Accessible salmon fishing on the Washington Coast!

2012 looks to be a record setting year for salmon fishing on the Washington Coast and there is a little known fishery starting mid-September that runs through October that might be of interest to your everyone!

Since 1975 students at Ocosta High School in Westport Washington have conducted a "salmon rearing" project at the marina. They receive 200,000 fingerling coho from a nearby hatchery and raise them in net pens. While feeding them they learn more about them and measure progress and when the fish have attained the target growth the nets are lowered and the fish are released into the marina.

Those fish "imprint" on the marina water and years later when those same fish mature, they return in search of spawning grounds. That means in the months of September and October you can see hundreds, if not thousands, of adult salmon swimming around the marina and you can cast a lure or bait at them from any of the easily accessible docks and ramps around the harbor keeping up to 6 per day!

During the run of fish there is a "marina salmon derby" and prizes are awarded for the biggest fish caught. Last year's winner landed a 16 lb 7oz coho on Float 14 (just 100 yards from the donut shop). This is about the most convenient way to fish for salmon possible with ramp access to all docks and public facilities all along the waterfront.

More information can be obtained by calling the Westport Chamber of Commerce 360-268-9422 For assistance in arranging accessible lodging call Mike Coverdale at 360-581-3399