Reports are coming in slowly from the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, which opened to salmon fishing Wednesday.
It’s still too early to tell if the area is going to enjoy the kind of fishing found off Sekiu, where the catch shows no signs of slowing.
Meanwhile, tons of fish are still swimming around the Hoodsport hatchery zone on the Hood Canal.
“It’s a zoo, we’re just buried,” said Drew Burkhard at the hatchery. “There’s a ton fish out front and people are really catching them.”
Burkhard said the return of pink salmon to the hatchery zone is nearly triple the prediction for this year.
He said the last time that happened was 1993 and credited the great return to better ocean conditions and longer rearing at the hatchery before release.
In the past, the hatchery released fry when 450 fish combined to weigh one pound.
Two years ago the pinks that are returning this year were released when only 280 fish totaled one pound, according to Burkhard.
“These are beautiful, healthy fish that are coming back and I think that’s a part of it,” Burkhard said, noting most were in the 4- to 5-pound range.
However, Joe Crecca at The Port Townsend Angler (360-379-3763), says the Hoodsport humpies are already starting to lose their vigor.
“The fish that are there have been there a while and are getting dark,” Crecca said. “The big game now is the point fishery up here.”
Coho and pinks are both being picked up at Point Wilson, especially on the Admiralty Inlet side.
Salmon can also be found northwest of Marrowstone Point.
All chinook and chum in Marine Area 9 must currently be released.
In Marine Area 12, which includes the Hoodsport hatchery, all chum must be released and no more than two chinook of more than 24 inches may be kept in the hatchery zone.
Hood Canal is currently open south of Ayock Point and the king salmon run should start to pick up in the next couple of weeks.
In Marine Areas 5 and 6 — Sekiu/Pillar Point and the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca — all unmarked coho must be released along with all chinook and chum.
The mouth of the Elwha River is currently closed to fishing as is Dungeness Bay.
“It looks pretty good because the few people that have come in here have caught fish,” said Cal Metzler at Port Angeles Marine Supply (360-452-3277). “There’s some fish being caught out by the yellow buoy near Midchannel Bank.
“Last year it was really spotty so I think this year is going to be a better year.”
However, it’s still too early to know how good this year’s fishery in Marine 6 will turn out as it just opened Aug. 1.
“I haven’t seen any come in at all,” said Wade Jurgensen at The Bosun’s Locker on John Wayne Marina in Sequim (360-683-6521).
However, the crabbing in Sequim Bay remains excellent, according to Jurgensen, who recommends a 24-hour soak for a limit of Dungeness crab.
Off Sekiu, salmon fishing is still great.
“It’s a little cold and wet,” said Donalynn Olson at Olson’s Resort in Sekiu (360-963-2311). “Fish wise is good.”
A bank fishery has developed off the beaches in Sekiu, where silvers are being picked up from anglers casting Buzz Bombs from shore.
“You’ll see them all lined up along the beach,” Olson said. “They don’t all get fish but there’s enough to keep them interested.”
The ratio of hatchery fish to native has improved off Sekiu, where Herb Rempel at Silver King Resort (360-963-2950) says it can be as good as 70 percent marked fish.
“It’s probably better than half and half,” confirmed Olson. “There is a lot of releasing going on but they’re not having that hard of a time limiting.”
Coastal salmon
LaPush and Neah Bay — Marine Areas 3 and 4 — slowed some last week.
From July 23-29, 330 anglers caught 30 chinook and 280 coho out of LaPush, according to Doug Milward, coastal fisheries manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
At the same time 1,429 anglers caught 137 chinook and 1,084 coho out of Neah Bay.
As of July 29, LaPush had caught 297 chinook out of a 1,000-fish guideline and 1,646 coho out of a 5,350-fish quota; while Neah Bay had caught 983 chinook out of 1,700 allowed and 8,437 coho out of 23,400 allowed.
Pink salmon can also be picked up in the areas, where all unmarked coho must be released.
Rivers
Try hiking the upper Elwha River or along the middle stretch — between the dams — for a good shot at trout.
“Trout fishing on the Elwha has been quite good,” said Dave Steinbaugh at Waters West Fly Fishing Outfitters in Port Angeles (360-417-0937).
Steinbaugh recommended casting golden stoneflies or green Drakes, saying the dry fly fishing has been excellent with bigger patterns yielding better results.
But the good trout fishing is countered by slow steelhead catches.
“There’s a few fish around for guys that are working hard for them,” Steinbaugh said. “Certainly not in the numbers that we expected after what we saw last year.”
The Quillayute System continues to run very low but provides a better chance at steelhead than the Elwha.
“I think with this increased rain we’re getting it should improve steelheading,” Steinbaugh said.
Try floating a bobber with a small piece of shrimp, a low-water technique that can be productive.
Guided hike
The Clallam County Family YMCA is offering a guided hike to Humes Ranch via Goblins Gate.
The hike, scheduled for next Tuesday, Aug. 7, will be guided by Bob Baldwin, a longtime resident of the North Olympic Peninsula.
Cost is $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers.
The trip departs the YMCA parking lot at 9 a.m.
All hikers must be registered by Monday. For more information, call 360-452-9244.
Darrick Meneken is a sports and outdoor columnist and writer for the Peninsula Daily News. Click on “Subscribe” to order your PDN delivered to your home or office.
