“Steve Nichols landed this bright silver salmon at Bush Point MondayJim Larsen / staff photosThe west side of Whidbey Island in the Bush Point area is supplying some of the best fishing salmon fishing since the season opened Aug. 1.Word-of-mouth spreads like the common cold among fishermen, and that’s all it takes to bring hordes of anglers to the shores at Bush Point. Area property owners tolerate the anglers, but do ask that they pick up after themselves.Steve Nichols, an Oak Harbor resident, drove down to Bush Point Monday and found the trip worthwhile. After about an hour of casting a Buzz Bomb into the waves he pulled in a feisty 4-pound silver salmon. This is my first one this year, he said as he happily displayed his catch. He had tried North Whidbey’s West Beach earlier in the season but had no luck.Larry Schneider has fished Bush Point for years and he said Tuesday that this is one of the best seasons in recent years. Excellent, absolutely excellent, he said. In his freezer is a 13-pound silver that barely fits, and he’s caught-and-released six kings up to 22 pounds. It’s illegal to keep kings, but it’s a lot of fun catching them and letting them go.Most anglers are going after humpies, and Schneider said he’s weighed some big ones up to 7 1/2 pounds. Although he fishes from a boat, he said shore fishermen are doing really well on both humpies and silvers.Fishing is slower at Possession Point, according to Angie Cooper, who operates the Bait Company where many people fish. She said Tuesday that fishing is still best on the island’s northwest side, but anglers in her area have aught a few. It’s slow until the fish come in, she said. It might be a week or two.Farther north, Doug Simmons at Deception Pass Marina said fishing for silvers and humpies has been pretty good in the North Beach and West Beach areas, and boaters off the Deception Pass State Park dock are doing well. “