2009 in the books
What an awesome season it has been both on the water and on the field for 2009. I feel fortunate and very happy that I was able to share those experiences with family and close friends.
The season started off in earnest with shrimping the Hood Canal. As usual, the Hood Canal spot was productive and we were able to get our limits. Next was halibut. The ’09 halibut season was incredible as the weather gods provided us with 4 consecutive Sunday trips out of Westport. In the process, I learned a very productive new spot 40 miles west of Westport. I also got a short 3-day trip out of Neah Bay with Duane and Keith in early June and learned the C closure area and found it also very productive for halibut.
Mid-June found Tim, Matt, Clint and I on our first tuna run out of Westport. We went 60 miles southwest into 4 to 5 foot choppy white-capped seas and fog that morning. Our bravery (or perhaps foolishness) and perseverance paid off as we witnessed a hot tuna troll bite and proceeded to hook 20 albacore and boating 17. Our 3-hour ride back to port was much more relaxed as the seas finally flattened out. We were at it again in July with much better sea conditions, but less successful with uncooperative tuna. We came home with only 8 albacore. Those 2 trips would be the only trips we were able to muster for tuna.
Before I knew it, it was time for our annual week-long trip to Neah Bay in late July. It was a trip to be remembered with Tim, Clint, Matt and Maria. After a sluggish first day, we got a great tip on the Kings. From then on it was game on as we proceeded to limit the boat with big kings for the next few days. Clint, our trolling pilot, did a great job putting us on the fish. Our biggest King tipped the scales at 32 pounds.
The rockfish bite was also phenomenal, along with the silvers, pink salmon, and ling cod. My 150 quart cooler was constantly over-stuffed with fish. We were the hot boat and at times were followed by other boats on our way to our “secret” spot. The weather was great, the crew was awesome, and the fishing was fast and furious.
August was hot fishing for salmon out of Westport. I managed to convince Duane and Nancy to take their boat out of moth balls. We had a memorable day fishing for silvers. Many fish were caught around the Grays Harbor buoy and Duane showed me a few tricks of hooking fish on the slide.
Shortly after, Brian, Patty and Jafet arrived in Washington. I managed to take Jafet and Brian out to Westport for some salmon action. We hooked more than a dozen fish in the first 30 minutes but had to cut our trip short because of the deteriorating sea state. Jafet was sea sick and I was soon to follow. Nevertheless, Jafet got his first keeper salmon and Brian got a taste of some fast salmon action. In between the annual trips, we got to show Brian, Patty and Jafet the South Sound and do a little crabbing.
September was off to Sekiu with Jafet and the Fretz. Grandpa Doug, Tori and Clint joined us on our boat as we tried to figure out the silvers and pinks. The highlight was a near 40 lb King hooked on the troll and fought by Grandpa Doug. Later in the week, Tim, Teri, and Grandma Betty finally joined as we caught more fish. The surprise catch of the trip was 2 Humboldt squids taken on the downriggers – another first for us!
Early October found us on the Humptulips with some interesting and sometimes fast action for silvers on the lower part of the river. The lack of rain stacked up huge schools of fish in deep holes and hiding in submerged trees. This made for close encounters with fish and fishermen alike. Then the rains came and made the river unfishable for what seemed like the rest of the season.
If we couldn’t cast, we were going to blast. It was my first full season of waterfowl hunting and it was baptism by fire. My first day with Tim and Clint resulted to limits of lesser geese! The hunting area proved to be productive and we had a blast learning the sport. We had many memorable moments on the field – the stalking, the many misses and hits, gun jams, zombie ducks, 9-shot buffleheads, Clint’s tantrum on decoying geese, Rudy’s retrieves, side-ways rain and 50 mph winds, a dunking while chasing a downed teal, widgeon tornados, Jafet’s impromptu swim on the river, bufflehead dive bomb attacks and all out shooting sprees.
The hunting area receives very little pressure and we will make sure to keep it as such. I’m ending my waterfowl season with an appreciation for the smell of gunpowder, a taste for geese and ducks, and 3 birds at the taxidermist – a drake widgeon, a drake bufflehead, and a drake green-winged teal. Much thanks and appreciation to the Fretz family for hosting me at the beach house for what seemed like every weekend. Also thanks to Matt for hooking us up with ammunition and waterfowl gear.
With the end of waterfowl season, 2009 is officially now in the books. I can only hope that 2010 will be as fun-filled and action packed as last year.
