NOT THE BEST timing weather-wise for the annual state Department of Fish and Wildlife Free Fishing Weekend set today and Sunday, but the below-normal temperature late spring days will offer some worthwhile activities.
Some of the lowest tides of the summer are coming up today through Friday.
Sunday’s low tide of -1.61 feet will arrive in Port Angeles at 8:09 a.m. and continue to drop throughout next week.
Normally, I follow the 4,000-year old advice/old wives’ tale of avoiding shellfish in those months not containing an “R,” but with this frigid and rainy spring area plenty of beaches remain open for Manila and littleneck clams while many others have biotoxin closures for butter and varnish clam species (as well as mussels).
Harvesters can find up-to-date information on seasons and shellfish safety information at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/biotoxin.html.
No license to fish or gather shellfish in any open waters will be required during Free Fishing Weekend.
A valid Catch Record Card is still required for salmon, steelhead, halibut and sturgeon.
In addition, people do not need a Vehicle Access Pass or Discover Pass to park their vehicle at any public lands or water access areas managed by Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources or Washington State Parks in recognition of National Get Outdoors Day (today) and Free Fishing Day (Sunday).
Halibut update
An estimated 376 halibut were caught by 530 anglers off of La Push and Neah Bay June 2-5, resulting in a weekly total catch of 6,014.3 pounds, or a 16-pound per fish average.
Remaining quota for Marine Areas 3 and 4 is 114,805.6 pounds. Anglers also get two extra days of halibut fishing with June 17 and 24 added to the North Coast schedule last week.
In Puget Sound, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, 378 halibut were landed by 1,291 anglers for a weekly total catch of 5,856.1 pounds, or a 15.5-pound average.
Remaining quota for Puget Sound is 54,369.1 pounds.
Crabbing in these parts
Puget Sound Anglers’ members Bob Keck, Dave Croonquist and Ken Townsend will discuss crabbing in area waters at Wednesday night’s meeting of the group’s North Olympic Peninsula chapter.
Dungeness crab’s summer season typically opens around July 1.
The meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Sequim Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road, with the gathering beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starting at 7 p.m.
A short business meeting and raffle drawings for prizes for members will be held following the talk.
Annual membership is $25 and includes a monthly subscription to The Reel News.
River project ramps up
Heads up West End anglers, the Quillayute River Restoration ‘Reach 3’ Project is now underway for the summer and is expected to be completed in the fall. The project is managed by the Quileute Tribe and is focused on aquatic habitat restoration and bank stabilization between river mile 1.7 and 2.9.
It appears the river will be altered from the description offered by Olympic National Park
Large wood structures will be installed and high-flow pilot channels will be excavated.
The project will take place mostly on tribal trust land but a portion of the project will occur within Olympic National Park near Mora Campground.
Campers and visitors in the Mora area should expect intermittent noise from construction on weekdays during the summer and from helicopter flights during daylight hours from June 20-24. Helicopter flights may extend into the weekend to June 26 depending on weather. The project also requires the following closures:
A portion of the Quillayute River floodplain adjacent to Mora Campground is now closed for public safety until the project is complete in the fall.
This closure does not include the Mora Campground, picnic area, or any portion of the Slough Trail.
The Quillayute River will close to boating and all other traffic from the park boundary downstream to the confluence of the Dickey River from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from June 20 to June 24.
The Dickey River boat launch also will close on that schedule.
The closure may be extended to June 26 depending on weather. This closure is required for public safety during helicopter overflights hauling heavy wood construction material.
Richwine Bar is the last pullout for boaters during the river closure. Access to Quileute Reservation Lands is controlled by the Quileute Tribe.
The project is attempting to redirect high river flows into floodplains and away from banks, reduce the risk of flooding, erosion along streambanks and avulsion (sudden separating of land via flooding or change in course) of the lower Quillayute River to protect La Push.
Other goals are to improve fish passage during low flow conditions and provide improved access to the river.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
