AN OLD-FASHIONED signature drive appears to have kick-started a likely rule change to allow flatfish fishing in the northern stretches of Hood Canal.
Last year, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation District 2 (Brinnon Parks and Recreation) gathered more than 1,000 signatures in a bid to expand fishing opportunities in the healthier section of the canal.
The list of names was presented to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, and after a underwater reconnaissance of the area, the state put forth a proposal to allow fishing for numerous species of flatfish, but not halibut, in waters shallower than 120 feet in Quilcene and Dabob bays, north of a line stretching east from Point Whitney to the Toandos Peninsula.
Fishing for a variety of species, including flatfish, has been closed in Hood Canal since 2004 to provide additional protection for fish populations that are susceptible to low-dissolved oxygen events, said Craig Burley, manager of Fish and Wildlife’s fish management division.
These low-dissolved oxygen events typically occur during the summer months when the warmer, calmer weather fails to provide storms with enough wind and wave action to mix up the Canal’s water column.
This leads to hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, and can cause death for fish and marine animals.
A public meeting to discuss the proposal was held in Port Townsend last Thursday.
Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist who lives in Quilcene, attended the meeting.
“They discovered three weeks ago, by using their remote operated vehicle [and] photographing the bottom all the way from 10 to 600 feet, that there are five to 70 times as many flounder in the north Canal as seen anywhere else in north or south [Puget] Sound,” Norden said.
“That is an incredibly abundant resource unaffected by problems farther south in the Canal.”
Norden noted that those present at the meeting were on board with the proposal, and that it will likely meet approval for the 2015-16 fishing season.
“It became quickly clear that the ‘experts’ and the public recognize this is a ‘kids and dock’ fishery, and there are neither in the fishing area,” Norden said.
“All the docks and kids are south of Point Whitney to Pleasant Harbor, including the primary user group, [Boy Scout] Camp Parsons, where 600-plus kids come every week all summer needing to fish off their dock to get merit badges.”
Norden left the meeting feeling that the boundaries will likely expand to include Pleasant Harbor.
He said he suggested reopening the squid harvest if Pleasant Harbor is added since it has a public pier on what he described as “an extraordinary squid fishing spot.”
“It was nice to observe that both the department and the public there were focused on making something available for kids in particular,” Norden said.
Comments on the proposal are accepted through Wednesday at tinyurl.com/PDN-Flatfish.
Coast cleanup
Online registration is open for the 2015 Washington Coast Cleanup, set to take place April 25 on more than 50 beaches from Cape Disappointment to Fort Worden.
Volunteers can sign up at tinyurl.com/PDN-coastsavers.
The annual cleanup is organized by Washington CoastSavers.
Last year, volunteers removed more than 2,900 pounds of debris and garbage from the state’s ocean beaches and some along the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Since the cleanup began in 2000, volunteers have helped remove more than 320 tons of marine trash.
The CoastSavers is a coalition of almost 30 organizations, government agencies and corporations that support the cleanup with manpower, supplies, organizational assistance and financial aid.
Rhody Run registration
Individual and team registration for Rhody Run XXXVII, set for Sunday, May 17 in Port Townsend, is underway at www.rhodyrun.com.
Adults are $35, while runners and walkers 15 and younger are $15.
Training for the 7.46-mile run/walk is held at Fort Worden State Park at 7:30 a.m. each Sunday until the race.
Derby tickets
Anglers can pick up a $40 Port Angeles Salmon Club Halibut Derby ticket at three North Olympic Peninsula locations.
These outlets are Swain’s General Store and Jerry’s Bait & Tackle in Port Angeles, and Brian’s Sporting Goods and More in Sequim.
Fishing will be contained in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), from Low Point to the west and the Dungeness Spit to the east.
Fishing hours are daylight to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 23, and daylight to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24.
A total of $20,000 in cash prizes will be up for grabs, including $5,000 for the winner.
Anglers can launch their boats for free thanks to the Port of Port Angeles.
The weigh-in will be held at the West Boat Haven ramp and docks, and all fish must be brought in by water.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
