The saltwater salmon season will kick off in Marine Areas 3 (LaPush) and 4 (Neah Bay).
The coastal fisheries are open to salmon fishing, minus wild coho retention, Tuesdays through Saturdays only beginning this Saturday, and daily starting July 18.
Given the strong projections for this year’s Columbia river coho run — 1.2 million, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, the largest since 2001 — anglers could be in for a banner year in both areas.
Dawn Lawrence of Big Salmon Resort (360-645-2374) in Neah Bay said she’s already heard several good reports from commercial anglers in the area.
“They say the silvers are pretty good for this time of year, around 5 to 8 pounds [in size],” she said. “Kings, I haven’t really heard a report, but it sounds like it’s going to be a real excellent salmon season this year.”
“[The commercial fishermen] have been catching them right here in front of Neah Bay. The other report is that they are doing really well out by Skagway [Rock].”
Blue Dot, Swiftsure Bank and Umatilla Reef tend to be popular salmon holes as well for coastal anglers.
The latter might be even more prominent this year, if the reports Randy Lato of All-Ways Fishing (360-374-2052) in Forks received are true.
“I guess they are starting see some kings off of Umatilla,” he said. “You can usually get everything right there, but it hasn’t produced the last three years, so it’s kind of exciting to have it come back.”
The Rock Pile is always a favorite of anglers fishing out of LaPush. There are numerous other areas along the coast that can be productive as well.
Strait dope
Strait of Juan de Fuca anglers must wait until Wednesday to begin chasing salmon.
That’s when Marine Areas 5 (Sekiu) and 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) open on a daily basis to hatchery chinook and coho fishing.
While this year’s Puget Sound salmon returns aren’t nearly as glowing as on the coast — both chinook and coho runs are predicted to be down slightly — the promise of 5.1 million pink salmon should make things more than palatable.
Of course, the focus is almost always on the kings around these parts.
And anglers shouldn’t have to search too far for those during the opener, according to Bob Aunspach at Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles.
“There should be plenty of [kings] here as we speak,” Aunspach said. “[In front of] Port Angeles is going to be pretty decent out of the gate because we have some outgoing tides.
“Those outgoing tides seem to fish a little better around here in PA, and the incoming tides seem to fish a little better at Freshwater Bay.”
Traditional holes for salmon in Area 6 include the Humps, Winter Hole and just off Ediz Hook.
It’s important to remember, however, that all chinook must be released east of a true north-south line from the tip of Ediz Hook.
Anglers don’t have to worry about such boundaries in Area 5.
In fact, they will have a unique chance to catch both halibut and salmon on July 2 and 3 (the end of Area 5’s flatty fishery).
“The two-day overlap in fishing seasons is a sweet deal for anglers who can potentially come home with a fish in each hand,” Fish and Wildlife biologist Steve Thiesfeld said.
Tasha Dawley at Olson’s Resort (360-963-2311) in Sekiu said anglers have continued to hook halibut at a steady pace this past week.
“They’ve been doing all right,” she said. “They are going between 200 and 400 feet [near Pillar Point], and they’ve been doing really well on bottom fish.”
Area 5 and 6 are open to salmon fishing through Aug. 15, with only Area 5 reopening on Aug. 16 to a more selective season.
Eastern salmon
Most the water on the Peninsula’s east side will remain closed to salmon fishing for the immediate future.
A portion of Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal) opens to salmon fishing south of Ayock Point on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) doesn’t open until July 16. That popular fishery, which includes selective chinook fishing, is open through Aug. 31.
Crabbing
As if the salmon opener weren’t enough, several Peninsula anglers get the Dungeness crab opener as well.
Marine areas 6 and 9 both open for Dungeness crab fishing this Wednesday.
The summer season will remain open Wednesdays through Saturdays only, plus the entire Labor Day weekend, through Sept. 7. A winter season is likely to follow in November.
As Brian Menkal of Swain’s Outdoor (360-385-1313) in Port Townsend tells it, the science of crabbing is all about scent.
“It’s the same wherever you go,” he said. “The big thing is getting [bait] that has a lot of scent to it.
“Remember, you’re not trying to outsmart these things, all you have to do is get the bait near them, and that’s what they will start feeding on. They are scavengers.”
Among the list of scented items to put in pots the crustaceans might flock to: octopus, fish heads, ham bones, chicken carcasses, shellfish and squid.
Dungeness Bay is almost always a productive spot for crabbers, but there’s several other options.
