OLYMPIA — Anglers can reel in salmon off the Washington coast beginning Saturday, when three marine areas open for recreational salmon fishing.
Marine areas 1 (Ilwaco), 3 (La Push), and 4 (Neah Bay) will be open daily starting Saturday. Marine Area 2 (Westport) will be open Sundays through Thursdays beginning Sunday, July 1.
Fewer chinook salmon are expected to make their way through Washington’s ocean waters this year as compared to 2017, said Wendy Beeghley, a fishery manager with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Beeghley said the agency anticipates a return of coho fairly similar to last year’s return.
The recreational chinook catch quota this year is 27,500 fish, which is 17,500 fewer fish than 2017’s quota of 45,000. Meanwhile, the coho quota is 42,000 fish, the same as in 2017.
Although all four marine areas are scheduled to close Sept. 3, Beeghley reminds anglers that areas could close earlier if the quota is met. Throughout the summer, anglers can check WDFW’s webpage at https://tinyurl.com/salmonquota for updates.
In marine areas 1, 2, and 4, anglers will be allowed to retain two salmon, only one of which can be a chinook. Anglers fishing in Marine Area 3 will have a two-salmon daily limit. In all marine areas, anglers must release wild coho.
More information about the fisheries can be found in the 2018-19 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, available at license vendors and sporting goods stores and online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/.
Lefties lead league in runs, home runs
PORT ANGELES — The Lefties baseball team is showing a lot of power this season.
The Lefties return home to Civic Field leading the West Coast League in both runs scored and in home runs.
After hitting five home runs Saturday and Sunday in Victoria, the Lefties have now hit 14 home runs for the season in 15 games. The next highest squad is Cowlitz with seven home runs.
The Lefties are also leading the league in runs scored with 90 (an average of six runs per game). The next highest team is Cowlitz again well behind at 71 runs.
Port Angeles’ Kyle Schimpf is leading the WCL with four home runs. Drew Minter, Issac Wersland and Matthew Christian all have two home runs for the Lefties.
Port Angeles as a team is batting .247, fourth in the WCL. Corvallis, coming into town today is leading the league with a team batting average of .287.
The Lefties (8-7 in the North Division, second place) play Corvallis at Civic Field at 6:05 p.m. today.
Peninsula Daily News and the Associated Press
