Puget Sound Halibut Opener May 5th

[Nelly]

We cast off the lines this morning at 0530 hours from Bayside Marine in Everett and ran for the Straits.
Passing Mutiny Bay, we counted fifty boats all bouncing the bottom for that opening day flattie.
Taking a left at Pt. Wilson, the tide was bucking the current so there was a bit of a chop but we cut through it and worked our hootchie/horse herring rigs on 2 1/2 pound sinkers through the tide change.
All we ended up with was a good arm workout!
By all accounts it was a fairly tough opener. We heard of a couple taken at Mutiny, a couple more from the east Strait and one or two from the banks.
It certainly sounds like the slow flattie fishing that our friends to the north have been experiencing was without question the case today.
I did learn a good halibut fishing tip today: Whatever you do, don't take Robbie Tobeck out and skunk him on the opener!!!

[Brandon]

Saw you race by me. Was wonderin how ya did. Seemed pretty slow all over.

[t_dub]

we struck out at Hein, Coyote and Eastern bank too. didn't even have a hookup. crappy, bumpy day out there.

[Ffej]

New member. In any event, in 2004 I ran into an "old salt" in Port Townsend (used to work the fuel dock there) who had been part of a group to convince WDF&G to open halibut season in April. He indicated after years of fishing experience that butts do move west and the only real good fishing opportunity was April. So, agree with what Tobeck said this a.m. on your show - having a May butt season is analogous to opening Area 9 for King fishing in December. Plenty of opportunity, no fish.

[Nelly]

Welcome aboard Ff!
Thanks for listening and chiming in, even if it was just to agree with Tobeck.

Believe me he's much more fun to disagree with!

You do make a good point with regard to "opportunity" and real chance to whack a fish or two.
WDFW has to walk the allowable harvest vs. opportunity tight rope every day and when you are charged with making decisions like that, not everyone will walk away from the bargaining table happy.

In fairness, while we didn't score on the opener, there were several others who did and I'm just learning about halibut fishing in the Straits so I'm definitely going to work at it!

[Spud]

Nelly,

We hooked 2 right where you saw us fishing. That inside slot in 50-70 feet of water took us out of the current and we lucked out. Total count 4 Butts for the weekend.
I tried to call you on the radio to get you into the shallow water. I fished with a local (PONYTAIL) and he put me on the spot. We were scenting the herring squid combo like clockwork every thirty minutes. The oil slick was WHACK around us after 4 hours and about 1/2 gallon of stinky FISHOIL !!

Left the Fishtale 2 up in PT for the month......

See you out there !!

[Nelly]

Thanks Spud,
We did swing in for a couple of drifts in there and saw you but I never heard you on VHF 16.
After talking about it for several years, I'm finally getting around to seriously chasing halibut in the straits.
I'm sincerely greatful for the heads up and look forward to seeing you out there again!!!!
Keep up the good work!

[House]

Reported from Capt John Keizer

Fished halibut this past Saturday in Area 6 near Protection Island. Weather was great and we had 4 hook-ups and managed to land a couple in the 40-60 pound range. We were fishing spreader bars with black label herring and a few stocker trout my granddaughter caught in the Sportco fishing pond. These make great bait!!

I injected the herring/trout with Pautzke Halibut & Rockfish Nectar. I also add a Mustad scent dispenser loaded with Halibut & Rockfish Nectar and hung it off the spreader bar. This really creates scent trail for the halibut to follow back to your bait.

For more information on fishing this area check out the Salt Patrol Halibut maps.

More pictures on this report located on http://www.Saltpatrol.com

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[Spud]

John is starting to look like Dave ! Way to go guys !!

[Salt Patrol]

Fishing been pretty good up in the Straits, need to get back up there soon!

John