In time for the weekend bite, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced a Saturday opener for coastal recreational bottomfish and lingcod fishing with expanded angling opportunities.
Progress in rebuilding yelloweye rockfish stocks yielded a larger 2021 allowable harvest target for the species along the coast from The Pacific Fishery Management Council, more than double the 2018 limit.
“By building on changes that were implemented in 2019 and 2020, we are able to provide more opportunity for anglers in new areas, while continuing to protect yelloweye rockfish populations,” said Heather Hall, Fish and Wildlife’s intergovernmental fisheries policy coordinator.
The improved health of the yelloweye rockfish stock will translate to more opportunities this summer.
The 120-foot (20-fathom) depth restriction in Marine Areas 3 [La Push] and 4 [Neah Bay] will only be in place from June 1 through July 31 compared to June 1 through Labor Day last year.
Anglers also can retain more rockfish species seaward of the 120-foot (20-fathom) depth restriction on days open to the recreational halibut fishery in those areas.
During the coastal bottomfish season, anglers in Marine Areas 1 through 4: will be allowed five flatfish (dabs, sole and flounders but not halibut) in excess of the nine fish daily limit in all coastal marine areas west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line.
The five flatfish do not count toward the daily bottomfish limit.
In Marine Area 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), yellowtail and widow rockfish retention will be allowed seaward of the 120-foot depth restriction in July and August.
Off La Push and Neah Bay west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, the 20-fathom depth restriction will be in effect beginning June 1 through July 31. Yellowtail and widow rockfish retention will be allowed seaward of 120 feet in July.
The retention of the following species is allowed seaward of 120 feet on days open to the recreational halibut fishery: Pacific cod, sablefish, lingcod, bocaccio rockfish, silvergray rockfish, canary rockfish, widow rockfish and yellowtail rockfish.
Three public meetings held in 2020 were used to draft the recommendations for this season, and Hall said that this input has been a crucial part of developing bottomfish regulations for the next few years.
Always check the regulations before heading out at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations.
Trout plantings begin
The pandemic will push the annual Kids Fishing Day in Sequim to 2022. But the North Olympic chapter of Puget Sound Anglers is still working with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to plant trout in the Carrie Blake Park pond.
Trout plants of “some really nice trout” started earlier this week and will continue through April 19.
Plants will resume in the fall after the end of warm weather.
Fishing is limited to those 14 and younger.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-406-0674 or mcarman@peninsuladaily news.com.
