Late Report: 3 PB's 7/7/2021 on the Swifty, Westport, WA

My neighbor and his girlfriend were going on a Charter out of Westport.  I had wanted to go but could never find anyone to go with. So I booked a couple of nights in a hotel, and got a seat on the Swifty with them.  5 am came early, a Southwind greeted me as we headed out.  Roughest ride I have been on.  I almost lost breakfast it was that rough.  Crossing the bar there is no joke.  Once we got out in open water the sea slowly settled down.  The plan was to jig/mooch herring.  His girlfriend brought the first Salmon in, a fat 22 inch keeper.  Shortly there after I got an 18 inch shaker, followed by a nice keep Coho.  I would get two more keeper (19" & 20" respectively) but only one more keeper Coho was brought up.  I lost on a couple others, one of which followed me up to the boat and missed the stinger and ate the body and left the head (like he knew where the hooks were).  We were trying different locations, when we ended up over some rocks, and bam!  The biggest Blackie I have ever caught come up, everywhere I hear "Fish on!"  One guy brings up 2 lings a 12 & 13 pounder (38 & 40 incher maybe), I hook into another fish and loose him, then drop down again and hook into a pig of ling! I am guessing 36" around 10 pounds. Fought like a M1 Tank , now mind you the boat has to change positions as we are getting to close to some exposed rocks. I have to hold on to my beast. 

My old Newell 220 is getting it done today!  We move and I am still trying to bring this guy up, I can feel head shake after head shake, still with me.  I am worried those barbless hooks are going to come free , but they held!  I am bringing this guy up, the rod is tripled over as Mr. Pig Ling is under the boat. If you can imagine your rod almost completing a circle that is kind of what it looked like.  That Shimano did not give, it held in there.  Boat is lurching  around, I am using my elbow to hook on to the railing so I don't get thrown around.  All I can keep thinking is "Hooks don't fail me now!"

I finally get him to the surface and the Captain scoops with the net!  He gets tossed on the deck with a bunch of other lings.  The crew is busy, so I whack with the Billy and put my number tag on him.   I get some pics, I am back to fishing.  Next thing I know my pig is now a bunch of filets (they work fast!). 

Total for the day for me:
1 Coho Keeper (PB)
3 Shakers
2 Starry Flounder
1 Black Bass (PB)
1 Ling (PB)

Great report!

Nice variety day.  Those starry flounder are neat looking fish!

Great variety!

Great read and nice fishing 

Awesome. You make me want to move to BC

Awesome. You make me want to move to BC

Yeah I used to think the same thing, don't do it.  Fishing restrictions are worse here in WA, I can't say for BC.