ANGLERS HAVE BEEN doing fairly well for winter blackmouth in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has noticed.
Anglers heading out of Ediz Hook have brought aboard as many as 44 chinook in one day (Jan. 29), with most days seeing good catch averages per angler.
Even those taking the long run out of the Port Townsend launch and heading over to Marine Area 6 have had success on its eastern side.
Effective Thursday, the daily limit for hatchery chinook salmon in Marine Area 6 will be reduced to one chinook, with an overall two-salmon limit. All coho and wild chinook must be released.
Before the salmon fishing season started, Fish and Wildlife and tribal co-managers agreed to a limited number (3,975) of “chinook encounters” — including both retained and released fish — that anglers will be allowed in Marine Area 6.
To stay within the agreed number of encounters, the department is modifying this fishery to increase the likelihood of providing season-long fisheries. Fish and Wildlife consulted with its Puget Sound sportfishing advisors in making this change.
Area 9 opening
Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) will open for hatchery chinook Thursday in a season planned to run through April 15.
The daily limit for hatchery chinook will be one chinook, with an overall two-salmon limit. All coho and wild chinook salmon must be released.
Fish and Wildlife collected test fishery data during January and February which indicates there are fewer shaker (sublegal-size) chinook present in these waters.
In addition, sufficient capacity exists to re-open the fishery within the guideline of 6,081 “chinook encounters” — including both retained and released fish — agreed to by the state and tribal co-managers before this year’s fishery began.
Delaying the opening to mid-February allowed Fish and Wildlife time to determine a reopening date that will give anglers opportunity later into the spring.
The department will continue to monitor the fishery and will work with sportfishing advisors to determine if any other modifications are necessary to achieve a maximum season in Marine Area 9.
Derby impact
These changes will have an impact on the annual Olympic Peninsula Salmon Derby, slated Friday through Sunday, Feb. 17-19.
Anglers will be able to fish out of Port Townsend and hit blackmouth spots in Marine Area 9.
With a one-fish limit in both areas, derby participants also will have to make some tough decisions on which fish they try to land on the leaderboard.
I would expect anglers who catch a hatchery chinook between 10-to-15 pounds to sit tight, keep that fish and wait and see what spot they hold.
Tickets ($42 plus any applicable service fee) are for sale online at gardinersalmonderby.org and are $40 at a host of retailers here on the North Olympic Peninsula and beyond.
But the ticket-buying deadline is Wednesday, so act fast.
The traditionally strong blackmouth chinook fishing grounds off nearby Protection Island usually produce the winner.
The nonprofit salmon derby generates funds to support emergency and other services that benefit the Gardiner community.
Anacortes’ Danny Davis claimed last year’s $10,000 grand prize with a 20.7-pound blackmouth chinook.
Anglers will be entered into a drawing for a fully equipped 22-foot Hewescraft aluminum boat with trailer — a prize worth more than $85,000.
Hunter education
A hunter education course will begin in Forks at the West End Sportsmen’s Club on Monday, March 6.
The course will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 6, 8, 13 and 15. The final test will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 18.
Students must attend all classes in order to receive the course certificate.
State law requires all first-time hunters born after Jan. 1, 1972 to successfully complete a hunter education course in order to purchase a hunting license.
Students will receive instruction in firearms safety, wildlife conservation and sportsmanship.
Courses are taught by volunteers who have been certified by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
A parent or guardian is required to attend the first night of class with their child and are encouraged to attend all classes.
Any child younger than 10 years of age will require a parent or guardian to attend all classes.
Students must preregister for the event. To do so, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-HunterEducation.
For more information, phone instructor Randy Mesenbrink at 360-374-5718.
A field test for online hunter education students will be held at the West End Sportsmen Club at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 25. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-SkillsTest.
Two more Forks-based field test opportunities will be held in June and September with specific dates announced later.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
