FISHING THE NORTH COAST
Eureka Boats Leave the Salmon Biting By Kenny Priest
fishing@northcoastjournal.com
L
ast Friday and Saturday produced some of the best ocean sport salmon fishing we’ve seen in years — or maybe ever. It was nearly impossible not to get limits if you were anywhere near the right spot. And then the winds blew in and the seas turned rough, keeping the fleet tied up Sunday and Monday. Ocean conditions were much improved Tuesday, the last day of salmon season until Aug. 1., and boats of all shapes and sizes made the run to the last known location of a large school of kings, hoping for the magic to strike again. And it did. The fish weren’t in that exact location but they didn’t go far. After a little scouting and the schools located, it was whack and stack. What a way to end the first half. So now with salmon closed for a couple months, the focus will be squarely on the white meat variety: Pacific halibut and rockfish.
Weekend marine forecast Ocean conditions look excellent through the work week before the wind picks Saturday. Friday’s forecast calls for winds out of the southwest up to 5 knots and waves west 4 feet at 11 seconds and southwest 2 feet at 18 seconds. Saturday is looking a little rougher, with south winds 10 to 15 knots and waves southwest 6 feet at five seconds and southwest 2 feet at 16 seconds. Sunday looks a little better, with west winds 5 to 10 knots and west waves 5 feet at eight seconds and southwest 2 feet at 16 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-todate weather forecast, visit www.weather. gov/eureka/ or www.windy.com. To monitor the latest Humboldt bar conditions, visit www.wrh.noaa.gov/eka/swan. You can also call the National Weather Service at 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at 443-6484.
Eureka resident Peter LaVallee with a nice king caught Tuesday. The ocean sport salmon season in the KMZ closed after Tuesday but will reopen Aug. 1. Photo courtesy of Tim Klassen, Reel Steel Sport Fishing
The Oceans: Eureka
Boats looking for salmon got back on the water Tuesday after a couple days off due to rough seas and wind. The salmon were in roughly the same spot as when they left them biting Saturday. It was limit-style fishing for the fleet that wanted another shot prior to the salmon season closing until Aug. 1. There were some Pacific halibut caught last Friday while conditions were ideal. Not many have ventured to the Cape but, with salmon closed, that will likely change. Ocean conditions look good through at least Friday.
Trinidad
The salmon bite was good over the holiday weekend out of Trinidad. According to Curt Wilson of Wind Rose Charters, there was a good bite on the 00 line in 240 feet of water on Friday. He said, “Some halibut were also caught, with most coming straight out in 250 to 275 feet of water. The rockfish bite remains excellent and the ling cod have showed up in good numbers. The crabbing is good, with limits or close to it for the boats fishing rings/ nets.” Salmon season will close after May 31 and open again Aug. 1.
Shelter Cove
According to Jake Mitchell of Sea Hawk Sport fishing, the salmon fishing has slowed down a little bit with boats getting about a fish and a half per rod. “There hasn’t been any concentration of fish,” said Mitchell. “Boats are getting them from the whistle to the Hat. You don’t have to go far for rockfish, it has been pretty good just south of the whistle to the Old Man.” Salmon season will run through July 4, reopening on July 22 and running through Sept. 5.
Crescent City
According to reports, the salmon bite went belly up on Tuesday after having consistent bite for the entire month of May. The water temperatures could have slowed it down, it was a chilly 48 degrees Tuesday. The rockfish bite remains excellent and there were some big lings to 30 pounds caught prior to the wind picking up. There have only been a few Pacific halibut caught but there should be much more effort now that salmon season has closed until Aug. 1.
Brookings
Lingcod and rockfish action has been good out of Brookings, while just a few Pacific halibut are being caught, reports Andy Martin of Brookings Fishing Charters. He said, “Catch rates for halibut improve in June and peak in July and August. Anchovies have arrived in the Port of Brookings and are thick outside the harbor, a good sign for the June 18 coho salmon and June 25 king salmon openers out of Brookings. The later-than-normal ocean salmon openers in Brookings coincide with what is typically the peak season. May and early June are closed on the Oregon side to reduce harvest of salmon bound for the Klamath River.” Read the complete fishing roundup at www.northcoastjournal.com. ● Kenny Priest (he/him) operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@ fishingthenorthcoast.com.
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northcoastjournal.com • Thursday, June 2, 2022 • NORTH COAST JOURNAL
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