OCEAN-GOING SALMON anglers can comment on three season alternatives adopted earlier this week by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
The council works with tribal, federal and state fishing interests to establish fishing seasons in ocean waters 3 to 200 miles off the Pacific Coast.
The three alternatives reflect the low numbers of coho predicted to return this season. They will be taken into account when setting other state fisheries as the salmon season-setting process rolls on.
The number of coho expected to return to the Columbia River this year is the lowest in more than 20 years. The small coho quotas in the first two alternatives, and the closure to fishing in the third, are a result of those low expected quantities of coho.
“With these alternatives in hand, we will work with stakeholders and co-managers to develop a final fishing package for Washington’s coastal and inside waters that meets our conservation objectives for wild salmon,” state Department of Fish and Wildlife salmon fisheries policy lead, Kyle Adicks said.
The alternatives include the following quotas for state recreational fisheries off the Washington coast:
• Alternative 1: 30,000 chinook and 29,400 marked coho. This option includes an early season chinook fishery from June 14 through June 28 in all ocean areas, followed by a chinook and marked coho fishery from June 29 through Sept. 30.
• Alternative 2: 22,125 chinook and 22,500 marked coho. This option opens chinook and coho fishing in all ocean areas from June 27 through Sept. 13.
• Alternative 3: All ocean areas closed to salmon fishing.
In 2019, the Council adopted recreational ocean fishing quotas for the Washington coast of 25,250 chinook and 159,600 marked coho. Actual salmon returns were much lower than expected, particularly for coho.
Neah Bay and La Push
Here’s how the alternatives break down in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay):
Under Alternative 1, there would be a subarea guideline of 6,400 chinook and a subarea quota of 3,060 marked coho.
Fishing would be open seven days a week.
The chinook fishery held June 14-28 would have a one-chinook limit.
Beginning June 29, the daily limit would rise to two salmon per day, no more than one of which may be a chinook. All coho must be hatchery clipped and no chum retention will be allowed beginning Aug. 1.
In Alternative 2, anglers would have a 4,700-chinook subarea guideline and a 2,340 marked coho subarea quota with fishing open seven days per week.
Fishing would be open seven days a week with a two-salmon per day limit, with no chum retention beginning Aug. 1.
Here’s how the alternatives would work in Marine Area 3 (La Push): In Alternative 1, recreational anglers would see a chinook subarea guideline of 1,400 and a 760 marked coho subarea quota in a seven-day a week fishery.
A one-salmon daily limit would run June 14-28.
And beginning June 29, the daily limit rises to two salmon, no more than one of which may be a chinook. All coho must be hatchery marked. Zero chum retention begins Aug. 1 under this plan.
Under Alternative two, anglers would have a 1,100 chinook subarea guideline and a 580 marked coho subarea quota.
The fishery would be open seven days a week with a two salmon daily limit, except no chum beginning Aug. 1. All coho must be hatchery marked.
Fisheries may close earlier if guidelines and quotas are met.
There will be a public hearing on the alternatives at Chateau Westport on March 23 in Westport.
Chinook and coho quotas approved by the PFMC will be part of a comprehensive 2020 salmon-fishing package, which includes marine and freshwater fisheries throughout Puget Sound, the Columbia River and Washington’s coastal areas.
State and tribal co-managers are currently developing those other fisheries.
Tune your units
Fish finder/GPS navigation manufacturer Lowrance will offer free updates and tuning for Lowrance users during a visit to Port Townsend for the Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby.
The Lowrance boat will be moored at Slip P-2A at Point Hudson Marina in Port Townsend.
The free updates and tuning will begin at 3 p.m. today and 3:30 p.m. Friday.
Just stop by the boat with your units or come visit the boat for demos of the newest Lowrance products or to talk fishing.
Lowrance also donated a Sonar/GPS unit as a derby prize.
Multi-season tag
Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their names into the drawing for a 2020 multi-season tag.
Fish and Wildlife will hold the drawing in mid-April, randomly selecting names for 8,500 multi-season deer tags and 1,000 multi-season elk tags.
Winners of the drawing can buy a special tag allowing them to participate in archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk in 2020. Winners who purchase the multi-season elk tag can participate in general elk hunting seasons in both eastern and western Washington.
“With the multi-season tag, hunters have the opportunity to extend their seasons this fall,” said Anis Aoude, WDFW Game Division Manager. “Winners do not need to choose one hunting method over another, so they have more options and flexibility.”
Hunters can only use the tags during general seasons and in game management units open during a modern firearm, muzzleloader or archery general season.
For example, winners may not hunt during the muzzleloader general season in an area not open for the muzzleloader general season.
Hunters can apply only once for each species. Their bag limit remains one deer or elk.
Buy a multi-season application online , at authorized license dealers, or by calling 866-246-9453. The application costs $7.10 for residents and $110.50 for nonresidents.
A 2020 hunting license is not required to apply, but winners of the drawing must buy a license before they can buy a multi-season tag. The deadline to purchase the multi-season tag is July 31.
For more information, visit www.wdfw.wa.gov or call the Licensing Division at 360-902-2464.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
