Gone Fishing (at the Columbia Beach House)!
The fishing is good at Whidbey Island! Salmon fishing is popular, in season. Other than salmon, kids and adults alike will enjoy fishing for sole. They are abundant and easy to catch, with a limit of 15 per person. You can catch them from early April until late November (they spend the winter in very deep water). Most of the time they are in 40 to 120 feet of water, generally deeper water in the cooler seasons and shallower in summer. They will bite on almost anything, but pieces of herring or squid work especially well. We prefer a rig with a 6 oz weight at the bottom and 2 hooks tied 1 and 3 feet above. The hooks can be any size, but larger ones hold bait better. Smaller weights will work in still water, but the 6 oz weight gets you to the bottom regardless of currents. Sole live right on the bottom. Short stiff poles and heavy, stiff line help you feel bites in deep water, but are not necessary.
Sole are delicious sautéed in butter. Just chop off the head, clean out the guts, brush off a few scales and put them in the frying pan.
Click here for fishing license and rules
Great blue heron fishing in front of the beach house
E-mail: columbia@whidbeybeach.com Phone: 206-353-4813