Grayland Beach State Park

Victoria trees a squirrel.

We spent July 8th through the 13th at Grayland Beach State Park, on the Pacific coast of Washington.  I'd like to say the weather was spectacular, but it was pretty much normal for the area.  While the Puget Sound basin basked in 70s to 80s temperature-wise, we enjoyed clouds and 60s for most of the week.  I'm not complaining...  It was typical weather for the area, and we had little rain.

Joey, Carrie, Victoria, and Michael joined us again this trip, although Joey could only stay one night due to work.  We kept busy trying to keep the fire burning with the moist wood that the locals sold us (watch out for the pitbull!).  The ladies enjoyed time on the beach, while I just enjoyed time...




I had recently discovered that YouTube had nothing regarding doughboys.  Doughboys are a delectable treat which Janae had taught me to make several years ago.  She had learned of these gifts from God several years ago as a Girl Scout leader.  As a smore hater, I took right to them.  Over the last several years I have become dismayed at the number of people who have never enjoyed a doughboy.  So, I took it upon myself to create a YouTube video on the making of doughboys.  I hope you enjoy it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhSOm6YEFWE

Once that was completed, I had fishing to look forward to.  Micaela and Travis arrived on Wednesday afternoon, in preparation for the expedition. Thursday morning started early, at about 3:30am.  We actually got out of camp at a decent time, arriving in Westport in time to check-in, and still get some breakfast.  We were actually the first people at the boat, the "Slammer".  Fourth time on the boat in three years.  Captain Rhett Weber does a great job putting you on the fish.  http://slammercharters.com/

Let's fish.

We left the pier at about 0530 hours, and headed out on the 1 hour and 45 minute cruise to the target area.  Seas were pretty calm, and I saw a couple of harbor porpoises just past the bar.  We arrived amid the fishing fleet and began fishing.  Things were pretty slow, with only a couple of Kings being caught.  Rhett moved us and the "Slamming" began in ernest.  We pretty quickly limited out the boat on Kings, with Travis and I catching two a piece and Micaela catching one.  Unfortunately, Micaela and Colton became a bit ill (no chumming) and became more interested in lying on the seats than fishing.

Micaela and Travis

Me and Travis

Uncle Alan

Then it was time to find some Coho salmon.  Rhett moved the boat a couple of miles, and we dropped lines again.  This was quite a bit slower, and the Coho hadn't really arrived enmass in the area.  The deal is you can only keep hatchery fish, not native fish.  You can tell the difference by the hatchery fish having a small fin clipped off.  I was lucky enough to catch a hatchery Coho, along with two other fishermen, for a total of three.  The reason you can't keep natives is because they are "endangered".  There sure were a lot of them for an "endangered species".  Probably 10 natives were hooked as opposed to the 3 hatchery fish caught.  In the end, the Kings we caught were really nice fish, and we made it into the Charterboat Slammer Facebook page cover photo.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charterboat-SLAMMER/123090081687




Great trip!

17 Kings, 3 hatchery Coho