ANGLERS CAN RETAIN two kings while fishing off Neah Bay or La Push starting Saturday and running through Sept. 15, if guideline remains.
After meeting with sportfishing advisors Wednesday, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced sufficient chinook guideline remains in Marine Areas 4 (Neah Bay) and 3 (La Push) to expand chinook retention without risking an early fishery closure. Both areas opened for recreational salmon fishing for all species on June 22.
Through Sunday in Marine Area 4, 25 percent, or 2,371 of the 9,430 chinook guideline, and 10 percent, or 800 of the 8,300 hatchery-marked coho quota, have been landed.
The total catch per angler trip off Neah Bay is 0.52 for all salmon, and 0.44 for Chinook and 0.07 for hatchery-marked coho.
In Marine Area 3, 148 (9 percent) of the 1,630 Chinook guideline and 87 (4 percent) of the 2,070 hatchery-marked coho quota had been landed through Sunday.
The total catch per angler trip is 0.85 for all salmon, and 0.54 for Chinook and 0.32 for hatchery-marked coho.
Brinnon’s Beck appears
McKay Shrimp and Crab Gear owner Keith Beck will provide an overview of his Brinnon-based business and pass along tips and techniques for crabbing and shrimping success at Wednesday’s meeting of the North Olympic Peninsula chapter of Puget Sound Anglers.
Beck and his family have lived in the Brinnon area for five generations. His store is located at 306362 U.S. Highway 101.
The meeting will be held at the Sequim Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starting at 7 p.m.
A short business meeting, fishing reports and raffle drawings will follow Beck’s talk.
The big-ticket raffle prize is a Rainshadow RDR96MH E-glass custom-built, spiral-wrap downrigger rod from Bill Batson and Sequim’s Batson Enterprises.
Tickets for the rod raffle are $10 each.
Raffles are for members only. Visitors can join the group for $25 or $35 for a family membership, which includes The Reel News monthly newspaper.
Elwha bridge closure
Anybody heading to Sekiu for Sekiu Fun Days or other points west should be reminded of the nine-day U.S. Highway 101 Elwha River Bridge closure, which begins tonight at 6 p.m. and will reopen at 5 a.m. July 22.
During the closure, travelers will detour onto state Highway 112 and state Highway 113.
The road closure will allow crews to build a section of highway approaching the new bridge and remove the portion approaching the old span.
A larger bridge with a much more gentle curve leading to the span will await.
The new span is 40 feet wide with two 12-foot lanes. The shoulders are 8 feet wide to accommodate people who walk or roll. The new bridge meets modern earthquake standards.
Halibut update
Following compilation of the final weeks of the spring halibut season, 78,743 pounds of halibut quota, or 26 percent, remain statewide.
Puget Sound Anglers, including Marine Area 5 (Sekiu), snapped up 67 percent (54,957 pounds) of its 81,729-pound subarea quota.
North Coast anglers off Neah Bay landed 77 percent, or 101,852 pounds, out of a 132,366-pound Subarea quota.
When halibut season resumes Aug. 15, all marine areas open to retention will have access to the remaining quota total.
Planning for the 2025 halibut season will begin with a virtual meeting at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 13.
Preliminary recommendations for changes to the catch sharing plan and season structure will be taken in advance of the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting set Sept. 19-24 in Spokane.
To join via Microsoft Teams use meeting ID: 232 465 130 970 and passcode: gcoZzY.
Or call in at 564-999-2000 with ID: 452 157 066#.
Burn ban on DNR land
A statewide burn ban on Department of Natural Resources lands went into effect Wednesday as hot, dry summer weather continues to increase wildfire danger statewide. Multiple wildfires already are actively burning across the state.
The order bans outdoor burning, campfires, the use of charcoal briquettes and prescribed burns on all forest lands within the department’s fire protection through Sept. 30. This date may be extended or shortened depending on fire conditions.
“The record-breaking temperatures we are seeing this week have left our state bone dry,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. “I am asking everyone in Washington to do their part to protect our firefighters and our communities this summer. Please do not start a fire outside and stay alert when you are outdoors.”
Residents who see smoke should call 911 to report the fire. For tips on how to stay safe during fire season, go to https://www.dnr.wa.gov/WildfirePrevention.
Wildfire statistics can be found on DNR’s Fire Dashboard at http://fireinfo.dnr.wa.gov.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@ peninsuladailynews.com.
