OUTDOORS: More kings, fewer coho set to return in 2022?

Mulling future salmon seasons is a great idea while waiting for the snow to melt — or melt and re-freeze at least — so here is Quilcene angler and tackle maker Ward Norden’s early predictions for 2022.

“As always, one of the most important factors in predicting future salmon returns is not necessarily how many young smolts go to sea, but what the ecosystem’s food chain looks like when they arrive in saltwater,” Norden said.

He’s referring to plankton productivity driven by nutrients coming to the surface from the deep ocean in mid-spring, aka deep ocean-upwelling.

“The spring and summer of 2021 saw many changes from the last two years,” Norden said. “The ocean currents that brought huge amounts of nutrients into the Strait of Juan de Fuca [and Georgia] and Puget Sound in 2019 and 2020 were not as strong during 2021.

“On the other hand, the deep ocean-upwelling from Willapa Bay south to the California border were the strongest seen in decades, fueling hyper-plankton productivity.”

Taking those factors into account, here’s what Norden believes salmon returns to the Straits and Puget Sound will likely look like in 2022:

• Chinook returns will be be up 15 percent or more, which will mean good fishing but a shorter season for sports anglers. Returns in 2023 will be down significantly.

• Coho returns will be down 10 percent from 2021, which turned out to be an outstanding sport fishing season.

• Pink runs in even-numbered years are always smaller and return a month earlier than odd-numbered year runs. This year will be no exception. The peak of this run is in mid-July.

Norden said the situation will get really interesting down on the Columbia River.

• Columbia River spring chinook returns will be way up, possibly as much as 40 percent.

• Fall chinook (tules) will be up 20 percent or more, which means great chinook fishing in midsummer in our Marine Areas 3 and 4 near Neah Bay and La Push. More increases will be coming in 2023 and 2024.

• Columbia River, southwest Washington and Oregon coastal coho returns will likely be up as much as 40 percent as well.

Taking this information into consideration, it looks like it may be better to plan ocean chinook fishing for early in the season to make sure you have some time on the water before daily limits are cut or area quotas are met.

Free day Saturday

State parks will offer a fee-free day Saturday to mark New Year’s Day.

Despite the snowy weather, there are still a number of First Day hikes planned, but Fort Worden State Park’s hike for Saturday has been canceled.

For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/PDN-FirstDay22.

Changes afoot

Clam and oyster seasons will not begin Jan. 1 at Point Whitney Tidelands and Lagoon near Brinnon, Belfair State Park in Mason County or Point Gamble Heritage Park Tidelands in Kitsap County.

Seasons for these beaches will change in 2022, and those changes are yet to be determined as part of the permanent rule-making process.

Fish and Wildlife expects final season changes to be announced this spring.

Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladaily news.com.

More in Sports

The Peninsula College women's soccer team celebrates on Nov. 17 in Tukwila after winning the Northwest Athletic Conference championship. (Jay Cline/Peninsula College)
COLLEGE SOCCER: Peninsula women finish No. 1 in the nation

Pirates’ men ranked No. 2 nationally in coaches poll

A wild steelhead held in the water on a coastal Washington river. Photo by Chase Gunnell/WDFW
OUTDOORS: ONP’s Ridge Road winter operations beginning Friday

Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge Road winter operations will… Continue reading

Sequim middle hitter Arianna Stovall made the first team of the All-Olympic squad in volleyball with Libero Tiffany Lam, a second-team member in the background. Stovall consistently led the team in kills this season. Right, Sequim's Kenzi Berglund was named to the first-team All-Olympic squad in volleyball. (Jennie Webber-Heilman)  (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
ALL-OLYMPICS VOLLEYBALL: Sequim puts Stovall, Berglund on first team

The Sequim Wolves, coming off a successful Olympic League season… Continue reading

Leilah Franich, of the Port Angeles girls bowling team rolls against rival Sequim on Monday at Laurel Lanes in Port Angeles. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
GIRLS PREP BOWLING: Sequim bounces back to edge PA 4-3.

The Sequim bowling team nipped Port Angeles 4-3 Monday… Continue reading

Port Angeles swimmers Lynzee Reid, left, and Brooke St. Luise.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Lynzee Reid and Brooke St. Luise, Port Angeles girls swim team

For the 12th straight year, the Port Angeles girls swim team finished… Continue reading

The Port Angeles Swim Club celebrated its 60th anniversary on Saturday. For decades, the club has trained swimmers who have gone on to become swimming stars in high school and college. (Port Angeles Swim Club)
CLUB SPORTS: Port Angeles Swim Club celebrates 60th anniversary

The Port Angeles Swim Club celebrated its 60 anniversary… Continue reading

Corban College’s Jack Gladfelter, a Port Angeles High School graduate, runs in the NAIA nationals cross-country meet in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday. Gladfelter finished eighth in the nation. (Joe Gladfelter)
AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: PA’s Gladfelter eighth at national cross-country championship

Port Angeles High School graduate Jack Gladfelter finished eighth… Continue reading

Neah Bay's Adan Ellis reaches for a pass against Almire-Coulee-Hartline in the state 1B quarterfinals Saturday played in Moses Lake. Ellis had four catches for 85 yards in the 14-12 loss. (Roger Harnack/Cheney Free Press)
1B STATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS: Neah Bay falls to ACH in defensive slugfest

Red Devils lose 14-12 as both teams’ defenses dominate

Seattle's Jarran Reed (90) and Leonard Williams (99) celebrate a big defensive play against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field in Seattle on Sunday. Seattle won 16-6 to take over first place in the NFC West.
(Rio Giancarlo/Getty Images)
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Defense, led by Leonard Williams, smothers Cardinals

Seattle takes over first place in the NFC West