About James Island

James Island sits off La Push, Washington, where a rocky drop-off falls away across exposed outer coast waters ranging from 330 to 1,310 feet deep. Chinook Salmon peak from April through August and Coho Salmon from May through September, with trolling flashers, spoons, hoochies, and whole or cut-plug herring working the water column over the ledge. Lingcod hold tight to the rock structure and run strongest February through April, taken by jigging metal jigs, swimbaits, and leadhead jigs, while Black Rockfish stack up from June through September on the same approach. Pacific Halibut share the April-through-August window and respond to drift fishing whole herring, salmon bellies, octopus, and squid along the deeper flats at the base of the drop. The exposed position and steep bathymetry concentrate bait and hold fish across the seasonal transitions.