Come on over to the
Westport/Grayland area for your fishing fun. Whether you choose to go
Offshore Fishing with one of our fantastic
Charter Boat Services, bring your
own boat to brave the deep, or are just out for some Onshore Fishing,
Crabbing or Clamming, this is the place to come and enjoy the adventure of a
lifetime.
For more information about any of these activities, or periodic fishing
reports, click one of the links below.
The Westport/Grayland area offers a wide variety of
salt-water fishing. We are located on the Washington coast and have a first class fishing port. Westport boasts the title of
"Sport Fishing
Capital of the World". Below is a list of some of our fishing activities.
ROCKFISH - LING COD TRIPS...
The folks who take these trips bring home
lots of delicious white meat fish. Daily trips are taken from mid March through
late October. Some charters run year round, weather
permitting. Charters take a full day, leaving early in the morning and
returning around 3:00 to 4:00 pm. Usually Black Rockfish are targeted
first, and then, if time permits, people fish for Ling Cod.
Rockfish generally run 1 to 2 lbs each and Ling Cod weigh anywhere from 12
lbs. to 40 or 50 lbs..
Some trips target Ling Cod specifically and Rockfish are taken incidentally.
Live anchovy or frozen herring is used as bait. Deckhands on the charter
boats
will fillet your catch for $5 to $7. Local canneries will vacuum pack it for
you for a fee. Most people who take these trips catch their limits or near-limits of
Rockfish and a few Ling Cod. Occasionally we “double limit” with both
species when fishing is hot. For information about regulations or
limits go to the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
website or click here to contact one or our
Charter Boat Services. For a current report, click on
Offshore Fishing Report.
HALIBUT... Halibut fishing off Westport has become
increasingly popular. Seasons are normally short but very profitable to
the angler. Check out the Offshore Fishing Report for current information about Halibut fishing in
our area. In addition, you can contact one of our
Charter Boat Services or the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
website for current information about the Halibut season
and limits.
58-pound Halibut caught May 5, 2002 aboard
the Blue Water.
Photo courtesy of Angler Charters
Here's a nice catch of two Silvers
weighing about 8 to 10 lbs. each.
Photo courtesy of American Sunset RV
SALMON... Fish for the mighty Pacific Chinook or Coho
Salmon. Salmon season is announced the second week of April each year.
Look at the Offshore Fishing Report for current Salmon fishing information
For season updates and regulations, contact your
favorite Charter Boat Service or
check the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
website.
Generally, fresh or frozen herring is used as bait along with a 20 - 25 lb. test leader. Most
charters leave between 5:30 and 6:00 am. Trips are typically 8 hours long,
unless limits are attained earlier. Deckhands clean and bag the salmon for
tip money. You may have your catch vacuum packed, canned, smoked, stored or
shipped by a local cannery.
Live Bait ALBACORE TUNA... Experience the excitement
of “hooking-up” to a fast fighting Albacore Tuna. Fishing has been
outstanding in recent years. Charters usually begin the search for Tuna in July and
are successful finding them throughout October. Fishing for the mighty
Albacore occurs from 60 to100
miles offshore and entails both trolling with jig lures and mooching with
live bait. It is said that Westport is the only port on the West Coast to offer “live
bait” on all of our trips. Trips can last anywhere from overnight to several days
and fish generally weigh between 15 and 25 lbs. each. Click the
Offshore Fishing Report for current information or contact one or our
Charter Boat Services to sign up for a trip. .
FISHING DERBY... Each summer the Westport Charterboat
Association runs a fishing derby offering hundreds of dollars in prizes for
the largest Bottom Fish, Salmon, Halibut or Tuna. Tickets are sold for a
nominal fee prior to the day you fish. It’s always fun to see who will bring
in the “Biggest Catch of the Day". You never know, it may be you!
Contact one of our fine
Charter Boat Services for
additional information on departure times and pricing.
Fishing limits and seasons are set annually by the Washington State Department
of Fish and Wildlife. Additional information can be obtained by
looking on their Website or
by contacting them in Olympia at 1-360-902-2200.
BOAT BASIN SALMON FISHING… Each spring baby Coho Salmon are
raised and released by our local Kiwanis Club into the Westport Boat Basin. In the
fall, returning Coho come back to the basin offering a unique fishing
opportunity. Anglers line the docks casting for these feisty Coho. Often
the fish can be seen swimming in schools throughout the marina. The
Westport/Grayland Chamber of
Commerce holds an annual “Boat Basin Fishing Derby” for the largest Coho caught
in the boat basin. Even if you're not a fisherman, you can get caught up in
the excitement and cheers when someone hooks into a fish.
JETTY FISHING... A wide variety of rockfish, including Sea Bass,
Greenling, Cabezon, Perch and Ling Cod, can be found along the South Jetty as well
as the rock revetments
surrounding the marina. Light to medium tackle
is used with good success. Local businesses can assist you with
information about the best times,
tides, tackle and bait to use to make your outing a success.
SURF FISHING... Sea Perch can be found in
abundance in the beautiful waters of the South Beach (the Westport, Grayland
area). Incoming tides often bring large schools of feeding
fish and the action can become fast and furious. Check with local merchants for
the best times to catch these fish.
FRESH WATER RIVER FISHING... Within a few minutes drive, Grays Harbor
County offers some of the finest freshwater fishing around. Be sure to check
the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
website for specific seasons and limits.
CRABBING FOR ROCK & DUNGENESS CRAB... Crabbing can be done off
of the
fishing piers and docks within the boat basin. This is truly a family sport
providing fun for the littlest ones as well as Mom, Dad and the Grandparents. Many of
the dockside businesses rent gear, sell bait and can answer questions
about licensing, limits, and availability.
RAZOR CLAMMING... Spring and Fall Clam Digs
along our ocean beaches provide fun and excitement
for the entire family. You can see hundreds of diggers lining the beaches
and scooping up these succulent critters during the low tides. Check the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
website for for seasons, limits, regulations and licensing information.
CLAMMING, OTHER THAN
RAZOR... Just south of
the Westport area, along Highway 105, other types of clamming is
available in the Willapa River tidal flats. Look on the
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
website for current data on dates, limits and licenses.
Fishing and Clamming limits
and seasons are set annually by the Washington State Department of Fish and
Wildlife. Additional information can be obtained by looking on their
Website or
by contacting them in Olympia at 1-360-902-2200.
at Westport!
