ANGLERS ARE MAKING steady progress on chinook guidelines off Neah Bay, Sekiu and Port Angeles, and if catch rates stay where they are, wild and hatchery kings will be available to be targeted through the end of the month.
A total of 1,394 anglers participated in the all-species salmon fishery on July 4-6, landing 992 chinook and 126 coho. Through July 6, 4,171 chinook (33 percent of the area guideline) and 126 coho (1 percent of the area quota) have been landed.
A Neah Bay salmon report was provided by Michael Lawrence of Big Salmon Fishing Resort, 360-645-2374.
“Swift[sure] has tons of fish and later into the day the kings get bigger and better,” Lawrence said. “Green Can has been a slow week of it since the Fourth of July, but seems to be the pattern and I bet it will heat up in the coming days.
“Waadah [Island] to Kutlah [Point] has been on and off, but has the best grade of fish that I’ve seen and heard.
“Slant Rock to Mushroom [Rock] has been good for most as well. Ranging from 80-180 feet of water and playing around the bottom is what I hear, and when we caught them there, we were in 85 feet and down 75 on the rigger.”
Lawrence said Makah Bay has been slow, and Father N Son to Umatilla Rock had been slow but warmed considerably Thursday.
“The match was sparked off and I’ve gotten some beautiful fish pics from down there, and the grade looks better then last week’s,” Lawrence said.
“Bluedot has been untouched and should have some dandy kings swimming around out there.
“Sharkfin was good for some commercial guys, and I have yet to get a report from here, but I do know they had a big average for trolling, so for all you hog hunters, this would be a good spot.
“SE prairie has the biggest grade of all though from one of my commercial guys, and the best grade of nice red meaters all came from out here.”
Lawrence advises that this is deep-water fishing.
“So try the plug or even a big spoon,” Lawrence said.
Marine Area 5
Sekiu anglers have hit 20 percent of the total legal encounters for the area as of July 6.
Marine Area 6
Port Angeles anglers have reached 24 percent of the total legal encounters for Marine Area 6.
Added halibut dates
Halibut will reopen seven days a week beginning Aug. 16 in Marine Areas 5-10 (Seattle-Bremerton Area).
Neah Bay and La Push also will open daily from Aug. 16 through Sept. 30.
“The fishery caught about 70 percent of the quota through June 30, which is a little behind where we were at this time last year,” said Corey Niles, Fish and Wildlife’s intergovernmental ocean policy lead.
“Last year, there was quota remaining after the August and September openings, so we are opening the late season opportunity a week earlier in some areas this year.”
The 2025 recreational season is based on a statewide quota of 284,042 pounds.
Avoid ferry terminals
It only took annual damage from crabbing gear to multiple state ferries to get a permanent rule change banning crabbing or shrimping from a vessel near a state ferry terminal.
The new rule provides a rectangular-shaped closure area beginning at the end of a state ferry terminal that extends 100 yards to either side of the terminal and 400 yards in a straight line into the water from the end of the terminal, except the Coupeville closure area, which extends a total of 800 yards out from the end of the terminal.
Ferries are particularly susceptible to damage caused by these fishing gear types when approaching and departing their terminals. These closures prohibit fishing activities (including both recreational and commercial crab and shrimp pot gear and commercial purse seine and gillnet gear).
There are 19 ferry terminals in Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands managed by the state Department of Transportation.
There was no mention of the MV Coho ferry terminal in Port Angeles, but use the same common sense and don’t drop near the ferry landing.
Hatchery & Wild
Don New, the managing director of Hatchery & Wild Coexist, will speak to the North Olympic Peninsula chapter of Puget Sound Anglers on Wednesday.
The event will be held at the Sequim Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting at 7 p.m.
New’s talk will cover the group’s background since it was founded in 2021, their work to highlight the importance of hatcheries, the role they play in wild fish recovery and ultimately how they can provide for both wild fish and abundant fisheries.
New has experience as a leader in marketing communications, has run multiple marketing firms, serving clients from Sports Illustrated to Intel, and has given back as a board member at organizations that include Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Coastal Conservation Association Oregon and CCA National, in addition to his role at Hatchery & Wild Coexist.
Following the presentation will be a short business meeting, fishing reports and then raffle drawings.
Raffles are for members only, but the public can join to participate.
An annual individual membership is $25, and a family membership is $35.
Membership also includes a monthly subscription to the Reel News.
Sockeye volunteers
The Makah Tribe and Olympic National Park are seeking volunteers for a salmon habitat project at Lake Ozette from Wednesday through Friday. The work includes vegetation removal from part of the shoreline to improve habitat for sockeye.
To volunteer, email jonathan.scordino@makah.com.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladaily news.com.
