OUTDOORS: State seeks testers for new fishing app; halibut catch record card passes state senate

IT DOESN’T PROVIDE anglers the ability to immediately report their catch totals, a function fishermen have been angling for for years, but the state Department of Fish and Wildlife is releasing a mobile phone app.

The department is seeking the public’s help in beta testing of Fish Washington, a mobile fishing application, before its anticipated public release in April.

The Fish Washington app is designed to convey up-to-the-minute fishing regulations for every lake, river, stream and marine area in the state and is available for download now at Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

Features of the Fish Washington app include: interactive mapping to help anglers find fishing spots; details on harvest limits and allowable gear for fishable species in each body of water; access to the Fish Washington website and instructional videos designed to convey when, where and how to fish in Washington; locations of boat launches and other fishing access points; the ability to add waypoints on maps, and report poaching in progress and downloadable updates and offline capacity for those who may not have cell service in remote areas or on the water.

Fish and Wildlife is hoping to work out unanticipated bugs with this early release.

The testing effort is also meant to encourage scrutiny of how the rules will display for every water body in the state. The department thinks some inconsistencies and errors may pop up given that the rules associated with every stream, lake and river in Washington have never been displayed on an app like this before.

WDFW encourages everyone to download the Fish Washington app by visiting Apple’s App store or Google’s Play.

Anglers can use the commenting features in the Apple App Store or Google Play store to provide feedback, which will help the department make improvements prior to the app’s official launch this spring. App testers can also leave comments at MobileAppDev@dfw.wa.gov, just be sure to indicate which device you are using.

And maybe someday, an instantaneous catch record can provide up to the minute data to Fish and Wildlife.

Halibut catch card

Senate Bill 6127, originally sponsored by Kevin Van de Wege (D-Sequim), which would create a $5 halibut catch record card similar to the Dungeness crab catch record card, passed the state senate on a 36-12 vote and will now head to the state house.

Full details on the bill are available at tinyurl.com/PDN-HalibutCard.

Currently, anglers purchasing fishing licenses have the option of adding a free halibut catch record card at any time of the year — even if halibut’s short season window has closed. This makes no sense (having Fish and Wildlife contact the software vendor to cut out this needless catch card also would be a good idea) and overestimates the number of anglers fishing for halibut and the number of halibut landed when the state’s halibut managers seek to provide catch totals.

Higher catch totals equal fewer days on the water fishing for halibut. Take away that free catch record card in place of a $5 card for true halibut anglers and we’ll see if the state’s estimates hold water.

Murray’s derby

The 36th annual Murray’s Salmon Derby will be held on Hood Canal Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4.

Tickets are $15 and available at the derby’s home, the Geoduck Restaurant, 307103 U.S. Highway 101 in Brinnon.

First-prize for the biggest blackmouth is $1,500, with second taking home $750, and third $500. A $100 bonus will be awarded for the biggest fish caught Saturday.

Other prizes donated by local merchants will be donated.

The Geoduck will open at 4 a.m. for breakfast and derby ticket purchases each day.

An award ceremony will close out the derby Sunday afternoon.

For more information, phone the Geoduck at 360-796-4430.

“The derby festivities will be out of the Geoduck Tavern in Brinnon and the weigh station is at the state park pier in Pleasant Harbor,” Quilcene’s Ward Norden said.

“This is an old-fashioned derby and the last of its kind that used to be found at every boathouse around Puget Sound. It is also the only derby I know of that can be successfully and safely fished out of a kayak, canoe, or a 12-foot rowboat because one of the best fishing spots is over the drop-off at the mouth of Pleasant Harbor where Black Point shelters the spot from most of the wind.

“The fishing hole is 1/3 of a mile from the public launch. The awards ceremony is at the tavern is altogether too much fun whether you fish or not.”

Clam/oyster changes

A comprehensive review of pollution conditions and marine water quality data has prompted the state Department of Health to downgrade its classification of Duckabush public beach to “conditionally open,” resulting in a significant reduction in shellfish harvest opportunities. Duckabush, which used to be open year-round, will be closed for clam and oyster harvest from May 1 through Oct. 31 each year.

Based on recent analysis of native populations and projected effort and harvest, the clam and oyster season is being reduced at Port Townsend Ship Canal/Portage Beach and will close to harvest on May 31.

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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.

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