THE CAT FOOD worked.
More than 2 million pounds of Dungeness crab were caught during the summer season according to statistics compiled by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Cat food is a stinky but viable option to attract limits of Dungeness crab.
That number is down slightly from the record-setting crab hauls of 2014 (2.4 million) and 2015 (2.7 million).
“It was a pretty good summer, with more than 2 million pounds of crab caught, and that is about the same as last year’s record-setting summer,” Rich Childers, the state Fish and Wildlife shellfish manager told the Seattle Times.
Over the summer, 2,186,210 pounds were caught by crabbers from the western edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca into south Puget Sound.
Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) accounted for 196,984 pounds of the total to lead the North Olympic Peninsula.
The Hood Canal (Marine Area 12) produced 174,075 pounds of crab and crabbers in Admiralty Inlet (Marine Area 9) trapped 157,900 pounds.
Out west, Marine Areas 4 and 5 accounted for a catch total of just 6,111 pounds of Dungeness crab. But crabbers in those areas were hampered by short salmon seasons — making it tougher to double up and catch limits.
Anglers to meet
Excel Fishing Charters captain Tom Burlingame will speak at tonight’s meeting of the Puget Sound Anglers’ North Olympic Peninsula Chapter meeting in Sequim.
The event will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave..
Burlingame will discuss how to fish for rockfish and lingcod in the waters near Neah Bay.
He will cover techniques, areas best to fish, gear to use and the use of descending devices. He also will touch a little on deep water lingcod fishing.
The chapter described him as “a longtime supporter of the club and one of the best charter captains around.”
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. for viewing of the raffle prizes and fish stories.
A short club business meeting begins at 7 p.m. and Burlingame’s talk will follow.
Refreshments will be served, a raffle is planned, as well as a $50 membership drawing.
The public is welcome to attend.
Winterfest tickets
Chilly weather Tuesday dumped snow on Hurricane Ridge, stoking alpine-related thoughts for the ski and snowboard set.
In that vein, tickets are on sale for Saturday’s Winterfest, an annual fundraiser featuring dinner and short films that supports winter sports at Hurricane Ridge.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. and Winterfest will begin at 6 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St.
Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. Admission is $25 for children 12 and younger.
Contributions support improvements to the ski area and scholarships for underprivileged children in the community who would like to learn how to ski, snowboard or participate on ski team.
A prime rib dinner catered by Next Door Gastropub will be served.
In addition, live and silent auctions, live music by Bill and Rudy, and a series of short films featuring local skiers and snowboarders ripping it up at Hurricane Ridge are planned for the evening organized by the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation.
The top films from the VideOlympics, a Port Angeles film festival will be shown.
Individual tickets can be purchased at these Port Angeles outlets — Swain’s General Store, 602 E. First St.; Necessities &Temptations gift shop, 217 N. Laurel St.; Brown’s Outdoor, 112 W. Front St. — as well as at Brian’s Sporting Goods, 609 W. Washington St., Sequim.
Dig in tonight
Have a Thanksgiving recipe that absolutely requires fresh razor clams? Then you are in luck as fishery managers have approved three days of razor clam digging beginning today at three Pacific Coast beaches.
Fish and Wildlife approved the opening at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks after marine toxin tests confirmed the clams on those beaches are safe to eat.
“Diggers will find plenty of nice razor clams just waiting for the frying pan or to use as an addition to their Thanksgiving feast,” coastal shellfish manager Dan Ayres said.
The upcoming dig is approved on the following beaches, dates and evening low tides:
• Today 8:37 p.m.: -1.3 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• Friday, 9:28 p.m.: -0.8 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
• Saturday, 10:22 p.m.: -0.1 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
Under state law, diggers can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
