Puget Sound, WA (2012 Season)

[Crab Catcher]

I live in Bellingham and have been wanting to try squid fishing. Can anyone help me out with a when and where? Do tides make a differance? What kind of lights should be used? Thanks.

[Squidman1]

Went to Shilshole, last night, got some here and there! Then went to 86, everybody said it was hot but not alot of action! My friend got a few here. and missed a silver. Then went to 69 quite a bit of people! there we fished it from 12am-to about 6am. My friend finished her night there with 6 pounds and missed silvers here too! Lots of herring and got a few squid. My friend found 25 bucks too! Going 2am tonite! later!

[Squidman1]

My friend & I got a handfull and missed a few others at 69 from 330am-6am! Good tides for the next while! 9-30-12

[Squidman1]

Headed down to the Waterfont at seattle again tonite! well 1st off I should say, not alot of Coho going up the Ballard locks due to the fact an Indian net was about 30 or so yards off the Fish ladder entrance. They should be below the Train bridge! How stupid! Anywho, pier 69 had LIMITS on Monday. People that I knew said 4 hours=15 pounds of squid. When they got home they didnt know they went over. Oh well! SHHHHH! Report for the night! Started at pier 86, saw no action there. But Lots of herring, fortunately I had my herring jig with me. Switched over to that! Caught about 7 herring and 3 shiners and then hooked into a BIG Lingcod, got me snagged and lost one of my decent squid jigs! (Green color) Then jumped to 69 it was MAS MURDER till 8-830 rolled around (tide change) then Blankies. Occasional on or twos. and a small school! Group of guys were at 70 across they way! (Not aloud but hey, ill keep quit) I saw maybe 6 pound or so! when i went over there at about midnite! caught 7 total! Gave my 1st 5 away thinking i was not going to catch anymore. Naw caught 2 more! at least they are snackable sizes!

[WashingtonSquid1]

Its been pretty consistant this early for sure. I tried another pier on Monday night and got 4 pounds or so in short order. Everywhere I have been or heard of has been good. Thinkin about going tonight as well...

[totalCatch]

Hi what a great forum thanks,



I'm Heading out tomorrow, Elliot bay by boat, where's a good place to catch by boat?



Thanks

totalCatch

[Squidman1]

Awww, I see you had to make another account, lol! Went to Edmonds and maybe got a dozen, lots of tinys! Some guy with us got maybe 3 pounds. Took awhile to dial into the squid! Washingtonsquid1, will we be seeing you at 69 tomorrow night? Tides look great!

[amayuram]

A good light on a dark night makes all the difference. Have done much better this early in the season compared to last year. Squid are bigger in the past two weeks too!

[WashingtonSquid1]

[quote name='Squidman1' timestamp='1349419241' post='24989']

Awww, I see you had to make another account, lol! Went to Edmonds and maybe got a dozen, lots of tinys! Some guy with us got maybe 3 pounds. Took awhile to dial into the squid! Washingtonsquid1, will we be seeing you at 69 tomorrow night? Tides look great!

[/quote]



Yup, I finally broke down and got a new screen name. I believe I am going tonight. I dont know when or where but Ill be down there in the Seattle area for sure. Had a couple friends who were at 86 last night that did well. PM me your contact info and Ill give you a call when I make it down there.



Its nice to see some other regulars post about their success. This is a great fishery for anyone to participate in and normally keeps everyone busy, well atleast jigging until you catch another one. Cant wait to see what this season brings upon us. Hopefully the squid are plentiful, and the fishing is fun. Till next time...



[quote name='Mekim' timestamp='1349436414' post='24993']

A good light on a dark night makes all the difference. Have done much better this early in the season compared to last year. Squid are bigger in the past two weeks too!

[/quote]



Couldn't agree more!

[Squidman1]

got 15 squid for 15 ounces at 69 others did better some not! Lots of herring got 1.7 pounds of them!

[Squidman1]

Headed to a new dock after 69! At 69 a school came in and everybody was catching, i ended up with a handful! Then over at the new dock at midnite they were coming and going but slaugtering them! I ended with 4 pounds. few more jumbos too! and 2 double tonite!

[WashingtonSquid1]

Boy choices tonight... Do I sit at home and eat the king salmon I have thawing, with a nice beer and monday night football... Or go squidding again...

[crabber]

Hey, pretty new to the squidding scene and glad to be a part of it. Went to Seacrest pier last night and only caught 2 between 9PM-11PM, only saw a rough total of ~7 squids caught during those 2 hours. Maybe it's too early, not sure since again I'm pretty new at this.



Heard Des Moines pier is decent, but dropped by there at night a few times this past week and only saw 2-3 people fishing for rockfish, so I couldn't get any actual reports. Anyone been to Des Moines, Redondo, or Les Davis Piers lately? It's a drag driving 30 minutes to Seattle and only end up with barely a handful of squid =/.

