Northwest Fishing Reports

have been looking for lings in the san juans and last season only found a few here and there. i know they are there i just need help finding them. anyone have suggestions for some good spots? thanks!

just a fyi lings closed june 15th..

Please study your regs fishing Washington.

i know it has been closed. i mean next season. i am planning early.

we used to always go camp at sucia island n shrimp n ling cod up there.. sorry im nt of more help..

we tried around lawson bluff and finger island at sucia and didnt get a bite. not a greenling, not a ling, not a rockfish, nothing. we tried 8'' curly tails, 7'' twintails, and darts there. i know they are there. i have heard of lots by sucia but we must have been doing something wrong.

we always ran herring... but ive heard its been tough last few years... best of luck to ya next season

Last year was tuff up there. But fish where there to be found.

The Juans is a bottom fishs heaven. Lots of rock cliffs, outcrops, and current! When Im looking for a ling cod spot I look for water that is 30-80' deep and I keep an eye on the sonar for reefs and jagged bottom. Lings have their little holes they like to hide in. Anyone one of the Islands has number of fish. My favorite being Smith Island. Just keep those baits banging off the rocks and Youll find them.


Secret Squirrel tip, go catch some 6-9" live flounder. Give those a try.

thanks for the info. where do you fish around smith Steelheadin360? I didnt realize there was much rock there.

Use your GPS to isolate humps and reefs that aren't marked as well. We pull probably 80% of our fish our of areas that are not defined by shoreline structure. Many reefs have buoy markers, bounce around to these until you pinpoint a good drift. Many steep ledges and hummocks are NOT marked by buoys. Find these on your GPS the night before, mark them with a waypoint, and have fun.

We catch tons of lings out in the middle of the channel on humps that likely receive no other pressure.