ANGLERS THROUGHOUT THE North Olympic Peninsula are constantly looking at the clock, marking black X’s on their calendars, or setting alerts on their mobile phones.
The reason behind these and various other countdown methods: the fast and furious halibut season is about to hit the Peninsula.
“Halibut is the main game right now,” Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said.
Starting on May 3, area residents and out-of-towners will hit the water with dreams of landing a massive halibut.
Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said some anglers are still dropping their lines in the rivers, but most of his customers have turned their focus to the popular flatheads.
“Everybody is getting ready for the halibut,” Aunspach said.
Among the most common gear used to catch halibut, according to Menkal, are spreader bars, horse herring, mackerel, natural baits and plastic baits such as squid.
And, of course, weights, because halibut hang out far below the water’s surface.
“The biggest factor [in catching halibut] is staying in contact with the bottom,” Menkal said.
Because of the need to send the bait low, halibut chasers must also hold their breath that the weather cooperates.
Menkal said the 2011 season was poor because windy conditions created a strong tide, which kept boats moving and made it difficult to keep bait near the bottom.
Aunspach is offering a halibut fishing seminar on Friday, April 27, at Swain’s General Store, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
There is no charge for the class, but Aunspach advises those who attend to dress warm and arrive early.
Approximately 50 chairs will be set up, but he expects them to be filled quickly. After that, it will be standing-room only.
Other than assemble gear and absorb Aunspach’s teachings, all anglers can do for now is watch the hour and minute hands circle the clock until halibut season finally arrives.
Unfortunately, some will have to suffer a little bit longer.
Mike Lawrence of the Big Salmon Resort (360-645-2374) in Neah Bay reports that the halibut season doesn’t open there until May 10.
Lingcod season
The good news for area residents is lingcod season has started in the West End.
Lingcod doesn’t open in many areas of the Peninsula until May 1.
Menkal has heard Sekiu is particularly ripe for lingcod.
In Neah Bay, Lawrence reports the first days of lingcod season haven’t been great, but that the weather has helped some experience good fortune.
“I wouldn’t say it’s hot and heavy,” Lawrence said. “But it has been decent.”
Freshwater
With the recent closure of the winter blackmouth and spring chinook seasons and the anticipation of the impending halibut opening, freshwater fishing has hit a bit of a lull.
But not all is quiet.
Aunspach said some are still going to the West-End rivers, hoping to nab late steelhead or early salmon.
Menkal has heard about springer salmon action in the Sol Duc and Hoh rivers. Others have reported seeing steelhead.
Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks confirms there are steelhead around, but he is still waiting for springers to take off.
History shows springer timing has been inconsistent.
“Some years it’s early,” Gooding said, “some years it’s late, and some years it is in-between.”
Menkal advises those wanting to put their line in a river to get to it.
“Most rivers are already closed, so get out there soon,” Menkal said.
West-end river fishing ends at the end of this month and then reopens in June.
Not all freshwater fishing is closing up shop, though.
According to Menkal, the trout opener for the low-land lakes is April 28.
Fishing class
Menkal is holding a two-session beginner course on river salmon and steelhead starting next week.
Part one will be held on Tuesday and part two is May 1.
Both class sessions will run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More in Sequim.
Call 360-683-1950 for more information.
There is no charge for the knowledge Menkal will dole out, but attendees need to bring a notepad, a pencil and a chair to sit on.
Free park entrance
Olympic National Park will waive entrance fees Saturday through April 29 in celebration of National Park Week.
Special events are also planned as part of this week, including the Washington Coast Cleanup on Saturday and National Junior Ranger Day at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center on Saturday, April 28.
Volunteers are invited to be part of the Washington Coast Cleanup by helping remove marine debris at one of approximately 40 sites along the coast, both inside and outside of park boundaries.
Volunteers may help with a variety of tasks, including running volunteer check-in tables, transporting collected debris to local dump sites, and even hosting barbecue celebrations after the coast cleanup.
To sign up for your favorite beach and learn more, you can visit the Washington CoastSavers website at www.coastsavers.org/washington.
Junior Ranger Day
Children of all ages are invited to bring their favorite adult to Olympic’s celebration of National Junior Ranger Day celebration on Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Junior Ranger Day celebration is free and open to children of all ages accompanied by an adult.
It will be held at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center.
The Olympic National Park Visitor Center is located at 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles.
For more information on Olympic’s Junior Ranger Day, call 360-565-3146.
Clam dig approved
State fishery managers approved a series of morning razor clam digs Saturday through Monday at several ocean beaches after the latest round of marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat.
With the state’s razor clam season nearing an end, Long Beach and Twin Harbors will be open for digging all three days, while Copalis and Mocrocks will be open on Monday only.
No digging will be allowed on any beaches after noon.
“We have just enough clams available for harvest at Copalis and Mocrocks to offer one more weekday dig,” said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
“We’ll see where we are with the other beaches after this opening.”
Copalis Beach lies south of the Copalis River and includes Ocean Shores, Oyhut, Ocean City and Copalis.
Mocrocks Beach is north of the Copalis River and includes Iron Springs, Roosevelt Beach, Seabrook, Pacific Beach and Moclips.
Proposed beach openings for upcoming digs, along with morning low tides, are:
■■ Saturday (7:28 a.m., -0.3 feet): Long Beach, Twin Harbors only.
■■ Sunday (8:01 a.m., -0.4 feet): Long Beach and Twin Harbors only.
■■ Monday (8:35 a.m., -0.4 feet): Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks.
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day, and are required to keep the first 15 they dig.
Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
Diggers need a valid 2012-13 fishing license to participate in the upcoming opening, since all 2011-12 licenses expired March 31.
The exception is young people under age 15, who may fish for free.
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Send it to me, Lee Horton, at Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles WA 98362; phone, 360-417-3525; fax, 360-417-3521; email sports@
peninsuladailynews.com.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears on Thursdays and Fridays each week.