BETTER WEATHER, BETTER success is the hope for anglers fishing for halibut along the Strait of Juan de Fuca today and Saturday.
Last Thursday’s opener effectively was a dud, with windy weather and choppy seas keeping catches low across the board.
Not much chatter about barn doors or slabs is forthcoming when anglers are spending time hanging on as swells rock their vessels.
Creel reports from Mason’s Olson’s Resort, Van Ripers’ and Curleys out in Sekiu showed 102 anglers brought in 11 halibut last Thursday.
Port Angeles was even bleaker as a total of 343 hardy souls reported a catch of 23 halibut at the Ediz Hook, Boat Haven and West boat ramps.
You get the picture.
Last Saturday’s catches improved, but only slightly, despite sunny weather and relatively calm conditions.
Checkers at Port Angeles’ three locations interacted with a total of 472 anglers with just 62 bringing back a ‘but.
Anglers at John Wayne Marina in Sequim fared even worse as 214 anglers reeled in 14 halibut.
With sun and warm temperatures in the mid-70s all over the forecast today and Saturday, anglers will at least catch some rays and maybe a tan if not some fodder for fish and chips, this time out.
Virtual open house
A public opportunity to ask about the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s policies and direction will be hosted by department director Kelly Susewind on Monday.
The online webinar is available at tinyurl.com/PDN-WDFWWebinar and starts at 7 p.m. The public can submit questions during the webinar. It also will be posted at wdfw.wa.gov.
“I want to share some updates on the agency, but the main purpose is to have a two-way conversations with those who aren’t always able to attend our in-person events,” said Susewind. “People care deeply about the work we do and we want to make it easier for them to tell us what’s on their mind and what’s important to them in their everyday lives.”
Introductory topics will include an overview of the department’s work, a summary of legislative session actions that affect the department and how it is working to address long-term challenges affecting fish and wildlife in the state.
Director Susewind will also be joined by a number of his staff who share wildlife, fish, law enforcement and habitat information.
Some suggested questions: Why doesn’t the department pursue some type of public view of the North of Falcon season-setting process such as a closed-circuit camera? Why does the state continues to fund operations at George Adams Hatchery on the Skokomish when recreational anglers are unable to fish the river?
Those are just two ideas — but I tend to believe controversial questions will be put on the back burner and ignored in favor of the status quo.
One last razor clam dig
State shellfish managers have tentatively scheduled what they are calling a “bonus” razor clam dig on Mocrocks beach from May 18-20.
Final approval of the scheduled opening will depend on whether results of marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.
The dig is proposed for the following dates, low tides and beaches:
• Saturday, May 18: 6:58 a.m.; -1.4 feet; Mocrocks
• Sunday, May 19: 7:41 a.m.; -1.6 feet; Mocrocks
• Monday, May 20: 8:23 a.m.; -1.6 feet; Mocrocks
“After careful evaluation of the season’s clam harvest, we are happy to announce that healthy clam populations on Mocrocks beach support another dig,” said Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager.
All diggers age 15 years or older must have an applicable 2019-20 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach.
Under state law, diggers at open beaches can take 15 razor clams per day and are required to keep the first 15 they dig. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
