THE CRAZY HALIBUT season reaches its apex this weekend with the Port Angeles Salmon Club’s annual halibut derby.
“For this area, it’s the last real big hurrah for halibut fishing,” Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said.
“The derby’s a big deal. And the weather’s supposed to be nice, wind-wise, so the timing’s good.”
Aunspach, who serves as the second vice president of the Salmon Club, says the group is hoping for more than 700 entrants this year, up from 665 in 2011.
He estimates that 70 percent of the participants will come from outside of the area.
The derby takes place Saturday and Sunday and lasts from daylight until 2 p.m. both days.
It takes place in U.S. waters in Marine Area 6, from Low Point to the base of Dungeness Spit.
The Salmon Club will divvy out $20,000 in prizes to 30 participants, including $5,000 to the angler who reels in the biggest halibut.
You might want to get out early.
Last year 17 of the 30 prize-winning halibut were caught on the first day of the event, including the winning fish, a 138-pounder brought in by Chuck Brown of Renton.
Also, if there are any ties, the angler with the earliest time will have the advantage.
Derby tickets are $40 and can be purchased at Swain’s. They will also be sold today at the derby headquarters at the Port Angeles Yacht Club.
Strait halibut
Halibut numbers seem to be up from last year.
After a slow opening weekend, Aunspach reports success rates have increased in the following two weeks.
Port Angeles is seeing more big fish.
Aunspach says Swain’s customers have brought in more halibut that exceed 100 pounds than usual.
Along with the 168-pounder we discussed last week, Aunspach has also seen 135-pound and 120-pound halibut.
The numbers near Sequim are also looking good.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said more boats are coming back with multiple flatfish aboard.
But there aren’t as many big halibut being caught.
Menkal said most fish weigh in at 65 pounds or less.
But, size isn’t everything.
“We’re getting better-eating fish,” Menkal said.
“Table fare is key.”
For those looking to harvest halibut this weekend, whether for the derby or not, they might want to bring some squid.
Menkal said it has been by far the most successful bait, with herring a distant second.
Days added
Halibut fishing in marine areas 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay) are closed this week, but the state’s Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced both will reopen on Thursday, May 31, and Saturday, June 2.
The North Coast is far below its 108,030-pound halibut quota.
The state reports that in four days earlier this month, anglers caught 68,399 pounds of halibut.
That means, according to my calculator, more than one-third of the quota is still available for harvest.
Joey Lawrence of Big Salmon Resort (360-645-2374) in Neah Bay said the initial halibut fishery was plagued by windy weather.
Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks said things were similar to the south.
“When they got out, it was decent,” Gooding said. “But the weather made the water rough.”
There also weren’t many big fish caught, and many anglers settled for 25- to 30-pound halibut rather than go home empty-handed.
If the weather cooperates, the Pacific could be the hot spot next weekend.
It’s a good area for halibut and there seems to be a lot of big ones left.
“The ocean pulls more halibut fishing,” Aunspach said.
“You can send a rag down to the bottom and catch [a halibut]. You don’t even need bait.”
State fish biologist Heather Reed said in a press release that even more days could be added.
“Once we tally the catch during those two days of fishing, we’ll see if we can provide another opening,” she said.
Late opener
After weeks of waiting, the Sekiu halibut season finally opened Thursday.
And while the season ends next weekend for most of the Peninsula, Sekiu’s halibut fishery lasts until June 23.
Here are the halibut season details for Marine Area 5 (Sekiu):
■ May 24 to 28: Thursday through Monday.
■ May 31 to June 23: Thursdays through Saturdays only.
Big fish tales
If you’ve been longing for years for a 100-pound halibut but keep coming up short, you might want to skip the next few paragraphs.
Lou Allen of Quilcene went halibut fishing for the first time May 17.
He ended up catching a 123-pounder in the waters between Point Wilson and Admiralty Head.
Again, it was his first time.
Sequim’s Jeff Green did even better Thursday morning.
While fishing near Protection Island, Green landed a 135-pound halibut.
Free knowledge
In preparation for the June summer steelhead opener, Menkal is offering a free two-part rivers fishing course that teaches techniques for catching freshwater salmon and steelhead.
Part one will be Tuesday, and part two will be Tuesday, June 5.
Both sessions run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More at 542 West Washington St. in Sequim.
For best results, bring a chair, a pen and a notepad.
For more details, call Menkal at 360-683-1950.
Makah kids day
The Makah National Fish Hatchery and Makah Fisheries Management are combining to host a kids free fishing day on Saturday, June 9.
The event is open to children 14 years old and younger. All young anglers must be accompanied by an adult.
The hatchery will provide fishing gear.
There will be also be refreshments and other activities.
The free fishing day runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Makah National Fish Hatchery, which is located at 897 Hatchery Road in Neah Bay.
For more information, contact Caroline Peterschmidt at 360-645-2521 or caroline_peterschmidt@fws.gov.
Conservation banquet
A reminder about the North Olympic Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association fund-raising banquet on Friday, June 8.
The function will be catered by chef Michael McQuay of Kokopelli Grill.
There also will be live and silent auctions of items ranging from guided river and saltwater fishing trips to custom fishing rods and art.
The cost is $65 per person and $120 for couples, and include a one-year membership to the Coastal Conservation Association.
The banquet begins at 5 p.m. and concludes at 9:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door.
The event is being held at the John Wayne Marina in Sequim (2577 West Sequim Bay Road).
For more information, contact John Albiso at 360-928-1073 or juannsal@q.com.
Volunteer training
Clallam County’s volunteer stream monitoring program, Streamkeepers, is seeking volunteers.
No prior experience is necessary and free training will begin in late June.
New recruits will join existing stream teams in performing quarterly stream monitoring on streams throughout the county.
Monitoring functions include collecting stream health data, performing data entry and analysis and conducting education and outreach.
To register or inquire, call Streamkeepers at 360-417-2281 or email streamkeepers@co.clallam.wa.us.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lee.horton@peninsuladailynews.com.
