THE PLUG WAS pulled on the Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) hatchery chinook season with three days left on the board by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Based on current estimates, anglers were expected to reach the summer salmon fishery legal encounter fishery management criteria of 6,247 chinook salmon by the end of Tuesday.
While another disappointing blow to lose time on the water during the prime summer season, there is a silver lining: Marine Area 5 remains open for hatchery coho and pink salmon through Friday, except the Kydaka Point area, which is closed to salmon fishing during that time.
The change doesn’t impact Saturday’s switch to the planned coho and pink season beginning Saturday.
Before heading out to fish, check for any new emergency rule changes at https://tinyurl.com/PDN-WDFWRules25.
Salmon retention rules going forward in Marine Area 5 include no minimum size, a daily limit of two salmon, plus two additional pink may be retained. Release chinook, chum, sockeye and wild coho.
Quilcene’s Ward Norden said to prepare for even more pinks coming through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
“While chatting with Brandon Mason last week in Sekiu, he thought the pink run was almost over there,” Norden said. “I didn’t want to contradict, but he had only seen the first wave of pinks. That run will peak there next week.”
More on tuna
Norden answered a couple of questions I had for him concerning tuna fishing.
“The change in weather Thursday through early next week looks very promising,” Norden said.
He said that Monday’s north winds do little to bring the fish closer to shore, but some sustained southerlies will do the trick.
“North winds cause the upwelling of cold water inshore pushing the tuna farther out, but south winds move warmer water toward the beach,” Norden said. “A week of south winds bringing clouds inshore will bring the tuna within 5 miles or even closer of Tillamook Bay [Oregon] although they rarely get much closer than 30 miles from Westport due to the influence of Columbia River water.”
Norden said he even made a tuna hookup off of a jetty.
“I once hooked one on a Buzz Bomb casting off the Nehalem Bay, Ore., jetty on one very rare day 20-plus years ago,” Norden said.
“For tackle, the gear I have always used has always been a stout 7-foot rod with a nimble tip and a reel loaded with 20-pound monofilament or braided line although that it is lighter than most prefer.
“My favorite reels for the last 50-plus years have been a Penn 500 Jigmaster and/or a heavy-duty saltwater spinning reel. Both must be capable of holding at least 200 yards of 20-pound line and designed for casting various jigs.
“A short 6- to 12-inch wire leader is a good idea if fishing bait. Live bait is the ultimate with a minimal amount of sinker to be able to gently cast.
“Most trollers use sinking heavy feather-dressed jigs mostly in red/white, although I prefer green/yellow, and those can be used with a handline to attract a school for casting bait or lures into.”
You can even have a mini-Jaws experience.
“I have also caught many with 6-inch or larger minnow plugs,” Norden said. “When in albacore territory and you want a real experience, if a big blue shark or thresher shark is seen, snap on an 8-foot wire with halibut hook for casting a bait in front of it. Prepare for a thrill ride before releasing it.
Trails coalition meets
The Peninsula Trails Coalition will provide updates on the progress of the Olympic Discovery Trail on the West End at an open house from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 280 Spartan Ave.
Updates on the continuing development between Forks and La Push and the Forks extension will be discussed.
A special guest presentation highlighting regional efforts to connect the Olympic Discovery Trail to the broader Puget Sound trail network will be given by Steve Durrant, project director of The Puget Sound to Pacific Collaborative.
Following the open house, the coalition board will hold its regular August meeting. The public is welcome to attend.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@peninsuladaily news.com.
