SALTWATER CHINOOK FISHING was so fruitful last week that it really had nowhere to go but down.
And down it has gone. The drop hasn’t been too drastic, though.
“It’s not as hot as it was last week,” Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said. “But it is still quite average.”
And lately, kings aren’t the only salmon being caught. A high number of nice-sized coho are being reeled in, too.
Let’s get an ocean salmon report for the North Olympic Peninsula.
Port Townsend
The chinook fishery opened earlier this week in Marine Area 9 and is off to a strong start.
“The king fishing in and around Port Townsend doesn’t get much better than it is right now,” Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist, said.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said he talked to one angler who put six big kings in his boat while fishing in the waters off Port Townsend.
Norden said the kings are really enjoying the tiny candlefish at MidChannel Bank.
He recommends fishing with a 1-ounce Point Wilson Dart jig at slack tide or trolling the small Gold Star Coho Killer Spoon.
Hatchery chinook can be harvested until Aug. 31. Wild chinook must be released.
The minimum size is 22 inches, and the daily limit is a combination of two salmon of any species.
No chinook fishing is allowed south of a line from Foulweather Bluff to Olele Point, except from the shore between the Hood Canal Bridge and the northern boundary of Salsbury Point Park.
Port Angeles
While Marine Area 6 isn’t what it was last week, Aunspach said there are still a lot of big kings being caught.
That includes a 25-pounder weighed at Swain’s on Thursday.
Unfortunately that angler hadn’t purchased a ticket for the monthly Port Angeles Fish Derby because his catch would have unseated Aunspach for the No. 2 spot.
As such, the derby ladder remains as it was last week.
Jeffrey Delia is the leader at 30.2 pounds, Aunspach’s 24.8-pound catch is second, Larry Breitbach is third with a 23.13-pounder and Jim Merriwether is in fourth place at 23.08 pounds.
For more information on how to participate in the monthly fish derby, call Swain’s at 360-452-2357.
Also, it appears some big silvers are making their way east. Menkal reports a 10-pound coho being caught at Freshwater Bay.
Sekiu
Chinook tend to come in spurts, and it appears Marine Area 5 is in a bit of a lull.
“As far as kings go, it’s a little slow,” Eric Hodgson of Strait Fishing LLC (360-460-2237) in Sekiu, said. “You have to work a little bit [to get them].”
But the coho harvest is really picking up.
“The silvers are incredible. It’s amazing.” Hodgson said. “You can see them bubble at the top.”
Hodgson said it isn’t uncommon for his charter boat go catch 35 to 50 coho in a day.
“And that’s not fishing hard for them,” he said. “That’s taking a break from kings to go get some silvers.”
Better yet, the silvers are big, weighing in at 6-7 pounds at a time of year when they are typically 4-5 pounds.
Neah Bay
Thursday’s edition of this column discussed the one-chinook limit put into effect in Marine Area 4 due to the harvest happening too quickly.
Stephen Jimmicum of Big Salmon Resort (360-645-2374) in Neah Bay said the chinook fishery is “steady.”
Hodgson didn’t come home empty-handed when he took a break from the Sekiu area to fish off Neah Bay.
“It’s really cool out there. You can get kings, silvers, lingcod and rock bass,” Hodgson said.
“It’s a good way to load up the freezer with some meat.”
LaPush
The chinook are stepping aside to give the coho some time in the spotlight in Marine Area 3, as well.
“There’s lots of silvers, and a few kings here and there,” Randy Lato of All-Ways Fishing (360-374-2052) in LaPush said.
Going with the trend, the silvers are larger than usual.
Even with the slowing of the chinook harvest, the overall salmon fishery off LaPush is doing well.
“A few days last week were phenomenal,” Lato said. “We limited by 9:30 a.m.”
Catch reports
Here are last week’s sport fishing results for the Peninsula:
■ Freshwater Bay ramp — July 13: 23 boats 36 anglers caught 36 chinook; July 15: 16 boats 31 anglers caught eight chinook.
■ Ediz Hook ramp — July 10: 17 boats 37 anglers caught 12 chinook and 10 coho; July 11: 24 boats 47 anglers caught 33 chinook one coho; July 12: 35 boats 70 anglers caught 34 chinook; July 13: 16 boats 26 anglers caught 21 chinook; July 14: 84 boats 177 anglers caught 74 chinook and one coho; July 15: 33 boats 70 anglers caught 22 chinook.
■ Port Angeles West ramp — July 14: 43 boats 99 anglers caught 41 chinook; July 15: 28 boats 59 anglers caught 33 chinook.
■ Olson’s Resort — July 9: 28 boats 64 anglers caught 13 chinook and seven coho; July 11: 97 boats 238 anglers caught 107 chinook and 49 coho; July 12: 58 boats 138 anglers caught 38 chinook and 38 coho; July 14: 76 boats 185 anglers caught 55 chinook and 13 coho; July 15: 107 boats 263 anglers caught 50 chinook and 32 coho.
■ Van Riper’s Resort — July 9: 13 boats 23 anglers caught six chinook and two coho; July 12: 30 boats 55 anglers caught 22 chinook and 26 coho; July 13: 26 boats 54 anglers caught 30 chinook and nine coho.
Crabbin’ ain’t easy
Because the crab is in season, I feel obligated to mention it.
But there isn’t much to report. By all accounts, the season is still slow.
“People are still getting them,” Menkal said. “But it’s taking longer to get them.”
Lake Crescent
As reported by the Peninsula Daily News earlier this week (visit http://tinyurl.com/crescentbestlake), Lake Crescent is one of the 15 nominees for America’s best lake in a USA Today Internet contest.
Crescent is a catch-and-release, but provides a good fishing experience.
Aunspach said the lake doesn’t get fished a lot because of the restrictions, but there are some nice fish there, including Beardslee trout, which are unique to Lake Crescent.
Ted Arneson, general manager of Log Cabin Resort (360-928-3325) on Lake Crescent, said fish can be caught from the dock and shore as easily as in the deeper parts of the lake.
“They won’t be as big, but usually you just want the thrill of catching it,” Arneson said.
Areneson added that those who want to venture out into what he refers to as the “big water,” can rent paddle and row boats from the resort.
To cast a vote for Lake Crescent, visit http://tinyurl.com/83kx7bg and post a comment, or send a tweet to @USATODAYTravel.
Voting is open until Friday, July 27.
If you don’t know how to get to Lake Crescent, then you must be newer to the Peninsula than I am.
All you need to do is take U.S. Highway 101 west from Port Angeles or north from Forks and you’ll find it.
More lakes
There is some good action on lakes right now.
Lake Leland maintains its 2012 dominance as the Peninsula’s most consistent lake.
Aunspach said many anglers are getting kokanee on Lake Sutherland
Finally, Norden reports that the lakes around Port Townsend are picking up and doing well.
River fishing class
Menkal is once again offering a free class on river fishing at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More at 542 W. Washington St. in Sequim.
The course consists of two sessions.
Part one will be held Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Part two will be the following Tuesday, July 31, also from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Menkal recommends participants bring a pen, chair and notepad.
For more details, call Menkal at 360-683-1950.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lee.horton@peninsuladailynews.com.