THOSE NEW TO shrimping can follow the herd, so to speak.
When the spot shrimp season opens Saturday, Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim advises newbies to look out for yellow while on the water.
“People have their own traditional spots, so peek at the boats and see where all the yellow buoys are and you stand a pretty good chance of finding a good place to dip your pot,” Menkal said.
This would be the opposite of most fishing etiquette, as anglers often grumble when others begin to encroach their chosen spots.
But no matter. Spot shrimp are delicious and best of all they are plentiful — particularly in Hood Canal and the Discovery Bay Shrimp District.
The district includes Discovery Bay, of course, as well as the waters south of a line from McCurdy Point on the Quimper Peninsula in Port Townsend to the northern tip of Protection Island, then from the western end of Protection Island to Rocky Point on the Miller Peninsula.
That area also provides some solid halibut fishing at Dallas Bank off the northern tip of Protection Island.
“The nice thing about this weekend is you can do some shrimping and halibut fishing,” Menkal said.
A reminder, halibut fishing is only open Saturday.
Anglers can send their shrimp pots in water between 100 to 300 feet deep, and while those pots are luring shrimp, take off on a quest for a halibut.
If the tide is running too strongly or the wind is blowing, motor behind the island, on either side, and keep fishing.
Back to shrimping.
What will tempt the succulent scavengers into your pot?
Seafood-flavored cat food has long been a favorite bait, and the Friskies brand ocean whitefish and tuna is a particularly popular choice.
Just make sure the selected brand has been thinned out, as the clumped-together mass that comes out of the can is too thick to provide the scent trail required to lure shrimp.
“If something is really solid it doesn’t work as well,” Menkal said.
He recommends adding some crab or shrimp oils found in sporting goods stores to thin things out and add scent to the bait.
Others use dry shrimp pellets soaked in oil to attract shrimp.
“These guys soak them in these oils and really let it permeate through the pellets overnight, Menkal said.
“It sends up a nice thick cloud of scent and they will be attracted to the scent.”
The pellets come scented, so the marination process only increases the smell.
Increase the smell, increase the oil, increase the numbers found in your pots.
Menkal also recommends having ample line.
“If you have, for example, 100 feet of line, don’t put in at 95 feet,” Menkal said.
“If high tide comes up eight feet or so, you’ll come back, look around and think your pots were stolen.”
Here are the shrimp seasons for the North Olympic Peninsula:
■ Hood Canal Shrimp District (Marine Area 12): Open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 14, 18, 28 and 30.
■ Discovery Bay Shrimp District in Marine Area 6: Open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 14, 18, 28 and 30.
■ Marine areas 4 (east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line), 5, 6 (excluding Discovery Bay Shrimp District): Open daily beginning Saturday.
The recreational spot shrimp season closes when the quota is attained or Sept. 15, whichever comes first.
In areas 4, 5 and 6, start times are one hour before sunrise.
Additional dates may be added to certain areas if enough quota is available.
For more recreational shrimping information, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-Shrimp.
Kids Fishing Day
The annual Kids Fishing Day at the Carrie Blake Park Reclamation Pond in Sequim will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21.
The pond will be planted with ample catchable- and jumbo-sized rainbow trout that will be hungry for a bite when fishing starts that morning.
Each youth angler up to age 14 can keep two fish.
A separate pond will be available for kids younger than 4.
The Swain’s hot dog trailer, borrowed for the event, will serve hot dogs and soft drinks for 50 cents.
The day of fishing is hosted by the North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the city of Sequim.
Club members will help kids land fish and remove hooks.
Rod and reels will be provided.
A cleaning station also will be on site, where the fish will be cleaned, bagged and iced for transport to the nearest frying pan.
Derby tickets on sale
Anglers can pick up a Port Angeles Salmon Club Halibut Derby ticket for $40 at three North Olympic Peninsula locations.Swain’s General Store and Jerry’s Bait & Tackle in Port Angeles, and Brian’s Sporting Goods and More in Sequim.
Fishing will be contained in Marine Area 6, between Low Point to the west and the Dungeness Spit to the east.
Fishing hours are daylight to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 28, and daylight to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29.
A total of $20,000 in cash prizes will be up for grabs, including $5,000 for the winner.
Anglers can launch their boats for free thanks to the Port of Port Angeles.
The weigh-in will be held at the West Boat Haven ramp and docks, and all fish must be brought in by water.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
