OUTDOORS: Pedal power in Port Angeles as NW Cup returns; shrimping Saturday and more

HUNDREDS OF DOWNHILL mountain bike racers from around the United States and Canada will spend this weekend in Port Angeles for the second race of the eight-round NW Cup Series.

The Dry Hill Bike Park west of town will be the locus of activity for the three-day event, which includes practices today and Saturday, and time-trial racing from 10 a.m. to around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Race organizer Casey Northern said the NW Cup’s first stop in Port Angeles drew high numbers of North Olympic Peninsula-based riders.

“The last event featured the highest local attendance we’ve ever had,” Northern said. “Out of 507 racers, 30 were locals.”

Northern said between 400 and 500 racers are expected again this weekend.

He said area fans can cheer for Port Angeles’ Matt Mangano, age 14, who finished second in the 46-rider 15-18 Category 2 Class in April, despite not turning 15 until August.

Northern’s son, Ezra, also will be making his debut in the Junior Experts 18 and Under Class, his first race in that elite amateur division.

The Premier (professional Class and the Junior Experts will close out the day of individual time trials down the twisting, turning Dry Hill trails.

Parking is at a premium on Dry Hill, so spectators will need to take a free shuttle bus up to the race course.

Northern said shuttle-bus service will run every 15 minutes from The Lower Elwha Food and Fuel convenience store, corner of Dry Creek Road and U.S. Highway 101, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The races are free to attend.

Northern said a food vendor from the Cedars at Dungeness will serve up offerings and coffee will be available from Gypsy Java.

“This is the 11th year of holding the NW Cup and Dry Hill Bike Park is the birthplace of it all,” Northern said.

Northern said he and race organizers take pride in putting on the events and seeing Port Angeles’ motels and restaurants swell with incoming racers, fans and support team members.

This is the final stop of the 2018 NW Cup Series in Port Angeles this year, but Northern said mountain biking enthusiasts should look forward to some upcoming events at Dry Hill this summer.

For more information, visit www.nwcup.com.

Save the date

The annual Kids’ Fishing Day in Sequim will be held at the Carrie Blake Reclamation Pond from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19.

The event is for ages 14 and younger and no fishing license is required.

A special pond for lil’ anglers ages 4 and younger will be offered.

All gear and bait is provided, or anglers can bring their own.

Each child can keep two fish.

Members of the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers will be on hand to provide assistance, and cleaning, bagging and icing of fish is included.

Enjoy.

The event is sponsored by Puget Sound Anglers, City of Sequim and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Special hunt permits

Hunters have through May 23 to apply for special hunting permits for fall deer, elk, mountain goat, moose, bighorn sheep and turkey seasons.

Permit winners will be selected through a random drawing conducted by Fish and Wildlife in June. Special permits qualify hunters to hunt at times and places beyond those authorized by a general hunting license.

To apply for a special permit, hunters planning to hunt for deer or elk must purchase an application and hunting license for those species and submit the application with their preferred hunt choices.

Applications and licenses are available from license vendors statewide or fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov Applications must be submitted on the website or by calling 1-877-945-3492 toll-free.

Instructions and details on applying for special permit hunts are described on pages 12-13 of Washington’s 2018 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations pamphlet, available at Fish and Wildlife offices, license vendors and online at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations.

Additional information is available at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/permits/faq.html.

Spot shrimp Saturday

Saturday is the opening day of spot shrimp season in the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Hood Canal and Puget Sound.

Recreational shrimp season opening days and seasons for the North Olympic Peninsula are:

• Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5 (Sekiu) and 6 (eastern Strait, excluding the Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open daily beginning May 5. The recreational spot shrimp season closes when the quota is attained or Sept. 15, whichever comes first.

• Marine Area 6 (Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 5, 9, 12 and 23.

• Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet): Open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on May 5, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 9.

• Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal Shrimp District): Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 5, 9, 12 and 23.

Additional dates and times will be announced if sufficient quota remains after the initial fishing days.

In all areas of Puget Sound, anglers are limited to 80 shrimp a day (if open) during the month of May. A valid 2018-19 combination license, shellfish license, or Fish Washington license is required to participate in the fishery.

More information on sport shrimp seasons, and a description of the marine areas, is available on WDFW’s recreational shrimp fishing website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/shrimp/.

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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.