Back to Back at Buoy 10

The Hammond boat basin where I generally launch to fish the Columbia River estuary is roughly 2 hours from my home.  Given the round trip 4 hour drive that accompanies 8+ hours of fishing, doing a Saturday / Sunday combo is generally not something that would be easily done.  However, towards the end of the 3rd week of August I was able to spend consecutive days at Buoy 10 staying overnight locally in Astoria, OR.

Over the course of two days, Tabasco Todhunter and I were able to hook into 9 fish.  However, as luck would have it, most managed to avoid the net and ultimately the vacuum packed freezer bags I had planned for each of them.  Additionally, this year there was an abundance of wild/native Coho/Silvers that are not legal to keep which required a quick release back into the river.  If 2011 wasn't already a tough year for salmon fishing, to add to the uniqueness, we lost more fish at the boat than in years past; including what looked to be a prize fish; "yeah, the one that got away".  Interestingly, "the one that got away" broke off at the treble hook.  After further examination, it appeared to be a defective hook so somewhere out there is a large Chinook salmon swimming in the river with half a treble in her jaw.

One of the amazing aspects of fishing Buoy 10 is how quickly the weather can change and how powerful it can be.  Like clockwork, the afternoon winds pickup and it's always a mystery just how strong they'll be.  Most captains' plan their course and day in an effort to avoid a bumpy ride back to the dock if plans take them to deep into the afternoon hours.

Back To Salmon - Buoy 10

Buoy 10 is a shipping channel marker that sits on the Columbia River bar which is also known as The Graveyard of The Pacific after the more than 2,000 boats and 700 lives that have been lost in the area.  Buoy 10 is also the sport fishing region for the Columbia River estuary which is the granddaddy of salmon fishing in the Northwest.

For fall 2011, nearly 800,000 Chinook (King) and over 200,000 Coho (Silver) salmon are predicted to enter the Columbia River and each one of them will have to pass through the estuary on their way "home".

Papa D and Uncle R

2011 is season 3 as captain of my own boat at Buoy 10, and to kick things off I was fortunate enough to do an early trip with two of the greats; Papa D and his younger brother.  It was a great time hearing the stories from "the good old days' when they'd fish the ocean and estuary out of Illwaco, WA as kids.

We had to work for it, but on the flood tide we put a nice Chinook (King) salmon in the box.  With the ocean just a stone throw away, these fish are a beautiful candy red and are the best tasting, highest quality salmon on the planet.  Back to Buoy 10 in a few days and I won't sleep a wink in anticipation.

Two perfect candy red fillets