Rocky Point is a narrow strip of land near Bremerton, Washington. It juts into one of the many inlets around Puget Sound. Seattle is just across the sound, about 15 miles east of Rocky Point. The area, and much of Washington state, is well-known for salmon runs and salmon fishing.
Salmon
Five species of salmon -- chinook, coho, chum, pink and sockeye -- can be found in the Rocky Point area and throughout Washington. As salmon make their way inland to spawn, their population in Washington's bays and inlets grows. Chinook and sockeye travel farther inland than other species and they begin traveling upstream earlier in the spawning season. Other species make runs into late summer.
Rocky Point
Ostrich Bay and Mud Bay are both to the west of Rocky Point and Phinney Bay is to the east. Much of Rocky Point's shoreline is developed with few, if any, public access points. Most salmon fishing is done by boat along the main channels or near the shore. Anglers who do have access to fishing spots along Rocky Point also have the option of fishing from shore.
Shore Fishing
The most popular salmon fishing technique from shore is called plunking. The setup is similar to drift fishing. A weight is attached to the line and a lure or bait is added at the end of a leader four feet or so past the weight. The bait or lure is cast into a pocket where salmon are expected to be lurking. The bait is left in place until a salmon strikes or until the angler is ready to try a different spot. This technique can also be used from an anchored boat.
Fishing by Boat
Drift fishing and trolling are the most popular boat fishing methods for salmon. Drift fishing is similar to plunking except the boat is not anchored and is allowed to drift with the current. Trolling adds the dimension of a constantly moving boat under power of a motor instead of current. Heavy weights or downriggers are often used to get bait and lures as close to the desired fishing depth as possible. Rods are usually 8 1/2 to 9 feet in length and reels are spooled with 20- to 25-lb. test line for these hard-fighting fish.
License and Regulations
A valid Washington fishing license is required for anglers over the age of 15. You must also maintain and keep a Catch Record Card (CRC) that documents your salmon fishing. Each April, the CRC needs to be turned in and another one begun. In June, all salmon are catch-and-release only. Wild chinook and wild coho must be returned to the water immediately after landing throughout the year. Otherwise, a daily limit of two salmon and and aggregate limit of 40 lbs. of salmon is imposed by the state.
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