“Out here everywhere from Discovery Bay out to Point Hudson [works],” Menkal said. “It’s not like there’s a honey hole. Crab are everywhere. Some prefer to be in 50 feet of water and some want to be in 150.
“If you really want to know where to go, check and see where there’s a congregation of crab pots . . . but you better make darn sure you’re right on the bottom with those crab pots.”
When the low tides are right, crabbers can even wade out in some spots (Pillar Point and Dungeness Bay come to mind) to pick up their crab.
Unfortunately, such tides won’t hit the Peninsula until later in July.
Also beginning in late July is crabbing in Hood Canal.
The season is set to start July 29 this year to help prevent the harvesting of mating female crabs, Fish and Wildlife shellfish policy lead Rich Childers said in a news release.
“Crab abundance in Hood Canal has dropped considerably since 2001 and we need as many crabs as possible for reproduction,” Childers said.
“Although it is already unlawful to harvest female crabs, [Fish and Wildlife] and tribal co-managers are taking extra precautions to help stabilize and protect the crab population.”
Marine Areas 4 (Neah Bay) and 5 (Sekiu) have been open to recreational crabbing since mid-June. Both areas are open seven days a week through Jan. 2.
Freshwater fishing
West End rivers received a tiny drink this past week.
That might mean a little more action for anglers in search of the elusive summer steelhead in the Quillayute System (Dickey, Bogachiel, Calawah and Sol Duc). Salmon fishing also opens July 1 on several Peninsula rivers, including the Bogachiel and Calawah.
Based on recent reports out west, which have been less than stellar to say the least, one can only hope.
Those averse to getting skunked might consider making the jaunt to one of Olympic National Park’s many trout lakes.
Most of this year’s snowpack has melted away, meaning access to many of the park’s sub-alpine lakes should be there. That includes all of the ponds at Seven Lakes Basin as well as Lake Angeles and the Grand Lake area.
Many of these lakes are stocked with extremely aggressive brook trout, making it more than worth the hike for any dry fly angler.
Also . . .
• A spey casting class, sponsored by Waters West Fly Fishing Outfitters, will be held at a to-be-determined West End river this Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Spey rods and reels will be provided for all who attend, with all skill levels welcome. Casting as well as fishing techniques will be covered during the class.
The cost is $75. To sign up, or for more information, contact Waters West at 360-417-0937.
• Waters West, located at 140 West Front St. in Port Angeles, will host a series of free fly tying seminars this summer.
That includes a steelhead spey and dee fly seminar Saturday at 10 a.m. More seminars are scheduled for July 11, July 25, Aug. 8 and Aug. 22.
For more information, contact Waters West at 360-417-0937.
• Olympic National Park will begin its summer program this weekend.
The weekly schedule, which remains the same through Sept. 6, includes numerous ranger-led walks through various parts of the park as well as several special presentations.
To get a complete listing, stop by one of the park’s visitor centers and pick up a copy of the OlympicBugler.
• Admiralty Audubon’s David Gluckman will lead birders on a trip through Port Townsend’s birding hotspots Sunday.
The trip will go from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Those who are interested may do the trip by bicycle. Others will carpool from the meeting spot at he Larry Scott Trail bathroom area of Port Haven Marina.
For more information, contact Gluckman at 360-379-0360 or cgluckman@aol.com.
• Surfing and Traditions returns to LaPush for the fifth straight year this Fourth of July weekend.
The event beings with a kids surf camp on Friday, July 3, that is open to all West End children. There will be a beach cleanup two days later (July 5) followed by a three-hour free surf competition featuring multiple categories to win prizes.
For more information, contact North by Northwest Surf Co. in Port Angeles at 360-452-5144.
• Flotilla 42 of the Coast Guard Auxiliary will host a set of boater education classes at the second floor of the Pease Building on Ediz Hook on July 17-18.
Anyone under the age of 30 interested in operating a boat or jet-ski must have a Boater Education card by next year. Cards can be obtained after completing an exam at the end of the classes. Classes are set for 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on July 17 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 18.
The cost is $25 for the book or $35 if two people share a book. Registration is required and can be done be calling 360-681-4671.
Call us, photos welcome!
Want your event listed in the outdoors column?
Have a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique, why not share it with our readers?
Send it to me, Matt Schubert, Sports Department, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362; phone, 360-417-3526, fax, 360-417-3521; e-mail matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column appears on Thursdays and Fridays.
