THE MUCH-MALIGNED summer hatchery chinook fishery came to a close with at least one positive ending in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan De Fuca).
Chances to target salmon do still exist off La Push (Marine Area 2), Neah Bay (Marine Area 3) through Sunday, and through the rest of the year on Hood Canal (Marine Area 12).
Port Angeles angler and lure designer Pete Rosko checked in with a post-mortum take on the scant salmon fishery.
“Half of my 79 years have been enthusiastically spent chasing chinook in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, originally as moocher, and troller to presently being a strong jigging advocate,” Rosko said.
“For me, jigging is a more precise presentation and results in one of the purest strikes in sportfishing, maybe only next to fly fishing.
“I fondly recall the days of chinook salmon fishing where the limit was three and the season was open 365 days a year. Sadly, those days appear to be long gone for us in Washington.”
Rosko was pained by the recently closed 45-day season in Marine Area 6.
“This past six-week chinook season was so atypical of the ‘glory days’ because of its poor run,” Rosko said.
“Regardless of wind or poor tides working against us, my season showed minimal marks on the sonar fish locator.
“There were days that did not show an honest sonar mark in locations that traditionally attracted, and held, numerous chinook salmon where double headers were common when jigging, or casting, near kelp edges.”
The switch flips at the end
Vast expanses of the Strait of Juan de Fuca were bereft of fish for Rosko for the majority of the season.
“Then it happened,” Rosko said.
“This past Sunday and Monday renewed my hope for the future.
“The bite resembled a frenzied pink salmon attack.
“At one point, my fishing buddy attached a 1-ounce Kandlefish jig, in an all ‘bio-luminescent glow’ BLG finish, and dropped in down in 30 feet of water.
“It never reached bottom as a large king slammed it. The same scenario repeated itself five more times after we motored back to that same spot.”
Rosko said the other anglers on board never had a shot at a fish, the chinook preferring that glow finish.
“It seemed that the chinook salmon were ‘waiting in line’ for that particular lure and all-glow finish,” Rosko said.
“They slammed it each time it hit the water. These were mature salmon, not smaller schoolers.
“We lost count of how many hook-ups we had but it certainly was like the ‘good ol’ days. Hopefully, this is a sign of better things to come for next season’s chinook fishery.”
Bass still productive
I wouldn’t imagine this mini-heat wave the North Olympic Peninsula is experiencing would be good news at all for fishing prospects. But Quilcene’s Ward Norden, a former fisheries biologist and owner of Snapper Tackle Company, said there’s still one option in freshwater lakes.
“Bass fishing remains good at most of our East Jefferson lakes if you get out early or stay late, but trout fishing has slowed everywhere as the trout are hiding from the heat,” Norden said.
“I might try to get a couple catfish for dinner this weekend at Lake Leland.
“My small, homemade spinner baits have been pure dynamite for local bass.”
Coho move at night
Coho fishing opened on the Big Quilcene River and in Hood Canal last Tuesday.
Norden said the salmon fishery has been fairly slow on the Big Quilcene River this week as most of the fish are navigating upriver during the cooler night hours.
“The river water is 60 degrees, so the fish are able to move quickly without being stressed by heat during darkness, not to mention the full moon,” Norden said.
“The anglers I talked to on the river said most of the boat fishers are heading out of Dabob Bay into the main Hood Canal then turning north to look for ‘biters.’
“It is still a good strategy to head out with a canoe or kayak from Quilcene’s swimming beach and cast Rotator Jigs or Buzz Bombs near the old log pier pilings. Those jigs can irritate the fish into striking even if they are not feeding anymore. You can tie off to those pilings, too, which is rather nice while taking a break from arduous casting.”
PT Bay re-opens
Port Townsend Bay including Fort Flagler has re-opened for recreational shellfishing of all species according to the Jefferson County Department of Health.
Kilisut Harbor and Mystery Bay off Marrowstone Island are open to all species except butter and varnish clams, which tend to retain biotoxins longer than other species.
Levels of the marine biotoxin that causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) have fallen below the recreational closure limit and the state Department of Health has changed the health status in those areas. Although the toxin levels in Mystery Bay have improved, the shellfish season at Mystery Bay State Park is closed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife until October.
Below is a complete list of all beaches that are closed by the state Department of Healt to recreational shellfish harvest in Jefferson County.
Commercially harvested shellfish are tested for toxin prior to distribution and should be safe to eat.
Biotoxin Closures or Warnings are in effect for the following beaches:
• West Jefferson County Ocean Beaches – All Species Closed
• Discovery Bay – All Species Closed
• Kilisut Harbor including Mystery Bay – Butter and Varnish Clams Closed
• Hood Canal – Warning to cook all shellfish due to Vibrio
Recreational shellfish harvesters should check the DOH Shellfish Safety Map at doh.wa.gov/ShellfishSafety.htm or call the state Biotoxin Hotline at 1-800-562-5632 before harvesting shellfish anywhere in Washington.
To check seasons, visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish or call the Shellfish Rule Change Hotline 1-866-880-5431.
