u/hangdown

I snuck away from yard work to get out in this amazing calm weather for a few hours. I managed to hook this ~30” fish just before the evening tide change. I forgot my net, so I had to grab it in the water. It took a couple tries, he did not want to come aboard. I ended up making cioppino with clams/mussels I harvested, spot prawns from last weekends MA12 opener, and some scallops I purchased. I also made home made sourdough bread (my 14 year old son did the scoring).

I took a break from lingcod to try for some springers. They’re one of the hardest fish to catch in Washington (in my experience). It’s technical fishing, and you have to do a lot right to land one. I think that challenge makes them all the more rewarding, tasting delicious doesn’t hurt either.

With the great weather and calm water this weekend we took advantage of some lingcod opportunities and the first day of shrimping in MA12. I explored a couple spots and was rewarded with really nice fish on Saturday. Sunday we ran from Elliot Bay to hood canal, caught out shrimp, then ran back.

The May 1 Puget Sound opener is one of my favorite days of the year. Local fishing for big fish, hard to beat! I kept my son home from school to join me and a couple friends. We had a productive day in some well known spots, and some new areas I’ve never fished. Love this time of year.