By Pete Rosko
In Washington State, the official saltwater salmon season off Port Angeles (Area 6) begins on July 1 and generally ends in mid-October.
The first major salmon run starts with chinook salmon, with a few 3–5 lb. coho (silver) salmon mixed in. In odd-numbered years, pink salmon (humpies) join the late summer coho migration.
When I relocated to Port Angeles from the Great Lakes region in 1980, the fishing scene felt like the Wild West—wide open, with no closed seasons for any species. The marine waters were teeming with bait and predator fish, including halibut, lingcod, rockfish, and salmon. I recall many days when salmon anglers had their day “spoiled” by hooking a halibut that took hours to land. I witnessed one memorable event west of Port Angeles when a salmon angler hooked a halibut around 7 a.m. and landed it at about 3 p.m. It was estimated at over 300 lbs.
Regarding chinook salmon, it was extremely rare for anyone not to reach the daily limit of three per person. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, 1980 marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life—from dentistry to designing fishing lures. The Strait of Juan de Fuca off Port Angeles became my daily laboratory. That’s where I learned that most predator fish prefer ambushing prey rather than chasing it. If a salmon expends energy, it’s usually when it locates a large school of baitfish.
(When viewing baitfish in the water or on your fish finder, a densely packed school often signals that predators are present or actively feeding. Any predator with fins is an expert at this feeding strategy.)
A chinook salmon will dash through a tight mass of baitfish (anchovies, candlefish, herring, etc.), striking and injuring many at once. One burst of energy can cripple or kill hundreds of baitfish. Afterward, the salmon and other predators drift beneath the mass to pick off the wounded or disoriented. A crippled baitfish, to the eyes of a predator, is like a limping zebra to a lion—it’s an easy meal.
These strike-triggering actions are built into all our metal jigs. They include darting, fluttering, gliding, and vibrating movements. A salmon’s three top priorities are eating, conserving energy, and reproducing—just like land predators. These principles inspired the creation of our three metal jigs for both fresh and saltwater: first the Crippled Herring, then the Kandlefish, and finally the
Sonic BaitFish —the Kandlefish’s “offspring.”
Sonic Baitfish sizes range from 1/16 oz to 1 oz.
Fishing the Port Angeles “Trifecta”
Area 6 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca forms a "trifecta" of three distinct fishing zones, stretching from Port Angeles to the eastern boundary of Area 5, off the Lyre River. These include fishing the
Sonic BaitFish in open water, on the Elwha River Flats, and near the westerly kelp forests.
The Open Water off Port Angeles
Downrigger trolling is the most effective method for chinook salmon in the vast open water. Jigging is second-best, especially in the Winter Hole and near the old mill site.
Use ¾ oz or 1 oz Sonic Baitfish to target suspended or bottom-holding salmon in 35–65 feet of water.
Winter Hole Technique: On a gentle outgoing tide, drift and bottom-bounce jig the western edge of the Winter Hole, moving up the shelf onto the 65-foot flats. On a gentle incoming tide, bottom-bounce jig other areas.
For Coho Salmon Trolling: When I find a truly effective lure—regardless of the brand—I’ll share it. One that outperformed all others on the WDFW research boat in the past two coho seasons is the fluorescent red Kwikfish, size #11 or #13, due to its exceptional vibration.
If you can’t find a Kwikfish, other fluorescent red “flatfish”-style lures work well. Blue-silver is my second choice.
No downrigger is needed. Just flatline troll—cast the lure behind the boat, set the rod in the holder, and troll. The key indicator is the vibrating rod tip. If it stops, you’ve either snagged debris or hooked a fish—far easier to monitor than a downrigger setup.
These lures typically run at 15 feet deep, ideal for coho.
Hook Tip: Remove treble hooks and replace with a single 2/0–4/0 Siwash-style hook at the tail.
Flatline Alternatives:
Mack’s Lure Co. ½ oz glow chartreuse Sonic BaitFish with a tail-mounted Wedding Ring Indiana blade or a Humdinger.
Elwha River Flats
Just west of Port Angeles, the Elwha River flows into the Strait. Historically, it was home to chinook salmon over 100 lbs. But two dams built in the early 1900s for power generation blocked fish migration for a century. These dams were removed (2012 and 2014), reopening 70 miles of pristine spawning habitat.
The Elwha hosts all five salmon species, as well as bull trout, native char, cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden, and steelhead.
Fishing Technique: Look for birds! Birds often mark the location of baitfish, chinook salmon, and flounder in 23–30 feet of water. Once you find bait schools near the bottom using sonar, gently bottom-bounce a 1/6–¼ oz glow white Sonic BaitFish on a spinning setup during an incoming tide.
Pro Tip: I once landed two mid-teen chinook and ten large flounder in under an hour using this method from a WDFW boat.
The Kelp Shoreline: Freshwater Bay to Tongue Point and Westward
This rugged shoreline stretches from Freshwater Bay to Neah Bay and the Pacific Ocean
(Note: Only small boats can launch here due to shallow ramps.)
This area is ideal for metal jig fishing, especially around the thick kelp beds where herring congregate. These baitfish often ball up in open pockets along the outer kelp edge—prime ambush territory for chinook.
Because most baitfish are under two inches, the smaller
Sonic BaitFish shines here.
Advantages of Smaller Sonic Baitfish:
- Slower sink rate = more time for predators to spot it
- Less snag risk in kelp compared to heavier jigs
- Greater control, especially with single hooks
Two Killer Techniques:
- Surface Boil Casting: Keep a spinning outfit rigged with a ¼ oz glow white Sonic BaitFish. When you see a surface boil, cast into it. Keep your line tight and rod pointed directly at the lure, twitching it as it sinks.
-
Fishing “C”-Shaped Kelp Openings: These U- or C-shaped pockets act like rest stops for migrating salmon. Focus on the "corners" of these pockets—the up-current or down-current bends, depending on the tide.
On strong incoming tides, start at the inside corner of the up-current bend. Eddy currents here create calmer water where herring gather. Tie off to kelp here and vertically jig the
Sonic Baitfish. If there’s no bite in five minutes, move on.
Reminder: Freshwater Bay is saltwater. It got its name in the late 1700s from Spanish explorer Manuel Quimper, who found Colville Creek (a freshwater stream) flowing into the bay.
Parting Words
The photo with this article shows a 47 lb. chinook salmon caught by Eric Thomson before the
Sonic BaitFish was even created. It was caught on a Kandlefish around the turn of the 21st century. This fish is believed to be the largest chinook caught in the region since then. The previous record was 63 lbs.—an Elwha River fish whose unique DNA may have been lost due to the dam-blocked spawning.
Time marches on as another month passes. Thank you for subscribing to Mack Attack and for trusting in our products. We’re honored that you take the time to learn how to improve your success on the water.
Until next time—take a kid fishing, keep your hook sharp, release your fish with care, and always wear your life vest.
So long until next month…
Capt. Pete
