Fishing notebook: 45-pound king proves no match for Tacoma boy
It didn't take long for 6-year-old Brian Lukenbill of University Place to catch a trophy-sized king, a crowning lifetime achievement for many.
He was out trolling for salmon with his dad, Gary, last Friday evening off Point Richmond in Colvos Passage just north of Gig Harbor when a 45-plus-pound king decided to take them for a ride.
With help from Dad, Brian reeled in the big brute with a flasher and hoochie on a meatlining pole, which is stubby and more stout than a conventional fishing rod.
"It was the biggest king I've ever seen or sampled in Puget Sound, and I waited until 11 p.m. just to verify the big catch," said Tom Matthews, a state Fish and Wildlife fish checker who has sampled at various ramps for 17 years. "The largest king I've seen prior to this one was a 39-pounder, and I heard about a 50-pounder that was caught off Point Robinson, but nobody could verify that."
The big king measured 47 inches long.
Top spots of the week
1. Chinook, coho and pinks in Puget Sound: "We are finding some decent pink fishing from Mukilteo to the Shipwreck," said Gary Krein, owner of All-Star Charters in Everett.
"Dolphin Point and [south of] Brace Point are picking up for chinook and there are some decent number of pinks at Lincoln Park [in West Seattle]," said Pete Sergeeff, a state Fish and Wildlife fish checker.
Places to target kings are south of Southworth Ferry landing, Point Beals, Port Orchard area, Point Dalco on south side of Vashon Island, the Tacoma area, Three Tree Point, Point Robinson and outside of Gig Harbor.
Other good areas for pinks and coho are Point No Point, Possession Bar (lots of pesky dogfish) and Midchannel Bank.
2. Coho and pinks in Strait of Juan de Fuca, San Juan Islands and Hood Canal: "Still holding up pretty good for humpies [pinks] and silvers, and some of the silvers they're catching are weighing up to 12 pounds," said Gary Ryan, manager of Van Riper's Resort in Sekiu. "I'd try off green bell buoy at Slip Point and straight out from Olson's Point."
"Things are starting to pick up for chinook and pinks in San Juan Islands," said Larry Carpenter, owner of Master Marine in Mount Vernon. "I'd try west side of San Juan Island, Rosario Strait, James Island, Thatcher Pass and Peavine."
Hood Canal is fair to good for kings from Ayock Point to Lilliwaup.
3. Salmon off Washington coast: "Willapa Bay is good for kings, and I fished it last weekend and we got a couple and saw a lot of fish caught," said Scott Barbour, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist.
"The ocean is paying big dividends, and the fleet is fishing about 15 miles south of [Ilwaco's] south jetty in 200 to 250 feet of water, and some of the coho are bigger than the chinook," said Tony Floor, with the Northwest Marine Trade Association. "I heard firsthand that it remains pretty slow at Buoy 10."
This past week; the Westport average was 1.4 fish per rod; La Push was 1.0; and Neah Bay was half a fish.
4. Pinks and coho off Puget Sound shorelines: Some decent fly fishing at Browns Point over the weekend, reported Jay Taylor of Seattle. Other prime bank spots for pinks are Bush Point, Lagoon Point and Fort Casey off west Whidbey Island, and Picnic Point and Golden Gardens.
5. Pinks in Puget Sound rivers: "Lots of pinks in the Snohomish and good fishing, but not much in the Skagit and the water is pretty mucky," said Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood.
"Puyallup River has been producing quite a few humpies [pinks] and an occasional king," said Frank Urabeck, a Trout Unlimited spokesman. "Drifting long leaders [6 feet] with bright corkies and yarn works."
Other fishing spots
Green River: Slow for steelhead.
Lower Samish River: Slow for kings.
Cowlitz River: Slow to fair for steelhead and chinook.
Lewis River: Fair for steelhead.
Wind River: Fair for steelhead.
Drano Lake: Good for steelhead and chinook.
White Salmon River: Fair for steelhead and chinook at mouth.
Skokomish River: Slow for kings.
Statewide lakes: Good for perch and bass in Lake Washington. Mineral Lake is good for trout, and a plant of 2,000 half-pound rainbows is expected in early September. Mayfield Lake is fair for trout. Lake Chelan mackinaw fishing is good around Rocky Point, the Yacht Club and Mack Bar.
Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com