IT’S A RARE OCCURRENCE when Port Angeles’ chinook catch averages compare favorably with those of LaPush and even beat Neah Bay.
That’s exactly what happened during the first two days of the summer chinook fishery last week in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca).
Creel reports for the Ediz Hook ramp and the Port Angeles West ramp counted 398 kings caught by 344 anglers in 167 boats on the first two days, an average of 1.15 fish per person.
Kings were almost hopping into boats off LaPush last week with a catch per rod average of 1.42 for chinook and 0.2 for hatchery coho.
Neah Bay offered up a 0.69 per rod average for kings and 0.15 for hatchery coho.
Bite still going strong
The bite off Port Angeles has cooled from those heady early days, but it’s still going well, according to Nick Roberts of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles.
“It’s been good,” Roberts said.
“There’s been lots of fish around. Better than last year’s start, for sure.”
Roberts estimated the average size of the chinook being landed at around the 12-pound range.
“We are getting some in the 20s and even a few hatchery 30s,” Roberts said.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim agreed with Roberts.
“Most of them are running 12 to 15 pounds,” Menkal said.
“They aren’t in the 20- to 25-pound range like opening day.
“I also had two guys come in who had caught two hatchery kings. One was 35 pounds and the other was a 30.
“They had a good time.”
Roberts said the Winter Hole has been the go-to spot for successful chinook anglers.
Port Angeles angler and fishing tackle designer Pete Rosko wrapped a string of four straight days on the water with a morning at the Winter Hole on Sunday.
He was out with his fishing buddy for the last 20 years, Eric Thomson, as well as Liz Thompson and Tim Ochs.
“We jigged kandlefish jigs and had our limit of kings within 1 1/2 hours,” Rosko said.
He added that the fish were smaller than he had recently seen at Freshwater Bay, but that was fine.
“However, being at the Hole again brought back fond memories from 35 years ago,” Rosko said.
“That’s when fishing guru John Gort taught me the finer points of fishing the Winter Hole and its adjoining humps.”
Pinks on the move
Both Menkal and Roberts said the first wave of pinks is making its way through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
“Guys are hitting into lots of pinks,” Roberts said.
“It seems like yesterday [Wednesday] was the first big day for them.”
That pleased Roberts, who admitted he prefers eating pinks over kings.
“Depends on who you talk to [if pinks are more nuisance than they are fun],” Roberts said.
“I like to eat them more than kings. I like catching kings because they are big.
“Kings have the big filets, but personally, I think they taste a little more washed out.
“Pinks have that true salmon taste.”
Roberts said he’ll prepare pinks by smoking, barbecuing and poaching them.
“They can turn soft and a little mushy pretty quickly, most salmon do, so it’s important to get them iced down right away and bleed them as soon as you can.”
Roberts also mentioned a 21-pound chinook caught by Willis McClure is the current leader of Swain’s fish ladder.
For the months of March, May, July, August and October, Swain’s will tally up submitted fish for a shot at gift cards ranging from $25 to $100 for fourth through first places.
All anglers need to do to pick up a fish ladder ticket is drop by Swain’s with four cans of food for donation to the Port Angeles Food Bank.
LaPush cools a bit
After a solid week of chinook fishing, action for kings has cooled a bit off LaPush, according to Randy Lato of All-Ways Fishing (360-374-2052) in LaPush.
The culprit, Lato believes, is commercial boats dipping into the catch.
“A little tough,” Lato said Thursday of his charter boat trip to the Rock Pile, 10 miles west of LaPush.
“There’s lots of fish around the Rock Pile, but also lots of silvers and pinks out there, too.”
Tuna also are an option for those with boats capable of making the trek 20 to 35 miles out in the Pacific Ocean.
“There’s all kinds of tuna out there lately,” Lato said.
“There were a couple of boats that hit into the 20s with their numbers out by the southwest corner of the closure [the C-shaped area of Marine Areas 3 and 4 that is closed to halibut and bottom fishing].”
Lato also is seeing silvers splashing in and around the mouth of the Quillayute River.
“I’m seeing silvers jump right out of the river,” Lato said.
“I’m not sure if it’s the summer silvers hanging out in the river because the rivers are too low, or what.”
Lato, who has been fishing the area since 1968, has never encountered such low river flows.
“It’s unprecedented,” Lato said.
“I’ve never seen such low water before at this time of year.
“It’s really scary to think what those rivers are going to look like in late August or September.”
Trolling for silvers
Menkal said his store will host a seminar with area fishing expert Rick Wray on trolling techniques for silvers at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 30.
“This guy will teach you how to troll for silver and pinks with some techniques known only to him and the fishing gods,” Menkal said.
“He’ll even bring his boat to show you how you should set it up.”
Cost is $20. RSVP to Menkal at 360-683-1950.
Crabbing a mixed bag
To the detriment of my taste buds, I had little luck in a hand-crabbing adventure last Friday in Dungeness Bay.
I discovered three crabs in about 45 minutes of wandering, two of which quickly bolted deep into the eel grass beds upon catching sight of danger, i.e. me.
The other I managed to snag without being pinched, but it turned out to be too small to keep.
There’s potential in crabbing without a boat, but I think it lies with leaving a pot out during a low tide and then coming back to check.
Or by sticking to hand- crabbing, but making sure to have a partner on hand to help spot and corral the crabs by way of a “pincher” movement.
Menkal hadn’t heard great reports thus far on crab.
“Crabbing has not been as hot as last year, for sure,” Menkal said.
“Most guys are just doing OK, not hitting on limits.”
Roberts said Port Angeles Harbor hasn’t been producing for everybody quite yet.
“Crab has been spotty so far,” Roberts said.
“Lots of soft shells on the crabs.”
My friend Max Raymond limited twice in consecutive days last weekend along the western edge of Port Townsend Bay by Kala Point.
My taste buds and I will be over shortly, Max.
Waters West events
Waters West, a Port Angeles fly fishing outfitter, has quite a few fly tying and casting classes and clinics set this month.
Fly tying classes are held at the store, 140 W. Front St., each Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
All fly tying classes are free and materials and tools can be provided.
Waters West also will offer a single-handed casting clinic at an area pond Sunday, a spey casting clinic on Saturday, July 25 and a beginners course Wednesday, July 29.
The shop also offers full and half-day guided fly fishing trips.
A full calendar of events is available at waterswest.com/events.
For more information, or to sign up, phone 360-417-0937, stop by the store, email info@waterswest.com or visit waterswest.com.
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.
________
Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
