Fishing

Looking for a classic, quiet getaway that proves to be  very productive? Fishing is a relaxing way to kill time in the summer. 

Looking for a licence? On Nevitt Road, there's a Holiday Sports that offer a local licence, just visit https://holidaysportsburlington.com/ 

The Samish River flows just west of Edison, Washington,  five miles from Samish Island. The king salmon run through there in August and September. Because the king salmon is good here, lots of fishermen crowd around the river's edge and the water.  The king salmon caught there can be about 30 pounds or more.

Trying to find a traditional Salish Native American net fishing experience? Try reefnetting! Reefnetting is when two boats are anchored side by side with a net (false reef) between them. The salmon then swim into the net. One thing that is so important is that the tradition made by the Native Americans is that there was a hole in the net, so that some of the salmon are set free. This is so important because they don't over catch and then waste them. 

"The belief is that the reefnet is like a womb and the salmon swimming in is the spark of life to carry the people into a new season. And that ties us" (Native Americans) "to them in a spiritual way."   

There would be a captain that would stand on top of the reef nets and then when they would see the salmon start to jump into the nets the caption would call out to the men and then they would start to pull in the nets. 

Not in the mood for classic fishing? Just want to drop, leave, come back, lift the pots, leave, and enjoy? Crabbing may be your sport! Merely cooked by boiling and salting, it makes a hands-on meal and a good reason to be outside, over water, or with your feet on the ground! 

Crabbing is a popular activity to do on Samish Island. This is because we have water all around us so most people have a boat. Crabbing in the Puget Sound, off the coast of Samish Island, the crab pots will be filed to the top and others there will be only a couple. 

Crabbing starts with a pot and some bait. Bait includes meat of any sort. There is a little latch that the crab can enter but not exit back out. There is a line attached on the top of the pot and there is a buoy on the top of the line. The buoy is there so that you can identify and not lose your pot with all its contents. After you leave your pots to soak in the water for at least several hours, you pull your pot up, and determine if the crab is male or female. You may only keep male crabs that measure at a minimum of 6 1/4 inches. Cook and enjoy!

If you are not into going out on the water or having to wait for a fish to bite, then try clam and oyster digging. All you have to do is  get a license and then you can just go down to a public beach and dig up the clams and oysters. If you have beach access or have been given permission to dig on someone else's beach you can go oysters and clam digging that beach. 

Samish Island has water all around it so many people have beach access. People who have beach access will have clam and oyster digging licences so that they can just go down to the beach, dig for some clams or oysters, and have dinner.