This page covers sablefish, the fish most West Coast anglers call black cod, and what to expect fishing for it out of Sekiu on the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington. Sablefish is not documented from Sekiu specifically. What follows applies what holds for the region and ties it to the port’s own water. The wider picture is in the Pacific Northwest region guide.
When sablefish are around
No sablefish season for Sekiu is documented. The local charter trade fishes salmon, halibut, lingcod and rockfish in season. Across Washington, adult sablefish hold on the slope and canyon edges, while juveniles are found in shallow nearshore water and Puget Sound serves as a nursery. Check Washington’s openers on the state page before you plan around the species.
Where boats run
Sekiu sits at the west end of Clallam Bay, inside Marine Area 5 in the western strait. The bay is an open bight. A reef runs 0.2 mile west of Slip Point on the bay’s east side, and boats entering should keep more than 0.2 mile off it. The strait’s grounds are shallower than the slope where adult sablefish are documented. The halibut bank at Hoko Flats, for example, lies in 100 to 200 feet of water. A sablefish trip therefore means working out past the strait, and the slope itself is not documented from Sekiu.
Strong currents run through the area, and swell from the west and northwest reaches Marine Area 5 most often in winter and spring. Sea fog is at its worst from about July through October, and visibility drops below 0.75 mile on about 55 days a year at the west end. Traffic separation schemes cover the strait, and vessels can call Seattle Traffic on channel 5A. Check conditions yourself, and keep radar and the traffic channel in mind when fog sets in.
Grounds and structure
The named grounds here are fished for other species. The Caves are best fished on an outgoing tide. Eagle Bay off the Hoko River mouth, Mussolini Rock, the Coal Mine, the Slide, Cod Fish Bay and Pillar Point are named in local accounts for salmon, halibut and bottomfish. Nothing documented places sablefish on any of them, so treat them as landmarks, confirm depth on your sounder, and check the state page before you fish a ledge.
How sablefish are fished out of Sekiu
No sablefish method is documented for Sekiu, so the general approach applies. Deep-drop a weighted, multi-hook bottom rig to structure on an electric reel and retrieve slowly, since sablefish have soft mouths. Use fresh, oily squid, mackerel or herring, because the fish feed by scent. Start planning from the depth you can reach on your sounder and the slope contours on your chart, not from a local bank name.
Who fishes it
The charters that run from Sekiu, including Outlander Charters, Fat Otter Fishing Charter and Excel Fishing Charters, target halibut, lingcod, rockfish and salmon. None lists sablefish. Resort docks and a state launch serve private boats. Ask any operator whether it fishes slope water before you book.
Faq
Can I catch sablefish out of Sekiu?
Not documented. Adults are documented on slope water and canyon edges, and the named grounds in the strait are for other species.
Do I need a descending device?
Yes for West Coast groundfish trips. Federal rules require a working one aboard, so keep it ready before you leave the dock.
What should I watch for on the water?
Fog is worst from about July through October, and the strait carries commercial traffic. Carry radar or AIS if you have it, monitor the traffic channel, and check the forecast before you run.
