HATCHERY CHINOOK HAVE shown up in strength off Sekiu, but will anglers have a shot at some silvers in the Strait of Juan de Fuca later this year?
That’s what the final rounds of North of Falcon meetings, going on this week at the state level and wrapping up Friday through Wednesday at the final Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting, are trying to answer.
Brandon Mason, owner of Mason’s Olson Resort in Sekiu (360-963-2311), attended Wednesday’s North of Falcon meeting in Lynnwood, which provided an update on negotiations between the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and treaty tribe co-managers.
Mason, reached while in another fisheries meeting Wednesday, was tight-lipped on the status of potential recreational salmon fishing opportunities, but said readers should be ready to find out Strait of Juan de Fuca seasons by next week.
“It’s still up in the air on a lot of things,” Mason said.
“I don’t really have much to say on that end, yet.”
Coho fishing options exist in modeled saltwater fisheries presented by the state, according to a preliminary report by Northwest Sportsman Magazine.
An improvement
That of itself is an improvement over last year’s back-and-forth
That report states, “Areas 5, 6, 10 and 13 are modeled as open for hatchery coho, while wild and clipped silvers could be fishable in Areas 11 and 12.”
Drastically low forecasted return of coho to the Stillaguamish and Skagit rivers might have a big impact on Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet).
Fish and Wildlife is looking at closing neighboring Marine Areas 8-1 (Deception Pass) and 8-2 (Port Susan/Port Gardner) through October to help coho and restricting Marine Area 9 to a shore-only silver fishery in September.
Get ready for combat fishing conditions at Marrowstone Point and Point Wilson if that proposal comes to pass.
And don’t expect to catch many fish, as Fish and Wildlife estimated catch totals would hit only about 5 percent of normal in Marine Area 9.
Any further reduction is another difficult blow for salmon fisheries in Marine Area 9. The blackmouth season was limited this winter and the summer chinook fishery is typically a “blink and you miss it” event due to angler pressure and limited fish encounter quotas.
The report also pegged hatchery chinook in all or parts of July and August in Marine Areas 5-7, 9-11, 12 south of Point Ayock, and 13.
An any-silver fishery would be held on the Quilcene River as well, according to the report.
Sekiu salmon boom
Mason said the blackmouth fishing has been vastly improved over the past few years.
“We’re just slaying ’em out here in Sekiu,” he said.
“Chinook are moving with the tide, therefore, both Slip Point and the Caves [Preacher’s House] areas are producing well.”
The size of the fish heading back to the docks also is increasing as the blackmouth have had time to fatten up over the winter.
“We have had some nice fish coming in daily, 15 to 21-pound blackmouth,” Mason said.
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) has a two-hatchery chinook limit through April 30.
Mason said his resort has both the B and C Docks in for those needing moorage, and the F Dock is out for launching.
All sorts of setups will work ranging from traditional spoons like Silver Horde, white hoochies, whole and cut-plug herring and more.
Mix up the methods and enjoy.
Razor clam digs
Three more razor clam digs on evening tides are planned through Saturday at Twin Harbors, with one early morning dig set for that beach Sunday.
The razor clam digs, along with evening low tides and beaches, are listed below:
• Today: 3:06 p.m.; 0.5 feet; Twin Harbors.
• Friday: 4:08 p.m.; 0.4 feet; Twin Harbors.
• Saturday: 5:01 p.m.; 0.4 feet; Twin Harbors.
Morning tide
• Sunday: 6:25 a.m.; 0.5 feet; Twin Harbors.
Potential digs are slated next week at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks.
Fish and Wildlife managers are urging clam diggers to avoid disturbing snowy plovers and streaked horned larks. Both species nest in the soft, dry sand on the southern section of Twin Harbors beach and at Leadbetter Point on the Long Beach Peninsula. The snowy plover is a small bird with gray wings and a white breast. The lark is a small bird with a pale yellow breast and brown back. Male larks have a black mask, breast band and “horns.”
To protect these birds, the department asks that clam diggers avoid the dunes and areas of the beach with soft, dry sand.
________
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
