ENCOUNTERS RULE THE state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s management of river and saltwater fisheries.
Verifying encounters, the retention or release of fish, and catch numbers is an inexact science in fisheries management, and the methods used to collect data by Fish and Wildlife take time to interpret.
This happened during the chinook season last August west of the Bonilla-Tattoosh line in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) when the state first cut the daily chinook limit from two to one, then closed the fishery for two weeks before finally reopening it for one last weekend of fishing.
A similar scenario has played out with the winter blackmouth fishery in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), which will reopen for a week of hatchery chinook fishing Saturday through Friday, March 12-18.
The season was scheduled to run through April 10, but came to a premature end Feb. 22.
Encounters with undersized, shaker chinook were the primary culprit behind the closure.
But Fish and Wildlife went over its collected data and found that anglers had reached 90 percent of the 2,586-encounter limit, and enough encounters remain for an additional seven-day fishery while still meeting conservation objectives.
While not an optimal outcome, this move does allow for more fishing opportunities for anglers in Port Angeles, Sequim and surrounding areas.
The daily catch limit for salmon during the March 12-18 opening is one hatchery chinook, with a two-salmon limit.
Leland worth effort
Ward Norden, owner of Snapper Tackle Company and a former fishery biologist who lives in Quilcene, had some information on trout fishing in Lake Leland.
“Lake Leland water temperature is still a little below 40 degrees, so the trout bite remains sluggish,” Norden said.
“But the ones that are caught are excellent sized — one making a fine dinner for two people.
“The first big trout plant will happen soon, so when the water temperatures rise, fishing will pick up rapidly.”
Razor clam digs
A four-day razor clam dig starting Saturday at Mocrocks, and an extended opening through March 31 at Long Beach, were recently approved by state shellfish managers.
The Mocrocks digs are scheduled on the following dates and low tides:
■ Saturday: 3:53 p.m., 0.3 feet.
■ Sunday: 4:40 p.m., -0.2 feet.
■ Monday: 5:23 p.m., -0.5 feet.
■ Tuesday: 6:05 p.m., -0.6 feet.
Long Beach is open on evening tides through March 10 and again March 15-23, and will be open on morning tides March 11-14 and March 24-31.
Shellfish managers also announced a tentative schedule of digs through March at Copalis and Mocrocks beaches, provided that marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.
A full list of low tides in March is posted at tinyurl.com/PDN-Razors16.
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.
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2014-15 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.
Licenses can be purchased from fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and from license vendors around the state.
Forks steelhead meeting
The city of Forks will host a community discussion Thursday on the importance of steelhead to the West End.
The meeting will be held at the Rainforest Arts Center, 35 N. Forks Ave.
Doors open at 2:30 p.m., and the event starts at 3 p.m.
Anglers, guides, business owners and interested citizens all are invited to discuss the importance of wild and hatchery steelhead to the community.
Comments will be provided by the city of Forks, Quileute Natural Resources, Hoh Natural Resources and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Attendees will then discuss the role steelhead play in the region and work in small groups to understand the current status of steelhead and how to address gaps in information.
For more information, phone Forks city attorney/planner Rod Fleck at 360-374-5412.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
