Launched at Camano Island State Park ramp at about 06:15 and headed a mile or two north to the point (see hotspot).

Baited 5 crab pots with various combinations of mini chicken legs/wings, sockeye carcasses, and herring some marinated in Pautzke crab/shrimp fuel. Had them all on bottom by 07:30. Fished 2 square traps, 2 round traps, and one ring in 55' - 75' of water. Checked ring every 30-45 minutes and soaked traps for 2 hours. Big thanks to my buddy Mark for introducing me to crabbing in this area and being the pot hauler and crab sorter!

Trolled for C&R cutthroat while pots were soaking and hooked about 7 in 3-4 hours of fishing. Used a small red & white Dick Nite on a fly rod as well as Ace Hi-Fly's with chartreuse smile blade on bait caster rods. Both set-ups hooked fish with smallest at about 8" on the fly rod got one nice one about 15" to boat on the Hi-Fly. Biggest fish of the day hit like a train at full steam but was on the Dick Nite with barbless hook and came unplugged before he was brought to hand. We did see him splash enough to notice he had a good set of shoulders! Best speed seemed to be 1.9-2.1 over ground in 8' - 30' of water.

Ended the day with 10 keeper Dungeness crab and 1 keeper red rock crab for 3 of us with most keepers in the square traps. Maybe 2 keepers in the ring and 2 between the 2 round traps. Probably threw back 3 times what we kept in females and too small with some only about 1mm short of 6.25". Also landed two colorful sun stars along with our load of crab. All keepers were on first soak (hauled at 09:30). All crab on second soak (hauled at 11:30) were too small or girls. Overall fine day on the water with tasty treats for the steamer pot! Even grabbed a nice flat of fresh strawberries from the roadside stand on the way off the island.

Tight Lines!

Fish Dawg

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