About Hix Bay Hump

Hix Bay Hump is a rocky pinnacle in the inner protected waters off Oak Harbor, Washington, within Marine Area 7, rising through depths of 10 to 45 feet. The structure holds Pacific Halibut, which peak from March through June, and Lingcod, most active February through March, alongside a resident mix of Sablefish, Darkblotched Rockfish, Yellowmouth Rockfish, and Pacific Cod. Chinook and Coho Salmon move through from June to September, both taken by trolling flashers, hoochies, trolling spoons, or cut plug herring, with mooching whole or cut plug herring as an alternative. Anglers working the pinnacle for Halibut lean on drift jigging with leadhead jigs, metal jigs, and soft plastic swimbaits over the rock, while Lingcod respond to jigging metal jigs and leadhead jigs with swimbaits along the same structure. The shallow rock and tidal flow through this protected water concentrate fish tight to the hump, rewarding presentations kept close to the bottom.