How to Fish for Salmon in Saltwater
Salmon spend most of their lives in the ocean, where they remain bright silver and firm-bodied while growing fat on a rich sea diet. The Pacific Ocean from Oregon to Alaska provides some of the best saltwater salmon fishing. When the time comes for salmon to begin their migration up the rivers to eventually spawn and die, they congregate outside the river bars, where the river and ocean meet. Here, on the ocean side, is where some good salmon fishing can be done. A popular fishing method used by many salmon fishermen is called motor mooching.
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Things You'll Need
- 8 1/2-foot medium action rod
- Level wind reel to match rod
- 25-lb. test monofilament
- 20-lb. test monofilament leader
- 3- to 6-oz. trolling sinkers
- Size 2/0 beak hooks
- Herring bait fish
Instructions
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1
Pull the monofilament line through the rod guides and tie the end of the line to a trolling sinker. Use the lighter sinkers to fish shallower waters and the heavier sinkers to go deep.
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2
Tie 3 feet of 20-lb. leader onto the opposite end of the sinker.
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3
Slide the end of the leader through the eye of a short-shanked beak hook, slide the hook 3 inches up the line and tie it in place. Tie a second beak hook at the end of the line.
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4
Cut the head and tail off a whole herring bait fish, then stab the upper hook through the front section of the herring. Stab the bottom hook through the midsection of the herring and pull the hook completely through the herring so that the fish is actually on the line and the hook is extended out behind it.
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5
Lower the bait and sinker into the water as the boat moves slowly forward. Pull the line out of the reel by hand counting the number of pulls to gauge the depth at which the bait is working.
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6
Troll continuously at a slow speed, experimenting with different depths until a salmon is caught. Keep trolling over the same area and fishing at the same depth where the salmon was caught, as salmon run in schools and more can be caught.
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Tips & Warnings
You can purchase a "mooching rig," which is a length of leader with the two hooks already tied into the leader. One of these rigs can be quickly tied on in place of the individual hooks and leader.
Downriggers are often used to take the bait down to controlled levels; however, these can be expensive. Motor mooching catches as many fish without the extra expense.
Quiet saltwater such as Puget Sound in Washington and the inside passage of Alaska provides excellent saltwater salmon fishing without the dangers of the open ocean.
Check the fishing regulations for the area you plan to fish. Saltwater and fresh water salmon regulations often differ.
Be aware of the weather conditions; storms on the ocean are deadly to small fishing boats.
Do not attempt to cross the bar when seas are rough. Many boats capsize going over the bar.
