HOPEFULLY YOU GAVE heed to last week’s advice about shellfish at Sequim Bay.
The state Department of Health announced Wednesday that Sequim Bay is now closed due to Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning.
Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim said the closure continues the trend of recent years.
“It seems like it usually closes in late June, so I’d say this is on par,” Menkal said.
If the closure stays in line with the past few years, Menkal said the shellfish season probably is over in Sequim Bay.
Before the closure, only butter clams were restricted at Sequim Bay.
Now it is closed to all species, which means clams (including geoduck), oysters, mussels and other invertebrates.
Shellfish harvesters can move their efforts to the Port Townsend area or Hood Canal.
“Unfortunately, now it’s on to plan B,” Menkal said.
“Fortunately, the crab opener won’t be affected.”
The crab harvest opens on Sunday, July 1.
Crab meat doesn’t contain the poisonous biotoxin, but the guts can contain unsafe levels.
So to be safe, clean crab thoroughly and discard the guts.
North Coast salmon
After a slow opener, the ocean salmon fishery is improving in Neah Bay.
“It has slowly picked up,” Joey Lawrence of Big Salmon Resort (360-645-2374) in Neah Bay said.
“There’s good fishing out here right now.”
Lawrence said many anglers are catching a few wild king salmon before catching a hatchery fish they are allowed to keep.
He also said that despite the favorable fishing conditions, not many anglers are out on the water.
So, those that are out don’t have to go far to catch the kings.
Sekiu derby
Sequim’s Rob Schmidt took third place in the Sekiu Halibut Derby with a catch that weighed 40.5 pounds.
Kingston’s Chad Walgren won the derby Saturday with a 50.5-pound halibut.
Tony Day of Spokane was the runner-up with a 42.25-pounder.
The biggest sea bass prize was taken by Jeff Sinchak of Oak Harbor.
Volunteer training
Clallam County’s volunteer stream monitoring program, Streamkeepers, will hold another training session for new volunteers Saturday, June 30.
The recruits will join existing stream teams in performing quarterly stream monitoring on streams throughout Clallam County.
Monitoring functions include collecting stream health data, performing data entry and analysis and conducting education and outreach.
No prior experience is necessary to be a volunteer.
Bring boots or waders if you have them.
To register or inquire, call Streamkeepers at 360-417-2281 or email streamkeepers@co.clallam.wa.us.
River fishing class
Part two of Menkal’s free river fishing class will be Tuesday at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More at 542 W. Washington St. in Sequim.
I attended part one this past Tuesday, and Menkal provided over two hours of valuable advice, including what to use and where to go.
The second session will consist of a review of part one, tips on landing a fish and gear to use.
The class begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m.
Bring a pen, chair and notepad.
For more details, call Menkal at 360-683-1950.
Swain’s demo day
Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles will have in-store demonstrations from five different groups Saturday.
Camp Chef and Smoke House will be there to do outdoor cooking and barbecuing demos.
Nikon will do a presentation on scopes and binoculars and Scotty will demo its downriggers.
Ken Pinnell, owner of Qcove, will also be there to talk about Break-A-Way Flashers.
The demonstrations will happen between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Elwha volunteers
Olympic National Park is looking for volunteers willing to get their hands dirty for the Elwha River Restoration Revegetation Project.
The volunteers will assist with native seed collection, growing and caring for native plants at the park’s nursery, and replanting former Lake Mills.
Much of the work will take place at the Matt Albright Native Plant Center, located east of Port Angeles in Robin Hill Farm County Park.
Regular volunteer drop-in days at the nursery are Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information about volunteer opportunities with the Elwha River Restoration Revegetation Project, contact Jill Zarzeczny at 360-565-3047 or Jill_Zarzeczny@nps.gov.
To learn more about the Elwha River Restoration Project, visit the park’s website at http://tinyurl.com/elwhaecosystem.
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.
