Marine Area 9 opened up on February 1st for fishing for and retention of a single hatchery chinook 22″ and larger (blackmouth). There were some initial positive reports and lots of “shaker city” kind of reports.
I couldn’t help myself for too long before I had to go out and check things out.
We launched from Kingston and once again experienced lots of cold, wind and rain to keep things interesting.
You know, the kind of weather that ensures you get somewhat wet, no matter how good your rain gear is.
We trolled Pilot Point to Point no Point which proved to be pointless…Staying between 80-120 ft we found a single mark, and no bites, no shakers.
One of our issues might have been tide exchange. It was like an 8 ft low tide, followed by a 10 ft high tide, followed by an 8 ft low tide. Sometimes, such low tidal exchanges result in bait being scattered vs concentrated in an area, thereby also concentrating the blackmouth.
We finally hooked a shaker going east to west after Point no Point and than on the way back from Norwegian Point going west to east towards Point no Point in 80-100 ft of water we started hooking more fish.
Including some “almost legal”. We’ve heard from the fish checker that some people have been keeping these fish.
Shame shame, gotta let them grow a bit bigger! This is also what makes March a generally better bet as these fish are ideally eating a lot and growing enough to get them over that 22″ mark. Blackmouth can double their weight over a single summer in saltwater, so I’m betting a 20″ fish in January can be 22-24″ by March.
Anyway, we finished up in Marine Area 10 near Kingston and went home without a keeper. Always a great day on the water, and it will not be long before I’m out there again!