About a dozen guys fishing the beach at Carkeek Wednesday evening around high tide -- nobody getting anything, no fish jumping. As I'm standing thigh-deep, I hear a guy on the beach behind me say, "Hey, what are you guys fishing for, surf perch?"

"No, pink salmon," I tell him. "The run hasn't really hit yet though."

"Do they come in this close to shore?" he asks.

"Oh yeah, they come right in."

"Oh," he says. "Like that one there?"

I look down, and two feet away from my knees is a 26-inch buck, alive but exhausted. Befuddled, and marveling at my luck, I pick it up.

In hindsight, this probably wasn't very sporting of me, and I feel a little sheepish about it. On the other hand, the regs don't say you can't catch 'em barehanded, and, well, dinner.

The Quadfather

8/8/2013 8:46:00 PM

LOL..., I'm sitting on a log at Carkeek this very moment . Nice tide, but the seaweed is outta freakin, control.
Back before work in the AM

schu7498

8/8/2013 10:18:00 PM

What!? Thats crazy. I wonder why he was all exhausted.

montana_sam

8/9/2013 12:31:00 PM

I went down near Salty's 10+ guys fishing for pinks and then this morning I drove by the 1st ave bridge and saw another 20+ guys fishing. I may be reading my regs. wrong but Elliott bay doesn't open until 9/1. Must of those guys are super shady. Treble hooks, no licences, and snaggers! The WDFW could pay for their entire budget just ticketing people that fish the bridge on 1st ave underneath the West Seattle Bridge. Makes me sad!

ejohnsonap

8/9/2013 12:51:00 PM

Yeah, I don't know why he was exhausted -- no signs of injury or having been previously hooked as far as I could tell. Just the tide I guess?

ejohnsonap

8/9/2013 1:26:00 PM

Also, montana_sam, Elliott Bay is open, though obviously you need a license and treble hooks are a problem. From the regs:

July 16-Aug. 31 CHINOOK - min. size 22". Other SALMON - no min. size. Daily limit 2 (combined) plus 2 additional PINK. Release wild CHINOOK. Beginning Aug. 1 release CHUM. See Shilshole Bay and Elliott Bay Fishery and Closures on previous page. See
Sinclair Inlet Fishery on previous page. Season may close earlier if CHINOOK guideline is attained.

Elliott Bay Pink Salmon – Anglers will be able to fish for pink salmon in waters east of a line from West Point to Alki Point and north of Harbor Island from Aug. 16–31 on Fridays through Sundays only. Special regulations will be in place to protect Chinook salmon.

kingroobes

8/9/2013 1:58:00 PM

I was down there and ill have to say that was one of the strangest things I've seen.

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