The season started off in earnest with shrimping the Hood Canal. As usual, the Hood Canal spot was productive and we were able to get our limits. Next was halibut. The ’09 halibut season was incredible as the weather gods provided us with 4 consecutive Sunday trips out of Westport. In the process, I learned a very productive new spot 40 miles west of Westport. I also got a short 3-day trip out of Neah Bay with Duane and Keith in early June and learned the C closure area and found it also very productive for halibut.
Mid-June found Tim, Matt, Clint and I on our first tuna run out of Westport. We went 60 miles southwest into 4 to 5 foot choppy white-capped seas and fog that morning. Our bravery (or perhaps foolishness) and perseverance paid off as we witnessed a hot tuna troll bite and proceeded to hook 20 albacore and boating 17. Our 3-hour ride back to port was much more relaxed as the seas finally flattened out. We were at it again in July with much better sea conditions, but less successful with uncooperative tuna. We came home with only 8 albacore. Those 2 trips would be the only trips we were able to muster for tuna.
Before I knew it, it was time for our annual week-long trip to Neah Bay in late July. It was a trip to be remembered with Tim, Clint, Matt and Maria. After a sluggish first day, we got a great tip on the Kings. From then on it was game on as we proceeded to limit the boat with big kings for the next few days. Clint, our trolling pilot, did a great job putting us on the fish. Our biggest King tipped the scales at 32 pounds.
The rockfish bite was also phenomenal, along with the silvers, pink salmon, and ling cod. My 150 quart cooler was constantly over-stuffed with fish. We were the hot boat and at times were followed by other boats on our way to our “secret” spot. The weather was great, the crew was awesome, and the fishing was fast and furious.
August was hot fishing for salmon out of Westport. I managed to convince Duane and Nancy to take their boat out of moth balls. We had a memorable day fishing for silvers. Many fish were caught around the Grays Harbor buoy and Duane showed me a few tricks of hooking fish on the slide.
Shortly after, Brian, Patty and Jafet arrived in Washington. I managed to take Jafet and Brian out to Westport for some salmon action. We hooked more than a dozen fish in the first 30 minutes but had to cut our trip short because of the deteriorating sea state. Jafet was sea sick and I was soon to follow. Nevertheless, Jafet got his first keeper salmon and Brian got a taste of some fast salmon action. In between the annual trips, we got to show Brian, Patty and Jafet the South Sound and do a little crabbing.
September was off to Sekiu with Jafet and the Fretz. Grandpa Doug, Tori and Clint joined us on our boat as we tried to figure out the silvers and pinks. The highlight was a near 40 lb King hooked on the troll and fought by Grandpa Doug. Later in the week, Tim, Teri, and Grandma Betty finally joined as we caught more fish. The surprise catch of the trip was 2 Humboldt squids taken on the downriggers – another first for us!
Early October found us on the Humptulips with some interesting and sometimes fast action for silvers on the lower part of the river. The lack of rain stacked up huge schools of fish in deep holes and hiding in submerged trees. This made for close encounters with fish and fishermen alike. Then the rains came and made the river unfishable for what seemed like the rest of the season.
If we couldn’t cast, we were going to blast. It was my first full season of waterfowl hunting and it was baptism by fire. My first day with Tim and Clint resulted to limits of lesser geese! The hunting area proved to be productive and we had a blast learning the sport. We had many memorable moments on the field – the stalking, the many misses and hits, gun jams, zombie ducks, 9-shot buffleheads, Clint’s tantrum on decoying geese, Rudy’s retrieves, side-ways rain and 50 mph winds, a dunking while chasing a downed teal, widgeon tornados, Jafet’s impromptu swim on the river, bufflehead dive bomb attacks and all out shooting sprees.
The hunting area receives very little pressure and we will make sure to keep it as such. I’m ending my waterfowl season with an appreciation for the smell of gunpowder, a taste for geese and ducks, and 3 birds at the taxidermist – a drake widgeon, a drake bufflehead, and a drake green-winged teal. Much thanks and appreciation to the Fretz family for hosting me at the beach house for what seemed like every weekend. Also thanks to Matt for hooking us up with ammunition and waterfowl gear.
With the end of waterfowl season, 2009 is officially now in the books. I can only hope that 2010 will be as fun-filled and action packed as last year.
posted by dexter at 5:35 PM
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