A READER, CURIOUS about how limits are defined in the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, phoned in last week looking for answers.
The reader wanted to know about retention regulations, specifically large limits that are defined such as this: “Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit [of] six. Only one adult may be retained.”
That rule concerns salmon fishing on the Hoh River from the Olympic National Park boundary upstream to the Oxbow Campground.
Another similar rule on the Sol Duc River, from its mouth to the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc Hatchery, allows for anglers to keep six salmon of a minimum of 12 inches. The rule book states “Up to three adults may be retained, of which only one may be wild.”
The reader asked if anglers could keep such a large limit without retaining many adults, what exactly were they keeping as part of that six-fish limit?
It turns out the rules are indirectly referring to jack salmon, mostly of the coho and king variety.
The state defines jack salmon as chinook and coho that return at a younger age than most members of their species.
These coho and kings are returning from the ocean to their rivers and streams of origin because they have reached sexual maturity.
Since jacks spend less time feeding and growing out in the Pacific Ocean, they return at a smaller size than fully formed adults.
For freshwater, a chinook jack is defined on Page 10 of the state regulations as less than 24 inches in length, while a coho jack is less than 20 inches in length.
Conversely, adult chinook are 24 inches or more in length, while adult coho are 20 inches or more.
This means Hoh River anglers can keep five jacks and an adult salmon, while those fishing the Sol Duc can mix and match three of each with one wild adult as part of the six-fish limit.
Jacks are another fascinating biological creation, and even biologists are stumped on why they decide to come home so soon.
During spawning season jacks often will be chased away from reproductive opportunities by larger, mature males — just like a dominant bull elk will fight and run off younger potential suitors that challenge for his harem.
West End rivers
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim went steelhead fishing on the Calawah River last Sunday.
“Lots of fish in there and they were hitting them,” Menkal said.
“Mine were going for a black, and one for a lavender-red lure.”
Switching up your color combinations leads to successful fishing, Menkal said.
“You don’t want to switch from a black lure that isn’t getting them to a purple lure,” Menkal said.
“You want to use something brighter to keep them off-balance.”
Menkal also says to pay closer attention when you do change up your rig up.
“With that color change, be especially watchful of those first three or four casts,” Menkal said.
“You want to see how the fish react [to the new lure].”
Port Angeles joins the party
Coho fishing off Port Angeles picked up in a big way in the past week.
“Yes, they are finally starting to come in,” said Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles.
“They are still small, but I think the whole season is going to be smaller than usual.
“It has to be something on the breeding or feed end of it.”
Aunspach said the coho are being caught in a number of spots.
“Out by the Yellow Can buoy, the Rock Pile, off Ediz Hook and out at Freshwater Bay are all places I’ve heard that fish are being caught,” Aunspach said.
“There is an occasional big fish over 10 pounds,” Aunspach said.
“The wilds are still pretty thick compared to the hatchery for most guys, but there are just a lot kicking around right now.”
Creel reports from Ediz Hook and the Port Angeles west boat ramp showed 239 coho were landed by 196 anglers in 86 boats in checks conducted last Friday through Sunday, a 1.22-fish-per-angler average.
Aunspach said most anglers are trolling hardware, and some guys are “playing around with bait.”
“The bait guys are using cut-plug, or whole herring, but still running them off the downriggers,” Aunspach said.
With more fish around and less need to entice the fish to bite, Aunspach said he plans to fish today without using a flasher.
“You get rid of the flasher and you don’t have all that drag weighing you down,” Aunspach said.
“That flasher comes in handy for attracting fish, especially for low numbers, but without it you get to enjoy that fight a little more.”
Sekiu booming
Brandon Mason of Olson’s Resort (360-963-2311) in Sekiu said there are plenty of coho, both wild and hatchery around Marine Area 5.
“There’s a lot of them,” Mason said.
“The size has gotten a little bit bigger, 6 to 8 pounds or so, but this year they are just a little smaller, it seems.
“We are getting a good handful each week that are in the double digits.”
Creel reports were off the charts for Olson’s and Van Riper’s Resort from last Saturday and Sunday.
A total of 648 coho were caught by 490 anglers in 172 boats, and Olson’s wasn’t even checked Sunday.
Mason said he hasn’t seen much sign of the larger, highly prized hooknose coho.
“They could be coming any day, the next week or two, or even a little late,” Mason said.
He has a theory about the coho run.
“The kings came in late this year at the tail end of July and August, and then the fishing was phenomenal, so I’m wondering if October will be the same for the coho,” Mason said.
“Some of the old fish checkers said this salmon season reminds them of back in 2001 when the coho record was broken three times in a month.
“Things have to change a little bit to get near those size numbers, but we got some rain [Wednesday] night and that will help keep bringing them in.”
Beach casting tips
Anglers fishing from the beach at Marrowstone Point at Fort Flagler State Park and Point Wilson at Fort Worden State Park have been steadily catching fish.
“The big trick is it’s a sight strike, a reactionary strike, not a match the hatch kind of deal,” Menkal said.
He advises beach casters to run about a 24-inch leader with a swivel running down to a dart, a Buzz Bomb or a spoon.
“Don’t let it start sinking, just keep it under the water and give it some movement,” Menkal said.
“That way it looks like a hurt fish, and they always hit it on the fall, they hit it on that pause.
“An injured bait fish triggers that wolf-like response in salmon.”
Dungeness River class
The Dungeness River is scheduled to open for coho fishing Friday, Oct. 16.
Menkal will offer his two-part precursor to the Dungeness River fishing class, packed with information on how to fish for those silvers, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and again Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Cost is $25, and anglers should bring a chair.
Phone 360-683-1950 to reserve a spot.
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.
