Northwest Fishing Reports

Do Sea Bass still bite strong in the winter? Silly question Im sure, as ocean temps vary slightly.

If you can find a break in the weather, wind, and tides, winter sea bass can be great! Hardly anyone fishes winter so the schools replenish, and bigger bass move in. Buzzbombs work great, twitching small 3" minnows on bottom to mimic shrimp can be great too. And if I was you Id jig up some squid and try drop shotting them from the jetty.

Well, hopefully we can get a few then. lol. Ive never fished them this early, but need a break in salmon fishing with the runs being all weird. Buzz bombs huh? Ive never fished a buzz. Color? Size? Do you just cast and twitch?

Yeah, pop it up and let it flutter down, rinse and repeat as you retrieve it back to you. Mimics an injured bait fish as it's fluttering down.

I use the Mack's Lure Sonic Baitfish and usually i can't even hit bottom before I get a fish on. Anywhere rocky is where to be.

Yeah, one thing I learned last season, if you've worked the water column and aren't getting bit....move. Those bass are so aggressive that they will gulp your offering if they are there. When you find a school on the charter boats, it's like the magician said, you can't even hardly drop your gear down before a fish grabs on. Fishing from the jetty isn't any different, if you find them, they will take just about anything.

ResQ,
Did you have any luck off the Jetty for sea bass? I am heading down to Ocean Shores in a couple weeks and thought I might try my luck off the jetty there. Any additional tips appreciated.
Thanks,
Omar