About Whitcomb Flats Rip

Whitcomb Flats Rip is an outer-exposed sand flat off Westport, Washington, where the bottom runs between 25 and 65 feet deep. The flat holds Dungeness Crab through its peak from September to January, while Chinook and Coho Salmon move through from June to September. Anglers targeting Chinook work the water with trolling using whole herring, anchovies, spoons, or hoochies, and switch to mooching cut-plug herring or jigging metal jigs when the fish hold tight. Coho respond to trolling with cut-plug herring, spoons, hoochies, and flashers across the same depth band. Crabbers set pots and ring nets baited with fish carcasses, clams, or squid over the sand to work the shallower reaches of the flat.