Much of Gig Harbor’s history is written in fish. For centuries before white settlers arrived, Native Americans had a village on Gig Harbor Bay, near today’s Austin Estuary and Donkey Creek. They were the sxw babš band (pronounced sk-WHUH-babsh) or “swift water” people of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and they called their village tuwaw […]
fishing
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Minding the Regulations While Outdoors Helps Future Puget Sound Generations
Living in the Pacific Northwest and especially in the Puget Sound area, we have been spoiled with our ability to spend recreational time out in the wilderness, fishing and harvesting various shellfish. With more than 10,000 rivers and streams leading into Puget Sound, and thousands of miles of beach and boat access, there are few […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
A Graceful Rebirth of a Historic Town
A sleepy fishing village until the 1980s, the scenic town of Gig Harbor occupies the southernmost tip of the Kitsap Peninsula and commands a majestic view of Mount Rainier. Nearly 150 years after the first settlers arrived and 68 years after incorporation, the historic waterfront downtown of Gig Harbor continues to be the heart of […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Salmon in November? You Bet
Leaves falling. Crisp days and often stiff nights with much cooler air temps. It’s raining again. Moving air is no longer just a breeze but an outright wind. The sun seems to spend a few hours paralleling the horizon then dips out of sight again. We are fully into fall and transitioning into winter. For […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Tips for Successful Salmon Fishing
Through summer and into fall, salmon begin their annual migrations to their natal streams for spawning. July and August angling is focused on chinook (kings) and coho (silvers) and in odd numbered years, pinks (humpies). Being an even-numbered year, pinks are not available in substantial numbers so it’s a king and silver show this year. […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
July and August Mean Crab For West Sound Anglers
There are reasons those of us living in Western Washington manage to endure the interminably short, gray and damp days of winter and early spring, and for many of us, it’s the memory of summers past and the promise of the summer to come. And let’s face it, summer really does begin in July and […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Fly Fishing Has Broad Allure, Is Easy to Learn
With perhaps only the exception of blue-water, big-game fishing, no other method of angling is as steeped in mystique as fly fishing. The allure of fly fishing is vast and varied. Some folks are drawn to the almost-meditative qualities of fly-casting, which can be considered an art in itself. Others appreciate the challenge of enticing […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Exploring the Angling Opportunities of the West Sound, Part 1: Salmon
One of the great joys of living in the Puget Sound region is engaging in the variety of fishing and shellfishing opportunities while becoming more intimately acquainted with the ecosystems that support the resource. The waters in our immediate vicinity and others within a drive of a couple of hours throughout Western Washington offer year-round […]