STRAIT BLACKMOUTH ANGLERS are a victim of lost opportunity once again as the lone remaining winter/spring saltwater salmon fishery off the North Olympic Peninsula in Marine Area 5 will close Saturday instead of continuing through April 30 as scheduled.
A casualty of angler success, Marine Area 5’s closure is based on a likelihood that current catch totals have exceeded preseason Fishery Regulation Assessment Model projected catch.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said high effort and high catch per angler have led to higher than predicted harvest in the month of March.
“Due to ongoing concerns for numerous Puget Sound salmon stocks, we need to take a conservation-minded approach to continue responsibly managing this fishery,” said Kirsten Simonsen, Puget Sound recreational salmon biologist.
One would think the total closure of Marine Area 6 and Marine Area 9 to blackmouth fishing this winter and spring would help alleviate at least some of those conservation concerns.
Or the fact that halibut season opened Thursday in Marine areas 6-10 and the lure of catching a flatfish has become paramount to some anglers.
And Sekiu doesn’t open to lingcod, cabezone and bottomfish until May 1 or halibut until May 5, so it wasn’t going to be attracting a ton of anglers hoping to double up and get salmon and halibut limits during a fishing trip.
Weather workshop
A marine weather workshop for those interested in learning how to read the weather before heading out on the water will be held at the Port Angeles Yacht Club, 1305 Marine Drive, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 30.
The workshop is sponsored by Washington Sea Grant, the Port Angeles Yacht Club and the Port of Port Angeles.
Topic to be covered include atmospheric pressure and wind, coastal winds, daily briefings, fog, getting current weather reports along with reading charts and models, global winds and waves.
The cost is $30 and registration is required at https://bit.ly/wsg-weather-22-04-30.
For more information, call Sarah Fisken at 206-543-1225 or email sfisken@uw.edu.
Lakes planted
Some Jefferson County lakes have been stocked in the last few weeks.
Tarboo and Silent lakes received 1,800 and 800 smaller rainbow trout, respectively.
Teal (340) and Gibbs (700) were stocked with larger rainbows.
Send in halibut pics
Halibut season opened Thursday off Port Angeles and Port Townsend.
If you found opening day success or hook into a good one, send a picture and some details along to sports@peninsuladailynews.com
