Westport dock Coho fishing

Westport Boat Basin Coho Fishing in the Fall

Net Pens Raise Coho Intended for Release / Fishery Back in Boat Basin: In the Westport Washington boat basin, there are net pens that Coho salmon are raised each year. These pens are operated by the Port Of Grays Harbor & by students from Ocosta High School. The fingerlings are released in this boat basin. When they return 2 or 3 years later, this provides a fishery for many who can fish off the docks or shore inside the boat basin, creating another draw to the community of Westport in an off season.

The town of Westport runs a Boat Basin Derby from September 15 thru October 30 each year. Recently Angler Charters is the official weigh-in location. CLICK HERE FOR LINK

Fishing here can be as laid back as you make it. These Coho will band together & travel around the basin in small schools, as they retuned to their "home stream" to spawn but which really has no spawning gravel. The net pens where they were raised is on the north end of the basin, so that is where more of a concentration of these returning fish concentrate. Someone told me of seeing them trying to spawn at a stormwater outlet in the basin after a rain.

Most fishing will be off the docks, which at this time of the year will be somewhat deserted in comparison to the hectic summer days. Some fisherpersons will stand on the dock ramps waiting to see a few fish swim by & then cast spinners to them. In certain places you may be able to stand on the shore & cast toward the docks. Some may even get a small boat & row it around inside the basin.

A lone fisherman braving the elements on windy & chilly October morning

Methods of fishing for these fish can be (1) using a live anchovy under a float. (2) casting a Metric or Blue Fox spinner.

Tackle should be heavier than you would think, as these fish will tend to head for the docks when hooked & try to tangle your line in the piling, breaking you off. Therefore this takes you out of the steelhead class gear. The suggested rod needs to be say an 7 to 8 1/2' medium heavy rod but a somewhat sensitive tip. Reels will depend on your ability to cast as to whether it will be a casting or spinning reel. But the line should probably be at least 15 or a 20# test monofilament.

Having a landing net close by is also a good idea here.

This is also a chance to throw a crab pot/ring in while you are fishing.

The excerpt below was taken off Angler Charters website

2007 RULES AND PRIZE SCHEDULE (Prizes subject to improvement without notice)
1. ALL SALMON MUST BE CAUGHT IN THE WESTPORT BOAT BASIN. FISHING IS OPEN 7 DAYS PER WEEK, WITH A STATE MANDATED ALLOWABLE CATCH OF 6 SALMON (NO MORE THAN 4 ADULTS) THAT ARE 12 INCHES OR MORE IN LENGTH. NOTE THAT GRAYS HARBOR IS CLOSED FOR CHINOOK OTHER THAN THE WESTPORT MARINA.

2. $500.00 WILL BE AWARDED FOR THE LARGEST SILVER (COHO) SALMON; $400.00 FOR THE SECOND PLACE COHO; $300.00 FOR THE THIRD PLACE COHO; $200.00 FOR FORTH PLACE COHO; AND $100.00 FOR FIFTH PLACE. REMAINING PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE 6TH, 7TH, ETC. LARGEST COHO SALMON ENTERED UNTIL ALL PRIZES HAVE BEEN GIVEN AWAY. ADDITIONAL PRIZES (SO FAR) INCLUDE A CRAB POT, FISHING POLES, AND GIFT CERTIFICATES. A $300.00 CASH PRIZE WILL BE AWARDED FOR THE LARGEST KING (CHINOOK) SALMON. UNDER-AGE-14, DIVISION--GUARANTEED FIRST PRIZE IS $200.00 FOR THE LARGEST SALMON, REGARDLESS OF SPECIES. UNDER-AGE-14 ANGLERS WILL BE ELIGABLE FOR ADULT PRIZES BUT MAY NOT CLAIM MORE THAN ONE PRIZE.

3. THE ENTRY FEE IS $5.00 PER DERBY TICKET. THE DERBY TICKET MUST BE SIGNED AND DATED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE OR WILL BE VOID. THE DERBY TICKET MUST BE PURCHASED PRIOR TO THE SALMON BEING CAUGHT.

4. EACH DERBY TICKET IS VALID UNTIL A FISH IS OFFICIALLY WEIGHED AND ENTERED IN THE DERBY. IF YOU WANT TO ENTER ANOTHER FISH, IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO BUY A NEW DERBY TICKET. VIOLATION OF ANY RULE IS SUBJECT TO SUSPENSION.

5. MAXIMUM ONE PRIZE PER FISHERMAN.

6. ANGLER CHARTERS IS THE OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN STATION. ALL SALMON WILL BE WEIGHED IN THE ROUND (UNDRESSED) BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10 AM AND 5 PM, SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK. FISH MAY BE FIELD DRESSED BY THE WEIGH-IN STATION AFTER WEIGH IN.

7. DERBY PRIZES MAY BE VIEWED AT ANGLER CHARTERS.

8. PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED FOR THE LARGEST SALMON, JUDGED BY WEIGHT. IN THE CASE OF A TIE, THE WINNER WILL BE JUDGED BY LENGTH AND THEN BY GIRTH.

9. CONTESTANTS MUST LAND THEIR OWN FISH USING SPORT FISHING TACKLE. HELP WITH NETTING OR GAFFING IS PERMITTED. FISH THAT ARE SNAGGED, NETTED OR CAUGHT BY OTHER ILLEGAL METHODS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. THE ANGLER CHARTER JUDGES WILL HAVE THE FINAL DECISION IN ALL CASES.

10. FINAL WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE DETERMINED AT 5 PM ON OCTOBER 31, 2007. WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PHONE OR MAIL BY NOVEMBER 10, 2007 AND MUST PICK UP THEIR PRIZES AT THE WESTPORT/GRAYLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 30, 2007. IF UNABLE TO PICK UP BY NOVEMBER 30, ALTERNATE ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE MADE.

This Page Under Construction

Back to Ramblings

Originated 12-03-05, Last Updated 10-28-2007 LeeRoy Wisner

Originated 12-03-05, Last Updated 10-28-2007
LeeRoy Wisner