MOTHER NATURE PUT on a fireworks show last week that caused many throughout the North Olympic Peninsula to go to work Friday tired and grumpy.
It was nice in a strange way. For one day, we all had something in common — complaints about how the thunder and lightning ruined a tiny portion of our lives.
Thankfully, the lights and sounds didn’t seem to affect fishing results.
If they were scared, they sought comfort in a hook and bait.
Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said a few of his buddies had some nice results Friday morning.
“They actually caught a lot of fish,” he said.
These “braves souls,” as Aunspach called them, were out on the water when the morning storm was raging all around them.
“They said it was quite a show,” Aunspach said.
Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods (360-374-6330) in Forks, a part of the Peninsula that missed out on the storms, said the lightning and thunder’s impact on the fish should be minimal.
But save yourself.
“The guy standing up in the front of the boat . . . It will affect him,” Gooding said.
Even though thunder and lightning don’t stop the harvest, Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim wonders if going out in those conditions is worth the risk.
“I heard some guys were going out during the storm,” Menkal said. “I thought that was foolish.
“It’s usually not the best idea, going out [in a lightning storm] in an aluminum boat, holding a graphite rod up in the air.
“But there’s still fish out there. It’s not like they’re going to stop feeding.”
One king per throne
It was a classic case of too much of a good thing on the saltwater near Neah Bay.
Starting earlier this week, anglers in Marine Area 4 are limited to taking home one chinook salmon because too many were being caught.
“The fishery in Marine Area 4 got off to such a hot start that more than a third of the chinook harvest guideline for the area already has been taken,” salmon policy coordinator Pat Pattillo said in a statement from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“After consulting with our coastal community advisors, we decided to make this change now to try to stay within the chinook guideline and allow for a full season of fishing.”
The state reports that by July 8, anglers had taken 1,492 kings off Neah Bay.
The chinook harvest guideline for the area is 4,700.
Aunspach said the regulation is nothing new for Marine Area 4.
“It’s real common,” he said. “They always shut them down to one about this time of year.”
Though anglers are limited to one chinook per day, the daily combined salmon catch limit remains two.
So, anglers are going to have to settle for the silver-medal silvers.
The ocean salmon fishery is open seven days a week in Marine Area 4. Barring more changes, it will continue through Sept. 23.
Chimacum derby
The third annual Chimacum Alumni Association Salmon Derby will take place Saturday and Sunday in Marine Area 9.
First, the important information. The winner will take home $1,000, the runner-up wins $500, and third place and mystery weight finishers will get $250.
Prizes for places five through 10 will be donated by local businesses.
For children 14 and younger, first place wins $100 and second and third place will be rewarded with new bicycles.
The fishing times are dawn to 3 p.m. on Saturday and dawn to noon Sunday.
Weigh-in locations are Port Hadlock Marina and The Fishin’ Hole at Port Townsend Fuel Dock, 199 Benedict St., in Port Townsend’s Boat Haven.
The awards ceremony will be held at the Port Hadlock Marina at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Winners do not need to be present to win, but anglers must have a ticket to participate in the derby and be eligible for the prizes.
Tickets are $25 per adult, and free for kids (14 and younger). Proceeds benefit scholarships provided by the Chimacum Alumni Association.
Tickets can be purchased from the following businesses:
■ In Port Townsend — Four Corners Store in Discovery Bay, Westside Marine, The Fishin’ Hole at Port Townsend Fuel Dock and LPL Financial Services/Rich Gastfield.
■ In Port Ludlow — Eldridge Home Inc.
■ In Port Hadlock — Hadlock Building Supply/Just Ask Rental.
Suggested boat launches are Lower Port Hadlock Boat Launch, Fort Flagler State Park, Port of Port Townsend Marina, Mats Mats Bay and Port Ludlow.
For more information, phone Billy Eldridge at 360-821-1007.
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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.
