Surf Fishing Primer
by User Member ~ Halibut Feet

I just joined so here's hoping I get this right. Robert is right on about fishing the Westport area. I fish there from time to time. There is a state camp ground just outside of town ideal for a weekender or fishing vacation. You can fish the surf one day, the jetty the next and perhaps take a charter out of the mariner on the following day. All located within a fifteen minutes of each other.

I recommend going south of the long jetty to fish for surf perch. If you have a good 4 wheeler you can drive right onto the beach. I like to fish the incoming tide with a long spinning rod and reel heavy duty saltwater type. My pole is a 13 footer with lite tip action. These perch are not monster so sensitivity to feel the strike helps. At least 15 lb to 20 lb test line to combat the strong currents and the seaweed often encountered. I recomend chest waders or hip boots as you will have to walk out a little ways. Currents can be strong be careful. One or two snelled hooks of #2 or #3 size spaced about a foot apart and a foot above a 2 to 3 ounce pyramid sinker is my favorite surf rigging.

As for bait, sand shrimp works well but come off the hook very easily. You can dig your own on the mud flats just beyond the indian reservation about fifteen minutes south of West Port. Piling worms, prawns and clams also work. Here's a tip few fishermen seem know little about or are hesitant to use. Large mussels are like candy to surf perch. The rich red meaty part is difficult to keep on the hook but use the black tongue and the hard rind of the mussel and you can catch as many as 4 perch on a single piece of bait. These mussels can be found all over the jetty rocks but check the regulations on harvesting of mussels.

On the small jetty in Westport at the end of the main road you can use the same bait and fish for nice sized piling or rock perch as I like to call them. Again they hit largely on the incoming tide. A smaller pole and sinker arrangement works best here. The large jetty south of town is lead head jig's or live bait country for nice lingcod and sea bass of several types. It's a long, very rocky walk out so were good boots. Again the shorter poles are better fitted to the terrain here.