A LOT HAS been happening on the waters of the North Olympic Peninsula recently.
Over the past few weeks, this column has provided previews of various season openings.
Now, it’s time to check in on the spot shrimp, halibut, clams and lakes.
Spot Shrimp
The spot shrimp harvest got off to a nice start.
“It was a good opener,” state shellfish biologist Mark O’Toole said.
“The weather was decent — especially compared to last year — participation was up in several areas, and the catch rates were relatively good overall.”
As expected, Hood Canal was the place for spot shrimp.
Fish and Wildlife reports the 1,510 boats on the Canal caught 26,899 pounds of shrimp during Saturdays opener.
The average boat caught 17.8 pounds of prawns, with each pound containing approximately 14.1 spot shrimp.
O’Toole said the middle-third of the Hood Canal was especially ripe, including Dabob Bay and Hoodsport.
Discovery Bay had more modest numbers.
The 50 boats in Disco Bay pulled in 525 pounds of delicious prawn.
Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said the Port Angeles Harbor didn’t fare as well.
“It’s not real hot so far,” Aunspach said. “A little slow, but it will probably pick up.”
While the state checked more than 1,500 boats along the Hood Canal, O’Toole said only two were checked in the Harbor.
“It’s not prime shrimp habitat,” he said. “A few dropped pots, usually on their way to go fishing.”
The Hood Canal spot shrimping reopens today. Here is the schedule for the rest of the season:
■ Hood Canal: Open today, Saturday and May 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Additional dates will be announced if sufficient quota remains.)
■ Discovery Bay: Open today, Saturday and 16, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Additional dates will be announced if sufficient quota remains.)
■ East Juan de Fuca Strait: Open daily at 7 a.m.; closes when quota is attained or Sept. 15, whichever comes first.
■ Sekiu and Pillar Point: Open daily at 7 a.m.; closes when quota is attained or Sept. 15, whichever comes first.
■ Neah Bay: Open daily at 7 a.m.; closes when quota is attained or Sept. 15, whichever comes first.
■ South Puget Sound: Open daily at 7 a.m.; closes May 31.
■ Admiralty Inlet: Open today from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
■ San Juan Islands: Open today, Saturday, and May 17, 18 and 19 at 7 a.m. (Additional dates will be announced if sufficient quota remains.)
And a refresher on the rules: Each shrimper allowed two pots at a time, and can take home 80 spot shrimp per day. Boats cannot have more than four shrimp pots onboard at one time.
Halibut
Mixed results for the much ballyhooed halibut opener.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim reports good things in his area.
Areas near Dungeness Bar, Dallas Bay and just off Protection Island have yielded nice pulls of the flatfish.
Surprisingly, the Green Point area wasn’t as hot as expected.
Aunspach said most of the success has skipped over the Port Angeles Harbor.
“The West has done well, and far East,” he said. “But the in-between has been slow so far.”
Hoh opening
The Hoh River is opening for chinook salmon on Thursday, May 16.
It’s a deceptive opener, though.
Anglers can only keep hatchery-bred springers. Wild chinook must be released.
Hatchery chinook are identified by looking at the back fin.
Wild chinook have a back fin. Hatchery chinook do not.
If the back fin has been removed, it’s yours to keep.
The other popular chinook rivers on the North Olympic Peninsula, the Sol Duc and Quillayute, have been opened since February, but its been a tough season so far.
Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-452-2357) in Forks reports the springer action has picked up in the last week or so.
But with the slow results in the first few months, it appears this season isn’t going to get hopping like anglers are hoping.
“Some years are, and some aren’t,” he said. “This year aren’t.”
Below are the details for the spring chinook season.
Hoh River chinook season:
■ Open: Thursday, May 16, to Aug. 31.
■ Minimum size: 12 inches.
■ Daily limit: six chinook, only one adult.
■ Restrictions: must release wild chinook.
Sol Duc and Quillayute rivers:
■ Open: Until Aug. 31.
■ Minimum size: 12 inches.
■ Daily limit: six chinook, up to two adults.
■ Restrictions: must release wild adult chinook and wild adult coho.
Clam season over
The final razor clam dig of the 2011-12 season is over.
According to state Fish and Wildlife coastal shellfish manager Dan Ayres, the three-day dig at the Twin Harbors Beach was a success.
Approximately 7,600 diggers harvested 114,000 razor clams, for an average catch of 15.
“The bag limit was 15, so that means most everyone was taking home limits, which is great,” Ayres said.
The razor clam season now ends, with every beach reaching it’s total allowable catch quota.
Overall, close to 2.6 million clams were harvested in approximately 195,000 clam digger trips.
Ayres is satisfied with the 2011-12 output.
“It was pretty normal razor clam season, less than some years, more than others,” Ayres said.
“We knew, going into the season, that things would be a little on the light side because [razor clam] populations were, in general, down on most beaches.”
The Fish and Wildlife department has begun the stock assessment for next year.
Although it’s early, the preliminary results are showing a rebound in razor clam population.
Lake update
Quick update on Lake Leland.
Last week, the state Fish and Wildlife department planted nearly 4,500 trout in Lake Leland last week.
And the action there has picked up.
Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist, reports anglers at Leland doing well with Power Bait on their hooks.
Winter film fest
Going inside doesn’t always mean you leave the outdoors behind.
Take, for example, the VideOlympics, the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club’s second annual film festival on Saturday.
The festival features outdoor sporting activities of the Pacific Northwest and puts talent both behind and in front of the camera on display.
The festival lasts from 7 to 9 p.m. and will be held at Bar9ne at 229 West First St. in Port Angeles.
Following the event, two films that provide perspective on the frustration from year’s road closures to Hurricane Ridge will be shown.
Memorial Day run
The Port Angeles Recreation Department will host a Memorial Day Fun Run on Monday, May 28.
The 5 to 10K run or walk begins at noon.
It starts at the city pier and follows the waterfront trail out and back.
As if running or walking wasn’t fun enough, prizes will be rewarded for participants with the most patriotic costumes.
The cost is $25 for adults and $15 for those 18 and younger. After May 21, add $5 to the fees.
To register or learn more, contact Dan Estes at 360-417-4557 or destes@cityofpa.us.
Send photos, stories
Have 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.
