SEKIU’S HATCHERY BLACKMOUTH season will shutter early Saturday, the fishery a victim of its own success since Marine Area 5 opened April 1.
TodayFRIDAY, APRIL 19 is the final day of hatchery blackmouth chinook retention off Sekiu after the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced an early closure Thursday morning.
Estimates of landed catch to date indicate that anglers have reached 98 percent of the sublegal encounters (3,616 of 3,707) agreed to in this year’s List of Agreed Fisheries.
To meet conservation goals and avoid exceeding the fishery objectives, the final 10 days of the fishery will be shelved.
Anglers should note that this rule change has no impact on the ongoing halibut season in Marine Area 5.
Razor digs wrap April
A week-long series of razor clam digs on Pacific Ocean beaches Tuesday through April 29 has been approved by the state Department of Health.
On all open beaches, the daily limit is 15 clams per person. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition, to prevent waste.
• Tuesday: 6:58 am., 0.0 feet; Copalis.
• Wednesday: 7:30 am., -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Mocrocks
• Thursday: 8:03 a.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• April 26: 8:39 a.m., -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
• April 27: 9:19 a.m., -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis.
• April 28: 10:05 a.m., -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.
• April 29: 10:58 a.m., 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Mocrocks.
Tentative digs are also planned May 6-12 pending testing for marine toxins.
Kids’ Fishing in Sequim
The 23rd Kids’ Fishing Day is set Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Water Reuse Demonstration Pond on the north side of Carrie Blake Park.
All kids ages 14 and younger can fish accompanied by an adult. The fish limit is two. Worms and Power Bait will be available and a fish cleaning station will be provided.
Event sponsors include the North Olympic Peninsula chapter of Puget Sound Anglers, city of Sequim and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Free day in National Parks
A reminder that Saturday is a free entrance day for U.S. National Parks, including Olympic National Park. The free day commemorates the first day of National Park Week.
The next free entrance day is set for Juneteenth on June 19.
State parks free Monday
No Discover Pass is required to park a vehicle at state parks and lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife on Monday in observance of Earth Day.
The next free day is Juneteenth, June 19.
Send in fish pictures
Catch something interesting in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Salish Sea or Hood Canal?
Send in photos and stories to sports@peninsuladailynews.com. Please include first and last names and contact information.
