Salt Point, Stillwater, etc. this weekend (Oct 4, 5, 6). Are salmon worth targeting?

Will be on Yaks out of Stillwater this weekend. Would anyone suggest targeting salmon there? I am assuming it is too late but wanted to see what everyone thinks.

I've never fished down there, but there's definitely a chance to catch a salmon!

I suggest running something like a 6 to 8 ounce banana weight with a 20 pound mooching slip rig behind it with an anchovy or herring neatly pinned on.  Slow troll it just off the rocky bottom in 35-55' and you'll catch whatever's there and interested.  I've caught many salmon that way off the Humboldt coast.

You have to troll that rig - not legal to mooch a salmon that way.  I like my bait always swimming anyway...

Good luck.   

I was fishing mostly for rockfish at Stillwater a couple of weeks ago, and I saw multiple salmon jumping. I did not catch any Salmon, but my friend accidentally hooked a good sized salmon on the back with a metal jig. So the salmons were definitely there, even though they did not like my offerings

Sunday the 28th was jigging a big hammer off the totem pole point at Timber Cove.  As I reeled up to move south I was startled by a BIG salmon rushing up from underneath and snapped at the big hammer just below the surface.  They are there.

I trolled for 3.5 hours off Stillwater Cove two weeks ago without any hits to the bait.  Depends on how long you want to be out there. I don't have Eric's stamina for a 9 hour paddle!

Thanks everyone! It's good to hear there's a chance. I'll keep my eye on the depth finder and look for them jumping. I saw some jumping this summer but never had any luck. If I do see some, would you all recommend mooching or trolling?

If you are fishing for Rockfish and hook a salmon, do you have to release it because hooks aren't barbed? I know about releasing coho and steelhead.

I can't find in the regs anything about rules being different for trolling vs. mooching... just regs about uusing  single point barbless hooks.

I've never fished down there, but there's definitely a chance to catch a salmon!

I suggest running something like a 6 to 8 ounce banana weight with a 20 pound mooching slip rig behind it with an anchovy or herring neatly pinned on.  Slow troll it just off the rocky bottom in 35-55' and you'll catch whatever's there and interested.  I've caught many salmon that way off the Humboldt coast.

You have to troll that rig - not legal to mooch a salmon that way.  I like my bait always swimming anyway...

Good luck.   

Cann you please  take a look  at my last postt? II cant find anyything  about trolling vs mooching.

Sunday the 28th was jigging a big hammer off the totem pole point at Timber Cove.  As I reeled up to move south I was startled by a BIG salmon rushing up from underneath and snapped at the big hammer just below the surface.  They are there.

Snapped as in got it in the mouth or just missed?!

I was fishing mostly for rockfish at Stillwater a couple of weeks ago, and I saw multiple salmon jumping. I did not catch any Salmon, but my friend accidentally hooked a good sized salmon on the back with a metal jig. So the salmons were definitely there, even though they did not like my offerings

There was a day a few weeks back where I saw a massive sunfish and fish jumping occasionally, but the fish looked thinner and more like steelhead to me... Wasn't able to hook any and was distracted watching the sunfish - it was huge and was munching on a sail jelly fish!

Cann you please  take a look  at my last postt? II cant find anyything  about trolling vs mooching.

Just type in "salmon hook" in the search tool.  You'll find a long list of previous discussions on the matter.

If you are fishing for Rockfish and hook a salmon, do you have to release it because hooks aren't barbed? I know about releasing coho and steelhead.

You would have to release it.
Otherwise, people would just use 20 rods with 10 hooks on each rod until they caught a salmon...then keep it and downsize to only 1 rod w/2 barbless hooks. That doesn't seem fair right?
Btw I'm moving this thread since it isn't about Tournaments, Events, etc. 

If you are fishing for Rockfish and hook a salmon, do you have to release it because hooks aren't barbed? I know about releasing coho and steelhead.

You would have to release it.
Otherwise, people would just use 20 rods with 10 hooks on each rod until they caught a salmon...then keep it and downsize to only 1 rod w/2 barbless hooks. That doesn't seem fair right?
Btw I'm moving this thread since it isn't about Tournaments, Events, etc. 

I guess I meant for the original topic to be about meeting this weekend in Stillwater. And yes I agree that that would be the wrong thing to do, though I know for a fact that a lot of people start with barbs until they get one fish on the boat.

My question was about accidentally hooking one with squid or something when fishing for Rockfish, but I got the answer. Thanks!

Cen's point is that in order to keep a salmon that is caught you MUST be fishing with what is legal for salmon.

If you are fishing for Rockfish and hook a salmon, do you have to release it because hooks aren't barbed?

Of course you have to release it, and it may not just be the barbed hooks - there is a specific configuration of circle hooks that you MUST use if you're using bait for salmon and NOT trolling.  That's as much as I'm elaborating on - this has been reviewed many times on here, and, not trying be a jerk, but you really need to know the rules or get with someone who does.  (a guide can be helpful!   )

I'm standing behind my already offered advice with specifics provided.   

...and don't forget your big net.

No worries man. This is the right board for planning trips, hookups, meetings...or for posting fishing reports & stuff. There is also the "members-only" board that is only viewable by members w/10+ posts...that's where you post plans, hookups, reports & stuff if you don't want the entire internet to see the info.  That other board is just for tournies & events.

About the salmon while rockfishing...you can only keep a salmon if you catch it on gear that is approved for salmon (so that means barbless hooks if trolling/moving and barbless circle-hooks if mooching/drifting).

EDIT: I see Eric already answered it...I type too slow haha

Cen's point is that in order to keep a salmon that is caught you MUST be fishing with what is legal for salmon.

If you are fishing for Rockfish and hook a salmon, do you have to release it because hooks aren't barbed?

Of course you have to release it, and it may not just be the barbed hooks - there is a specific configuration of circle hooks that you MUST use if you're using bait for salmon and NOT trolling.  That's as much as I'm elaborating on - this has been reviewed many times on here, and, not trying be a jerk, but you really need to know the rules or get with someone who does.  (a guide can be helpful!   )

I'm standing behind my already offered advice with specifics provided.   

...and don't forget your big net.