[Squidman1]

Head to downtown! Went to Linc's tackle and outdoor for some newjigs, i figured lets fish since im in the area! Headed to 69 TOO Early got there at 545 pm and waited! By 7 people showed. then by 8! THE BITE WAS ON! Squid after squid for an hour. Schools swimming in circles on the surface! Then Blanks! Went to 70, got a few there! BIG JUMBOS are showing now! Then got kicked off!I know the plan for that pier now! then went back to 69 caught another and missed a few. Then when they left. I figured time to go home! 11PM? Naw, not for me! Headed to see anybody was at 62/63 & aquarium! Sue enough 62/63 WAS ON FIRE! i got 4 but guys with lights must of pulled up 2 pounds worth of squid while i was there. Then went to Aquarium! Picked one up then headed home!



Tomorrow hopefully WASquid and I will be going to kill it!

[WashingtonSquid1]

[quote name='crabber' timestamp='1349727527' post='25009']

Hey, pretty new to the squidding scene and glad to be a part of it. Went to Seacrest pier last night and only caught 2 between 9PM-11PM, only saw a rough total of ~7 squids caught during those 2 hours. Maybe it's too early, not sure since again I'm pretty new at this.



Heard Des Moines pier is decent, but dropped by there at night a few times this past week and only saw 2-3 people fishing for rockfish, so I couldn't get any actual reports. Anyone been to Des Moines, Redondo, or Les Davis Piers lately? It's a drag driving 30 minutes to Seattle and only end up with barely a handful of squid =/.

[/quote]



I hear you. It can be a downer for those results. I can honestly tell you, get back up to seattle and try again. There are just as many, if not more squid in the puget sound right now, then there will be in the winter season. I have honestly brought home more than 4 pounds on 4 out of 5 trips this year. I have also fished three different spots so far, all with great reults.

[crabber]

[quote name='Squidman1' timestamp='1349774151' post='25012']

Head to downtown! Went to Linc's tackle and outdoor for some newjigs, i figured lets fish since im in the area! Headed to 69 TOO Early got there at 545 pm and waited! By 7 people showed. then by 8! THE BITE WAS ON! Squid after squid for an hour. Schools swimming in circles on the surface! Then Blanks! Went to 70, got a few there! BIG JUMBOS are showing now! Then got kicked off!I know the plan for that pier now! then went back to 69 caught another and missed a few. Then when they left. I figured time to go home! 11PM? Naw, not for me! Headed to see anybody was at 62/63 & aquarium! Sue enough 62/63 WAS ON FIRE! i got 4 but guys with lights must of pulled up 2 pounds worth of squid while i was there. Then went to Aquarium! Picked one up then headed home!



Tomorrow hopefully WASquid and I will be going to kill it!

[/quote]



Awesome trip! I've heard that a lot of people have had tons of luck right after sunset (7-8PM), is that the recommended time to go? I usually check for high tide then go, but if there's a better time of day to do it, then I'm all ears (or eyes). I might give Seacrest Pier another shot tonight, I dropped by Pier 69 on Sunday night, but wasn't sure where to park or where to fish haha, do you just park in the street? And at Pier 69 do you fish on that dock to the left of the huge building or behind the building?



[quote name='WashingtonSquid1' timestamp='1349793487' post='25013']

I hear you. It can be a downer for those results. I can honestly tell you, get back up to seattle and try again. There are just as many, if not more squid in the puget sound right now, then there will be in the winter season. I have honestly brought home more than 4 pounds on 4 out of 5 trips this year. I have also fished three different spots so far, all with great reults.

[/quote]



Yeah, with pretty much no reports for the Des Moines/Tacoma Piers, I probably will have to stick to the Seattle area. I haven't been to the aquarium or Pier 62/63, so maybe I'll drop by there sometime this weekend to see how everyone does (and to see where you're supposed to park and fish haha). Looking at Map Google and Pier 62/63 looks like a HUGE dock, do you just fish anywhere on that thing and park anywhere in front of it?

[WashingtonSquid1]

Ive done well at the 62/63 on the north side of the dock. Parking in seattle... oh boy, it is what it is... just park where you can find and walk to your dock/pier of choice

[crabber]

[quote name='WashingtonSquid1' timestamp='1349799564' post='25015']

Ive done well at the 62/63 on the north side of the dock. Parking in seattle... oh boy, it is what it is... just park where you can find and walk to your dock/pier of choice

[/quote]



Is there a closing time for any of the docks in Seattle (69, 62/63)?

[WashingtonSquid1]

not that I know of at the two you mentioned

[crabber]

Just got back from pier 62/63, was there from 11PM till 1:30AM during peak high tide and nothing.. Group closeby reeled in about 10-15 (not sure how much they caught before I arrived), but they left an hour ahead of us. Not really sure if my light or jig is wrong, or I'm going at the wrong time/tide of the night, just bad results so far =\