Success on the beach! ...sort of

[finnfisher]

I just got home from some really enjoyable 'casting practice' at a north sound beach. I was trying a bunch of different retrieves, fast hand over hand, herky jerky and a kind of really slow 4-5" strip when I got a hit! FINALLY! After many days of different beaches, tides and times... a solid FISH ON! It felt pretty heavy but not what I expected from a SRC. Not taking any chances on reeling in loose line, I stripped like a madman. No LDR here, no way. With great anticipation I brought my new catch to light only to find that I had caught about a 14" Rock Sole on a bait fish fly.:rofl: Ah well. The sunset was beautiful. Which is really what it's all about isn't it?
By the way is there enough meat on one of those critters to mess with? I don't even know how to clean one.:( I'm a trout/salmon guy...

[Richard]

These guys live on the bottom, so if you caught one of them, it means:

1) You're using too fast of a sinking line for the water conditions (because you're on the bottom), and/or

2) you're retrieving too slowly.

You can figure out how to correct these maladies.

Now, I was out with my little 5 and 7 year old nephews, who were visiting from Utah, and just north of Golden Garden it was non-stop catching (with white curly tails on lead jigs) for those little flounder. The youngest nephew got to where he didn't even want to reel them in any more, and the other asked if we could go catch another kind of fish. We brought some flounder (or rock sole, whatever they are) home, and those fish have verrrrry little meat on 'em. Not worth messing with. You clean 'em like halibut; it's tough to describe.

[alpinetrout]

Hey Richard, did you know there's a Dept of Health advisory against eating bottomfish from Puget Sound within King County due to pollution? See page 30 of the fishing regs.

[RedFive]

Nice work out there! I actually like catching flounder and if the SRC's or rezzies aren't biting, I'll dredge the bottom for some sole--they're a lot of fun on a 4 or 5. :)

Like Alpine mentioned, (LMAO BTW, Brendan) though, I'd stay away from eating them, they're...wormy. :(

What rod weight and what kind of line were you using?

[finnfisher]

I have been using my 7wt with intermediate tip on a WF floating line. I know its a bit much for SRCs but I'm working on distance so I'll be there when the Coho show up. I spend so much time in C&R fisheries I've got to bring home a keeper every once in awhile. My wife has the cost per pound figured at about $200/lb :eek: She's not quite sure about this catch-and-release business...
Since this is my first year out fishing for salmon and steelhead what is a reasonable size Coho to keep? I don't want to be bringing the babies home.:o

[RedFive]

Finn,

PM me--with the right setup you can still pump out good distances with a 5 or 6 weight. Then again, what distance are you looking for? ;)

As for coho size, I'd look at keeping anything above 6 pounds or so, but that's just me.

I hear you about the $200/lb analogy--that's why I'm not married! :)

[hikepat]

Me I like keeping only those around 22"-24". Smaller and there not much point and larger ones I do not think taste as good. Besides that way I have no waste at all since I like to eat only Salmon just caught and cooked right away and then only once or twice per year. No freezer Salmon for me and no twice cooked fish either. Beside reheating fish or cooking it inside stinks up the whole house for days but the Salmon on the grill outside does not have that issue.

[espja]

Finn,

PM me--with the right setup you can still pump out good distances with a 5 or 6 weight. Then again, what distance are you looking for? ;)



Red,
Could I get a lesson? :p

[Richard]

[QUOTE=RedFive] Like Alpine mentioned, (LMAO BTW, Brendan) though, I'd stay away from eating them, they're...wormy. :( QUOTE]

Dude, I'm trying to lose weight! I figure if I get a few parasites, I can keep eating, don't have to work out, and lose weight! The new Atkins diet . . .:thumb:

I didn't see any worms. I"d heard that before, but I'm wondering if it's an urban myth . . .

Naw, we didn't eat 'em.

[alpinetrout]

Worms are common in a lot of bottomfish and even salmon. As long as the fish is thoroughly cooked or previously frozen for some time at -10F or colder (colder than most home freezers are capable of), you have nothing to worry about. It's gross, but it's safe to say that we've all eaten them at one point or another. That being said, I've personally tossed a couple of fresh fish fillets that had a number of visible worms crawling out of the meat just because I couldn't bring myself to eat it after seeing that.

On the other hand, pollution doesn't cook or freeze out, so I'll keep avoiding the King County fish altogether.

[Richard]

On the other hand, pollution doesn't cook or freeze out, so I'll keep avoiding the King County fish altogether.

I think you mean bottom fish . . . I'm thinking you'd bonk a 4-5 pound resident coho and cook him on the bar-bee! :thumb:

[RedFive]

Red,
Could I get a lesson? :p

I was thinking that you might be able to give me some lessons... :)

When are we going fishing?

[Phil Fravel]

Espja or red five are you open tomarrow from 7am to 9am

[espja]

Red,
Your casting is on it's way to elite company. It's cool how you and Jamie have elevated your game. :thumb:

Friendlyfly,
You'll have a couple probably barbecued up by the time you read this. ;)

[RedFive]

Friendly,

You know I can't take Friday's off, you sadistic bastard! :p I hope you had the same kind of luck you had yesterday out there.

espja,

I wish I was on the way to being in the elite...Jamie might be, but I'm still trying to crack that 80 ft barrier. ;)

Hey, I got my new Heli-Ply! It's SWEET! When are we going to Neah? :)

[espja]

Soon Red, soon! Reports are starting to look better!
I'll give you a call next week.

[Phil Fravel]

80 is my neighborhood and your not slumming there. Ive seen over 105 regularly and a 112 on a OK day. Remember to pree function before casting:beer1: :beer2: