Northwest Fishing Reports

I never know whether to spell that "surf perch" or "surfperch".

But on to the question:

Anyone been out recently? I'm slowly getting it together to run out to Ocean Shores or Westport and hitting the beaches to the North or South respectively. I'm cleaning gear, tying up bottom rigs, getting my tide, water, and weather reports together. In short, I'm doing everything but actually GOING. Time for that "in denial" trip.

Anyone beat me to it?

John

Got a friend who did. I'll try and get hold of him. He's harder to catch than those perch...

Don't go to any extra trouble on my account. I KNOW I'm just going to get cold and wet and probably skunked to boot. But I'm going anyway.

That's the spirit!!

They'll be there. I've never gone out for 'em and not caught fish. This time of year I catch big striped perch off the jetty. Those things are massive! Don't forget that ling season opens up soon, and one of the best baits for them is surf perch.

nate how do you keep the perch alive and kicking?

What do you mean? I bring two rods. I catch a perch, put a big hook in it's back and send it back down.

Oh i was imagining fishing in the waves and then somehow hiking them farther out on the jetty for the lings.

schu7498 wrote:Oh i was imagining fishing in the waves and then somehow hiking them farther out on the jetty for the lings.

They live in the same places, although if you go over to the surf side you'll find more perch. Greenling make a better bait, and most of the perch you catch out there are giant sized. Although my biggest ling came on one of the giant sized perch, the perch was too big for him to find the hook, we just dragged him in because he wouldn't let go.

What technique do you use to catch the giant perch? Just bottom fish with a dropshot and hook/bait or do you jig? I've surf casted a couple times from the beach but haven't tried my hand at jetty fishing for perch.

Thanks in advance!

-S

Sand shrimp and pile worms. Cast 'em out, can't keep the fish off when they're there.

I imagine they are swimming somewhere in the column as opposed to hugging the bottom? Only ever gotten them off the beach where the bottom and top are pretty much the same thing.

Watch Washingtons Fish Quest "Red Irish Lord" episode on youtube. That was filmed on the jetty in January nonetheless. Surf Perch Galore!

Oh, Schu - Keeping fish alive for further jetty use is a breeze. I tote a 3x6 cooler equipped with a livewell areator along with my backpack full of supplies, net and two rods.

Made some clam neck plastic imitations for next time out. They look like the real thing, with a bit of scent, might work...

I am going thursday April 3rd if anyone will be out there !!