DOUBLES AND LIMITS

The sockeye season was extended this week to daily fishing with a two fish limit until the sports catch is reached. Latest estimate I saw was 490,000 fish, meaning sportsman have 70,000 fish plus another 10,000 which the tribes decided to "give" us due to previous over fishing. This morning my son and I went out to see if the fishing was holding up. I'd read that the fishing was slowing down, so I had no great expectations.

We started fishing at 5am off the SW side of Mercer Island. There was a good size crowd of boats. We saw only two fish caught up until 7:30 and I was thinking maybe the hot fishing had gone. However, I remembered that every morning trip we've gone out there has been a bite that starts around 8am. Today was no exception! At 7:30 we saw a couple boats hook up with fish. Just then we hooked our first fish, 65 ft on the downrigger. As we played the fish, our second rod exploded with a fish quickly going airborne. This fish hit at 73 ft on the DR. We lost the first fish but were still pretty excited about hitting two fish at once. At 7:55 fish #2 came to the boat, a nice, bright, 8 pounder that hit at 75 ft down. Fish #3 was caught at 8:20 at 65 ft deep and fish #4 came in five minutes later at 75 ft deep. Limits by 8:30, what a day!

Here are the techniques we are using to catch these fish. I have no qualms about posting them because I truly believe that this site is for the benefit of sport fishers and that if we are not afraid to share our secrets we will all be better off for it. #1 Fish deep. Every fish I've seen caught has been off of boats with downriggers. If you don't have a downrigger, don't be afraid to let out a lot of line. By 7am I think you should be at least 65ft deep. Other anglers I've talked to have also hit the fish deep, some down to 90 ft.
#2 Troll slow, but not too slow! I've seen some people going so slow they are almost drifting. We were trolling about 1 1/2 mph. You've got to go fast enough that you cover some water to find the schools.
#3 Our rig was a dodger, 0 and 00 size,and about 18" of line to a black 3/0 gamakatsu hook.
#4 When you get a fish, go back and cover the area again, these fish seem to be in schools and are not loners. Don't just keep trolling, circle back. These tips should work to help you get into some fish. Above all, be ready for the 8am bite.


Good luck and enjoy the opportunity we have this year! And please let us know how you do.

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