05_2025_REELLIFE_digital - Flipbook - Page 19
boat for rockfish, and have
had plenty of success over
the years, you might find
that the process, though
fun, can eventually become
a bit repetitive. Jetty fishing
offers a welcome change
of pace as it provides
an altogether different
experience and requires
different techniques and
tackle to land the fish.
When fishing from a jetty,
netting the fish off the
rocks isn’t always an option.
This means you will have
to lift the fish out of the
water with your rod and
line. That process can put
an excessive amount of
strain on your line, thus,
jetty anglers should stick
with a 25-40 lb mainline
and 20-25 lb leader. A soft
plastic swim bait lure with
a weight of 1/2 - 1 oz weight
between your mainline and
leader will allow your gear
to fall deep enough into the
water column while also
remaining high enough
to avoid snagging on the
rocks. If you run a soft
plastic jig, you can retrieve,
jig and repeat.
For a swim bait, anglers
can find success by either
doing a steady retrieve or
by doing a steady retrieve
with an occasional jig or
twitch. Safety is a major
concern while fishing on
jetties. With this in mind,
anglers should monitor
weather, tides, and swell
activity. During extreme
conditions, waves can crash
onto the jetties and pose a
risk for anyone who’s on the
rocks. Refer to NOAA for
weather conditions and surf
reports for swell and wave
activity. Hiking boots, feltsoled boots, or even toeshoes are favored by jetty
anglers for walking around
on wet rocks.
The rockfish fishery is a
great way to get back out
onto the water and get the
sun back on your face as
we crawl out of our long
Pacific Northwest winter.
Whether you're launching
a kayak at Hobuck beach
in Neah Bay, motoring
out onto the straights, or
climbing around on some
rocks at the Westport jetty,
there’s nothing better than
introducing the upcoming
summer season with a
cooler full of rockfish and
a fish taco dinner at home
with the family.
