[MG driver]

I always read here~ "Spend gas and time and find the beaches that you can access on foot and that hold fish........"

I did that today. I checked 9 beaches on a small area of the north sound. 1/4 tank of gas and 7 hours later this is what I found;
one site posted no fishing by the local jurisdiction
4 sites privately owned roads and homeowners associations with no possible foot access
2 sites with local access and are fishy looking but no fish seen, one with cloudy water and small baitfish activity
2 sites with access and fish seen jumping or feeding on surface.

Looks like I'm breaking out the SRC flies.................

 

[Nick Clayton]

Nice job getting out there and putting in the effort! That is exactly the sort of thing that will pay big dividends in the long run.

 

[skyrise]

adding to the north sound report: everett/mukilteo beaches today.
nice weather, good tidal movement. fished morning incoming tide. lots of casting with no joy. several sea lions working the area. some funny looks & questions "your fishing for what ?" and few thought i was an alien or something. goes to show how bad the searun fishing has gotten up here. no one even knows what searuns are anymore.

 

[Stonefish]

adding to the north sound report: everett/mukilteo beaches today.
nice weather, good tidal movement. fished morning incoming tide. lots of casting with no joy. several sea lions working the area. some funny looks & questions "your fishing for what ?" and few thought i was an alien or something. goes to show how bad the searun fishing has gotten up here. no one even knows what searuns are anymore.

Sounds like a drive south, maybe a bridge toll or a ferry ride might be called for to fix your fishing ails.
SF

 

[Irafly]

adding to the north sound report: everett/mukilteo beaches today.
nice weather, good tidal movement. fished morning incoming tide. lots of casting with no joy. several sea lions working the area. some funny looks & questions "your fishing for what ?" and few thought i was an alien or something. goes to show how bad the searun fishing has gotten up here. no one even knows what searuns are anymore.

Any Sculpin?

 

[skyrise]

Ira, have to say it's kinda scary. The lack of sealife I have not seen. No bull heads flounder, sculpins, chum fry, sand lance, small crab, etc. except for sea lions & cormorants. Hint, hint ! Oh did see one dead starfish. Did read about sea lions are now invading Oregon steelhead rivers. Yea ! More NW rivers about to loose their steelhead runs. Remember the Cedar river ?

 

[Irafly]

Ira, have to say it's kinda scary. The lack of sealife I have not seen. No bull heads flounder, sculpins, chum fry, sand lance, small crab, etc. except for sea lions & cormorants. Hint, hint ! Oh did see one dead starfish. Did read about sea lions are now invading Oregon steelhead rivers. Yea ! More NW rivers about to loose their steelhead runs. Remember the Cedar river ?

I'm really surprised by the loss of the sculpins. Where did they go?

 

[Ian Horning]

A local beach that I often patrol at low tide usually has masses of starfish present. Two days ago, I saw one little tiny one. I did see a gunnel and a couple small sand lances. But other than crabs, nothing.

 

[Stonefish]

skyrise,
There is definately a lack of chum fry in the north sound this year, which is likely affecting your searun fishing success.
This is based on my observations and chats with people doing fry surveys.

I've encountered a lot more fry the further south go, which is why I suggested a south bound road trip.
The other option is to keep fishing beaches your not having success on.
SF

 

[McKivergan]

skyrise,
There is definately a lack of chum fry in the north sound this year, which is likely affecting your searun fishing success.
This is based on my observations and chats with people doing fry surveys.

I've encountered a lot more fry the further south go, which is why I suggested a south bound road trip.
The other option is to keep fishing beaches your not having success on.
SF

I'm seeing - or should I say "not seeing" the same thing. Further south is producing better. A bit different than last year. Where I have seen fry in the past at this time has changed. I was hoping for a weather warm-up this week. Maybe the extended lower temps this winter? Would like to hear from the wiser members of this board...

 

[Bob Triggs]

This winter has been uncommonly cold, dark and wet. Last year it was 10 to 20 degrees warmer at this same time. And that has had an influence on many things. To date, here in western washington, we have yet to hit 60 degrees. http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-first-60-degree-day-of-year-in.html

In my north sound location, actually the Admiralty Inlet area, we usually see the sculpin and other forage species showing up on the beaches, in the shallows, shortly after the chum fry show up. I am seeing schools of chum fry being chased by cutthroat and sea birds, ducks, etc. And so far it seems pretty normal to me. But I will add here that last year's summer chum salmon returns were below average. And we can expect fewer fry this spring. The difference between early April and later April can be profound here, from year to year. Every day it is evolving, and the return of sunlight, and warmth is driving it. This is one of the best times of year as each outing can bring surprises as more fish show up to play. Don't let a slow day get you down. http://olympicpeninsulaflyfishing.blogspot.com

 

[Bob Triggs]

@Jerry Daschofsky and @Ed Call

Please delete this.

 

[Stonefish]

Good to hear you are seeing chum fry Bob.
Things can be totally different based on which side of the sound you are on.
Your side gets a lot of influence as far as chum fry go from the canal, both hatchery and wild.
The east side sound beaches don't experience that.
SF

 

[Nick Clayton]

I've noticed a huge increase in star fish in the areas I've been fishing. When out in the boat last week I stood in the bow all day and saw countless star fish.

Beyond that I mostly agree, not seeing the usual cast of salty creatures thus far. Even chum fry have been sparse in the areas where I would generally expect to find them.

 

[Nick Clayton]

I did just spot these two unfamiliar creatures while exploring a local beach

 

[skyrise]

bob, stonefish and all. this is not my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc trip. many outings since February to check things out. i do compare now with what we used to see 15-20 years ago. or even 10 years ago. we have many small creeks/streams up here that run straight to the sound. alas i think most of them do not support cutts or salmon anymore because of damage to head waters usually by development. so much sand/silt dirt and mud has been pushed down into these creeks its sick. and then there is the mouth of the snohomish. just a few feet deep from the mouth all the way to priest point.
will try to take the advice and travel south some time to more fish friendly waters, thanks.

 

[McKivergan]

I'm heading out to east 6 and upper 9 tomorrow. Will report back here.

 

[McKivergan]

Only had a half day to play today so I stayed closer to PT; but I did get a little action. A few small bm, but then it fell off. I hit three of my fave beaches locally and I did see a little more small creature activity than the other day. I expected to land a few more, but I never did, it just really never quite materialized today. Guess I wasn't 'crouching' low enough

Well I need to work.

I think my next escape I may go stalk @Nick Clayton and the others down south.

Watch your six

 

[Stonefish]

bob, stonefish and all. this is not my 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc trip. many outings since February to check things out.

I guess that was my point. If you are coming up empty on that many trips to the same area, don't you think a change in scenery is called for?
I know it isn't easy for some to burn up a bunch of gas or find the time to explore new beaches based on where they might live.
That said, there are a lot of fish being caught down south if you have the gas, time or desire.
Good luck out there.
SF

 

[Steelhead]

Caught some rezzies off Lincoln this morning. Only fished for an hour or so. More of a mid Sound beach but I did see fry action.