Boat Fishing in the San Juan Islands

Phil Giboney is an experienced salesman and franchise owner, having previously run his own Snap-On Tools operation for over fifteen years. In addition, Phil Giboney is an avid angler and boat owner who enjoys spending time in Puget Sound and the nearby San Juan Islands. Located in the Pacific Ocean in the Salish Sea, the San Juan Islands are home to a number of saltwater fish including rockfish, flounder, and salmon.

One of the most popular fish to catch in the San Juan Islands is the salmon. Pink, coho, sockeye, and Chinook salmon varieties can all be found in the area. When looking for salmon, trolling and casting are both common strategies, and many use downriggers to reach deeper waters. Eagle Point, Point Roberts, and Middle Bank are all popular salmon spots.

The best time of year for salmon in the area is the summer. For those without a boat, there are a number of charter companies in the area. Charter companies can also provide a local’s knowledge of the best places to fish, along with local fishing guidelines.

While most of the San Juan Islands are open to fishing, the west side of San Juan Island is home to killer whales, and is not open to boats or fishing.

 

Olympic National Park Works to Expand Its Salmon Runs

Based in Lakewood, Washington, Phil Giboney has an extensive real estate management background spanning commercial and residential holdings. With a passion for boating and the outdoors, Phil Giboney enjoys activities such as salmon fishing when he has the opportunity.

With five salmon species inhabiting the Pacific Ocean off Washington’s coast, they return inland to spawn in the freshwater lakes and tributaries where they were born. In the fall, many rivers and streams on the Olympic Peninsula are teeming with sockeye, coho, and Chinook salmon.

When it comes to restoring the salmon populations of the Pacific Northwest, one of the most remarkable success stories has centered on Olympic National Park. After the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams were constructed in the early 20th century, migration dropped to a fraction of what it once was.

Over the past two decades, the National Park Foundation has utilized $13.1 million in grant funding to reopen spawning and rearing sites extending 70 miles. A particular focus is the restoration of the Elwha River to a natural, free flowing state. This is projected to ultimately increase salmon populations in the river by a hundredfold, to the 300,000 range.

For anglers, a number of rules apply in the park, with areas such as the Sol Duc River and Salmon Cascades Overlook closed to fishing during spawning season. With barbless hook requirements helping to ensure safe release, other areas are strictly reserved as catch-and-release.