THE FIRST DROUGHT-RELATED closure of a North Olympic Peninsula river or stream goes into effect today.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the stretch of the Sol Duc River from 200 feet downstream of the Sol Duc Hatchery’s outfall creek upstream to the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc Hatchery will close until further notice.
Low water levels this spring have caused a delay in the migration of wild spring/summer chinook past the hatchery.
This delay has resulted in greater vulnerability of the chinook to fishing pressure.
Low water levels are likely to remain until the fall, so this stretch of the Sol Duc probably will remain closed through the summer.
The Quileute tribe is implementing a similar closure to subsistence fishing in the vicinity of the hatchery.
Canaries bounce back
Two important West Coast bottomfish stocks —canary rockfish and petrale sole — that were formerly overfished have now been rebuilt ahead of schedule, the Pacific Fishery Management Council announced recently.
Prized by both recreational and commercial anglers, canary rockfish were declared overfished in 2000 and a rebuilding plan was put in place in 2001 affecting groundfish fisheries off Washington, Oregon and California.
Canary rockfish also are a slow-growing, long-living species, making them difficult to rebuild.
Under the plan, catch quotas were dramatically reduced and large area closures put in place. The stock was expected to be rebuilt by 2057.
But a 2015 canary rockfish assessment shows the West Coast stocks have already rebuilt themselves.
Petrale sole were declared overfished in 2010.
Beginning in 2011, a rebuilding plan was put in place to rebuild the stock by 2016.
The petrale sole harvest limit was cut by half, and fisheries in which petrale sole could be caught incidentally also were reduced and area closures were implemented.
A recent stock assessment found healthy numbers of petrale sole a year ahead of schedule.
Pamphlet online
The state’s sport fishing rules and regulations pamphlet is now available online and will soon show up in North Olympic Peninsula tackle shops.
To check out the new rules, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-FishRules.
These fishing rules go into effect Wednesday, July 1, and will run through June 30, 2016.
Anglers should follow the 2014-15 regulations until July 1.
Lost Mountain birding
A birding outing to Lost Mountain near Sequim will be led today by Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society members Bob Iddins and Gary Bullock.
Birders will meet at the southeast corner of the Sequim Walmart parking lot at 7:30 a.m.
The group expects to encounter sapsuckers, MacGillvray’s warblers, house wrens, olive-sided and Pacific slop flycatchers and purple finches.
Plans are to carpool to state Department of Natural Resources land off Olsen Place and make short walks along forest roads.
Attendees should wear appropriate footwear and bring binoculars, snacks, water, sunblock and gear for any weather changes.
For more information, phone Iddins at 360-681-2840.
Salmon in Strait
Salmon Fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca is the topic of today’s meeting of the North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers.
The meeting is set for Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., at 6:45 p.m.
The salmon fishing season opens on July 1 in Marine Area 6.
A discussion on how to fish for king, coho and pinks in this area will be the primary focus of the meeting.
Millions of pinks will navigate through the Strait of Juan de Fuca from the end of July through August, destined for their home stream or river.
Anglers will be allowed to retain two pinks in addition to the normal daily mix or match quota of two salmon — king, coho or pinks — for a total of four fish.
For more information about the Puget Sound Anglers, visit www.psanopc.org.
Longest Day Saturday
The Peninsula Trails Coalition’s sixth annual Longest Day of Trails is Saturday.
The event celebrates the Summer Solstice with a 5K, 10K and half-marathon, all of which start and finish at the Port Townsend Boat Haven at 9 p.m.
Longest Day of Trails is a fundraiser for the promotion and completion of the Olympic Discovery Trail between Port Townsend and the Pacific Ocean.
The cost is $25 for each of the distances for those who register by today.
Register online at www.tinyurl.com/pdn-LongDay.
Day-of-race registration is $30.
Finishers will receive their choice of either running socks or a running hat.
For more information, visit www.peninsulatrailscoalition.org, or contact Jeff Selby, vice president of Jefferson County Peninsula Trails Coalition, at 360-531-2370 or SelbyJL44@gmail.com.
Chinook seminar
Just under two weeks remain until chinook season opens in the more populated areas of the North Olympic Peninsula.
Area chinook fishing expert Rick Wray will discuss how to catch kings during a seminar at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More, 609 W. Washington St., at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25.
“Wray will discuss using mooched herring as bait, jigging, techniques to find them on the bottom and many other king-related topics,” Brian’s Sporting Goods and More owner Brian Menkal said.
Menkal said Wray will touch on fishing spots in Marine Areas 5 (Sekiu) and 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), with more of a focus on Marine Area 6.
“These are techniques you can use anywhere for kings,” Menkal said.
Cost is $20.
Anglers should bring a notepad, writing implement and a chair.
A July seminar will discuss fishing for coho.
To sign up, phone Brian’s at 360-683-1950.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
