Field Notes from Jess ~ Rewilding in 2021 | Week 20/52 | Spring
May 09, 202152 Sundays of REWILDING in 2021
Field Notes from Jess ~ Sunday 20/52 weekend in review: PNW JETTY FISHING!
Saturday I purchased my Washington State annual fishing license for $55 and headed west with Scott Turner and Silhouette Outdoors for an afternoon of fishing off the Westport Jetty at Westhaven State Park. It extends nearly a mile into the Pacific Ocean and was Completed in 1902, creating Half Moon Bay. Washington surfers enjoy an ideal surfing spot on the southern side of the jetty while anglers are lined up on the northern side facing the Bay. The lower rocks are perfect to cast from as the water is relatively calm and there is a nice windbreak.
It was classic coastal spring weather...rainy, cold and windy. Although rain boots would have been nice, hiking out as far as we did towards the end of the Jetty was no easy task and I was thankful for my trail shoes that were light with great traction. We hiked out most of the way which proved successful as Scott caught his limit of 7 and I landed my first ever fish in Washington State ~ A black rockfish and a new species for me!
As coastal fog turned to rain by the end of the day, I got really cold and wished I had packed warmer layers. Our trek back to the beach over the rocks was sketchy as the boulders became extremely slippery. I had to move slowly and with great concentration, often using my hands to progress forward as I took a few slips. I would definitely recommend Jetty fishing on a dry day.
We saw beautiful starfish, a seal swimming by and lots of commercial and chartered fishing boats. The Pacific Northwest coast is a special place full of treasures. With smiles on our faces and a cooler full of fresh wild caught dinner, we headed back to my truck. Next adventure....to fillet the bounty and curate a feast.
We used a heavy jig on 8lb monofilament with a soft plastic swimbait 
