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Waves of blue, green and silver-sided candlefish begin invading the San Juan Islands in May. Not far behind, a myriad of recreational boaters also bring lots of color in the way of sails and ships. As June progresses, the opportunity to catch a chinook salmon or bottomfish on the way to port or secluded anchor increases by the tide.

Literally millions of baitfish throughout the islands tempt the day sailor or cruiser into stopping for a quick fishing expedition. With any luck, a jig or cut-plug herring fished near bottom will stand out from the mass of bait and trigger a hungry, hard-fighting chinook into biting. Even if a chinook doesn’t find your bait, a rockfish likely will. The old phrase, "where you find the bait you'll find the fish," couldn't be closer to the truth since June attracts bait to the San Juan Islands like a naked arm attracts a swarm of mosquitoes.

Choosing when and where to go is a tough choice for the hard-core anglers. For the casual, sail or cruise and enjoy-the-scenery types, the choice is simple – stop where ever you see others fishing or where the bottom is no deeper than 120 feet. Chinook salmon attract the largest and most loyal group of island anglers. However, with limited space in the icebox and limited time between ports or anchorages, a myriad of bottomfish ranging from rockfish to lingcod provide the easiest opportunities to put fresh fish onto the hook, into the galley and on the table. Just like fishing for salmon, anglers need to keep their jigs or cut-plug herring on or near the bottom. June through August are peak times to intercept large mature chinook salmon passing through the area.

Finding chinook salmon
The main group of islands or "inside" waters contain hundreds of hot-spots. While these locales can be excellent one day, they can be dry of fish the next. To consistently find chinook on the inside waters, it's a good idea to stay within easy reach of Rosario Strait because this is the route most mature chinook follow. Thatcher Pass, Secret Harbor, Fidalgo Head and Eagle Bluff are prime examples.

The "outside" waters border the west side of the islands and include; Hein Bank, Middle Bank, Salmon Bank and Smith Island. They are among the first places anglers intercept chinook heading to the San Juans – a fact you can take to the bank. While these banks are large and expansive, they look down the throat of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Fishing the outside waters can be very productive if the weather allows safe passage to and from the fishing grounds. The outside waters also offer an unobstructed glimpse of the Victoria skyline, Mount Baker and the Olympic Mountains. If you venture onto one of these banks, it’s almost a sure bet you will catch at least a meal or two of white-fleshed bottomfish.

Tides and currents play an important role for anyone in a boat, regardless of their activity. The inside waters are full of currents, back eddies and rip-tides. These tidal events serve to trap bait or scatter it. Knowing when and where the currents occur is of paramount importance. The best way to keep track and predict baitfish and salmon movement is with a tide and current guide or tell-all current atlas. Cap'n Jack's tide & current almanac and their current atlas is a great way to monitor and record success or failure in each location.

Winds, especially north winds hamper fishing efforts throughout the region. "If the wind is blowing from the north, you might as well stay home because you won't catch many salmon," says Marc Krueger, owner/operator of Fish Tales Guide Service in Anacortes {360} 293-5766. Boaters won't have any problems finding boat launches, marinas, campgrounds or other marine related facilities in and around the islands from Anacortes to Bellingham. Anglers with boats large enough to sleep on, need only find a quiet anchorage to enjoy a night in the San Juans. Anacortes is a great place to begin a cruising vacation for a day or a lifetime. The town offers all services and it's located close to great fishing and plenty of anchorages.

Fishing techniques
Unlike many other locales, anglers must fish as close to the bottom as possible to enjoy consistent success. This means using downriggers or mooching herring on the bottom. The easiest and cleanest way to avoid messy, expensive bait is to use metal jigs. My favorite San Juan Island jig to use is the 2 ¼ ounce, green back, chrome belly candlefish made by the Pt. Wilson Dart Company.

First time visitors to the San Juans should beware. A first visit, regardless of season, will likely prove to be too addictive to resist. It's nearly impossible not to fall head over transom in love with the islands’ fish-infested clear waters, dry weather and mountain backdrop. Believe me, boaters and anglers alike who come here get hooked for life. Escaping the island's spell proves almost as impossible as a fish escaping my sharp hooks!