OLYMPIA — Marine Area 4, the western Strait of Juan de Fuca and open ocean area around Neah Bay, will reopen to saltwater fishing on Saturday, though access from Neah Bay is still closed to the general non-tribal public because the Makah Reservation remains closed to visitors due to the COVID-19 virus.
However, anglers can launch from other nearby areas such as Sekiu if they want to fish in Marine Area 4. The area will reopen to both bottomfish and shellfish, including mussels, clams and oysters. Crabbing will also reopen west on the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, which runs from the Tatoosh Island Lighthouse north to Bonilla Point on Vancouver Island, but will remain closed east of that line.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also announced this year’s summer ocean salmon fishing seasons, which will kick off June 20 in all four coastal marine areas, and proposed dates for ocean halibut fishing beginning in August.
The Makah Reservation, including marinas and all services, remains closed to visitors until at least June 30. Neah Bay on the Makah Reservation represents the primary direct boat access in Marine Area 4. Anglers fishing in Marine Area 4 will still have to follow all rules and regulations for that area, regardless of where they return with their catch.
“Anglers fishing in Marine Area 4 but returning to other coastal ports will need to make sure that they’re sticking to limits and following the rules for that area,” said Larry Phillips, coastal region director with WDFW. “That means they can’t get their limit in Marine Area 4, then head over to Marine Area 5 and continue fishing. These rules are necessary to respect local communities’ wishes and help keep people safe, while also supporting conservation and management objectives.”
La Push, located on the Quileute Reservation to the south, also remains closed to the public.
Anglers will need to continue following other state guidelines by staying close to home, traveling only with family or other members of their immediate household. Anglers should also be sure to check ahead of time if their preferred fishing destination or launch area is open as many launches and beaches are managed under local, tribal, or federal jurisdiction and may not be operating normally.
Summer salmon
With Marine Area 4 reopening, sport anglers will also have the opportunity to reel in salmon off Washington’s coast starting Saturday. That’s when all four marine areas open daily to fishing for Chinook salmon, said Wendy Beeghley, fisheries manager with the WDFW.
The ocean season will begin with a Chinook-only fishery with a one-salmon daily limit for all areas June 20-28. Coho may not be retained during this period. Beginning on June 29, daily limits increase to two salmon per angler in all areas, and unmarked coho must be released. In areas 1 and 2, only one of those two salmon may be a Chinook. Also beginning June 29, Marine Area 2 (central Washington coast) will be open Sundays through Thursdays, and closed Fridays and Saturdays. Areas 1, 3 and 4 will remain open 7 days per week.
Willapa Bay (Area 2-1) and the portion of Grays Harbor (Area 2-2) west of the Buoy 13 line also open June 20 under the same rules as Area 2. Regulations for Areas 2-1 and 2-2 change in August, and details are listed in the Sport Fishing Rules Pamphlet. The 2020-21 edition of the pamphlet will be available in late June.
The recreational catch quotas for 2020 are 26,360 Chinook and 26,500 marked coho. The Chinook quota is up slightly from 2019, but the coho quota is substantially lower than 2019.
All four marine areas are scheduled to close Sept. 30, but Beeghley noted that areas could close earlier if the quota is met.
Throughout the summer, anglers can check WDFW’s webpage at www.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/creel/ocean for updates.
Coastal halibut fishing
Coastal halibut fishing remains closed for now, but WDFW has been working with stakeholders all spring to discuss options for possibly reopening ocean halibut fishing in August.
“While we realize August is still a ways out, we also want to be open with anglers who we know are eager to plan halibut trips this summer,” said Heather Hall, WDFW’s intergovernmental ocean policy coordinator. “We’ve worked hard to develop an approach that will help maximize anglers’ time on the water, bring that economic value back, and continue to keep everyone safe.”
Hall added that the delayed fishery may benefit halibut anglers and their families since ocean conditions should be better in August than when the fishery usually opens in May.
WDFW is proposing coastal halibut fishing for the following dates and areas:
North Coast (Marine Areas 3 and 4): Aug. 6 opening. The fishery in this area would be open three days per week, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Aug. 6 through Sept. 30 or until the quota is taken.
South Coast (Marine Areas 1 and 2): Aug. 6 opening. Beginning Aug. 13, open two days per week, Thursdays and Sundays, through Sept. 30 or until the quota is taken. If catch and effort is tracking slower than anticipated, additional days may be added. Proposed additional dates are Friday, Aug. 28; Friday, Sept. 4; and Friday, Sept. 11.
