Fishing Report -- Jefferson Head: The Limit For Blackmouth Anglers

High winds have stopped Puget Sound salmon anglers from wetting a line. But last week it was fair to very good in some areas, including Jefferson Head.

For more than three weeks most anglers have been limiting (two daily) on blackmouth, 4 to 10 pounds, and a few chum, 8 to 14 pounds.

The copious amount of herring baitfish at Jefferson Head best explains a glut of hungry blackmouth.

Last weekend's ratio was one legal blackmouth (longer than 22 inches) caught for every nine under legal-sized fish released.

Most anglers have caught them mooching a whole or cut-plug herring, but a variety of trolling tackle such as Tomic-type plugs and hoochies with a flasher have yielded their share of fish.

Point No Point is another good mooching bet for blackmouth averaging 5 to 10 pounds, with a few up to 14 pounds.

Last weekend, Holmes Harbor on Whidbey Island's east side was fair to good downrigger trolling for blackmouth and the area is plugged with herring baitfish.

"I saw quite a few fish caught trolling off Dines Point and it was good all the way up to Baby Island," said Craig Holman of Whidbey Island.

Saratoga Passage is worth a try for blackmouth at Camano Head, Gedney Island, Elger Bay and Onamac Point.

Between wind storms, the San Juan Islands are fair to good bets for blackmouth.

"There's some good fishing at Obstruction (Island), off West Beach (of Orcas Island) and in Spring Pass (west of Deer Harbor on Orcas Island)," said Jeff Lingbloom, a Bellingham charter guide.

"We released two fish that weighed in the teens in hopes they'll be around during derby time," Lingbloom said.

The Rosario Resort Salmon Derby is tomorrow through Saturday. One hundred boats are entered and anglers will compete for a $10,000 first prize.

Hunting note

-- Duck hunting is allowed on specific days at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge through Jan. 10.

Goose hunting is open on days specified in the state migratory waterfowl pamphlet. Goose hunters must take a dusky goose identification class before hunting.

To reach the refuge hunting area, take South Ninth Street from Ridgefield and follow the signs.

For goose classes and hunting regulations, call State Fish and Wildlife at (206) 696-6211. For information about the refuge, call (206) 887-4106.

Fishing spots

-- Sekiu - Nobody fishing at midweek, but before the stormy weather it was fair for blackmouth off the Caves and Slip Point.

-- Port Angeles - Slow for blackmouth.

-- San Juan islands - Fair to good bet for blackmouth, 4 to 10 pounds, with a few in the mid-teens, at Obstruction Island, West Beach of Orcas Island and Spring Pass just west of Deer Harbor on Orcas Island. Fair for blackmouth off Salmon Bank.

-- Midchannel Bank - Not many anglers, but has been fair at times for blackmouth. -- West Whidbey Island - Slow for blackmouth off Double Bluff. Not many anglers fishing for winter steelhead off Bush Point, but is a fair producer.

-- Point No Point - Fair mooching for blackmouth, 4 to 14 pounds, and a few chum, 8 to 15 pounds.

-- Saratoga Passage - Fair to good for blackmouth at Camano Head, Gedney Island, Elger Bay and Onamac Point.

-- Possession Bar - Once the weather settles down, blackmouth anglers should find decent plug trolling and jigging off the bar's west side. Try between the Scatchet Head buoy and north along the southwest corner of Whidbey Island for chum.

-- Hood Canal - Hoodsport and Kennedy Creek should be fair to good for chum, 8 to 14 pounds.

-- Jefferson Head - Fair to very good for blackmouth, 4 to 10 pounds, and a few chum, 8 to 12 pounds.

-- Shilshole Bay - Slow off West Point for blackmouth. Most caught have been under the 22-inch minimum legal size limit.

-- Elliott Bay - Slow in the bay for blackmouth. Slow to fair for blackmouth, 4 to 8 pounds, off Southworth, Allen Bank and Blakely Rock.

-- Point Defiance - Fair to good bet for blackmouth, 4 to 10 pounds, off the Clay Banks.

-- Skagit River - High and unfishable. Once it drops, expect more winter steelhead to enter the lower and middle sections. A few large Dolly Varden caught in the lower river. The Mount Vernon plunking bars and areas near Concrete should provide fair action for winter steelhead. The lower sections are still worth a try for late chum.

-- Stillaguamish River - High and unfishable through yesterday.

-- Snohomish river system - Winter-run steelhead were present in the lower Skykomish and Snoqualmie before the rains and rising water made both unfishable midweek.

-- Coastal rivers - High and unfishable at midweek. Before the storm, the Bogachiel, Calawah and Soleduck were fair to good for winter steelhead.

-- Cowlitz River - Very good for winter steelhead, 8 to 14 pounds, from Blue Creek downstream.

-- Lewis River - High and unfishable at midweek.

-- Kalama River - High and unfishable at midweek.

-- Washougal River - Slow to fair for winter steelhead.

-- Green River - Before the high water, fair for chum near Soos Creek, and slow to fair winter steelhead between the Kent and Auburn golf courses.

-- Trout fishing - "There are a couple lakes producing good trout fishing," said Eric Balser at Skagit Anglers in Mount Vernon. Pass Lake, 6 miles south of Anacortes, has been fair to good for rainbow trout. Clear Lake, 3 miles south of Sedro-Woolley, is good for an overplant of jumbo-sized rainbow trout.