars off per person if you can swing a weekday. Less crowds AND a good deal, so let's get you on some fish!


Nate Treat Fishing
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"Specializing in Fishing Instruction and Shore Guiding on Washington's Rivers."
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