PORT TOWNSEND — Anglers fishing for salmon in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) will be allowed to keep chum only starting today, state fishery managers announced.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife had scheduled an opening for hatchery chinook salmon to begin today, but has postponed that season to protect a large number of juvenile chinook in those waters.

“We’re seeing more young chinook out there than we’ve seen in over a decade,” said Ron Warren, Fish and Wildlife fisheries policy lead.

“They’re too small to retain under state rules, so we’re postponing the chinook fishery.”

The department will continue monitoring Marine Area 9 and could open the area for a brief hatchery chinook fishery around Thanksgiving, Warren said.

Admiralty Inlet is scheduled to close to salmon fishing Nov. 30 and then will be open Jan. 16 through April 15.

“The action we’re taking today should allow us to keep the winter chinook fishery going longer when the area reopens in January,” Warren said.

Beginning today, anglers will have a daily limit of two chum salmon in Area 9.

Warren emphasized that the area is not open for catch and release fishing for other salmon species. The department would be forced to close Admiralty Inlet to all salmon fishing if anglers don’t follow the rules, he said.

Anglers should check for fishing rule changes at tinyurl.com/PDN-Fishrulechanges for more details.