Port Townsend and the rest of Marine Area 9 had a late start to the chinook fishery, but anglers wasted no time once the fishery opened July 16.
The fishing started hot, and remained that way.
Last week, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that only one king could be caught as part of the two-salmon daily limit, which is actually a four-salmon limit because anglers are allowed to retain two additional pinks.
Earlier this week, the state put an end to the Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) chinook fishery.
The fishery was 20 days of excellent fishing.
The state reports that creel reports late last week indicated anglers were harvesting an average of more than one chinook per rod in Area 9.
Nothing ends a good fishery like great fishing.
The Marine Area 9 chinook season was slated to stay open through the end of the month.
It’s important to note that Area 9 covers more than Port Townsend, and that much of the area is not on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Whidbey Island — or as we spell it in Port Angeles on street signs, Whidby — and Edmonds also are located along the waters of Marine Area 9.
In fact, during the winter, the blackmouth fishery, by all accounts, was rather slow off Port Townsend.
But the blackmouth fishing in Edmonds was so good that the daily limit for all of Area 9 was decreased from two blackmouth to one.
One week left
The chinook areas along the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Sekiu and Port Angeles) are open for another week, through Thursday, Aug. 16.
Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist, said last week’s cool and cloudy weather might hasten the end of king fishing on the Strait.
“No doubt there will be stragglers but it is time for anglers to shift gears,” Norden said.
That shift, of course, will be to silvers and pinks.
Sekiu kids derby
The Clallam Bay-Sekiu Lions Kids Fishing Derby is next Saturday, Aug. 17.
And this being a humpy year, the fishing should be good.
Apparently, in the last humpy year, every kid who entered the derby and went out in a boat caught either a coho or a pink.
Last year’s winner was Christopher Evans of Lacey, who caught a 7.61-pound coho. Other winners came from Tacoma and Port Angeles.
The top three fish are awarded prizes.
The derby is open to kids ages 5 to 14. Oh, and there is no entry fee.
Registration starts at 5:30 a.m. at two resorts: Van Riper’s and Olson’s.
The weigh-in will be at noon at the Lion’s Club swings.
Prizes and refreshments for kids also will be at the Lion’s Club swings, which are located by Olson’s Resort.
For more information, questions, or to donate, phone Adam Campbell at 360-461-6701 or Roy Morris at 360-963-2442.
Warm up your bows
The Wapiti Bowmen Archery Club is holding a hunters’ warm-up on Saturday and Sunday.
The event features 30 full-sized 3-D targets.
There also will be raffle drawings for a Bear Encounter compound bow and a Rinehart 18-1 spot target.
Archers of all skill levels are invited to participate in the warm-up.
The cost for adults is $12 for one day, and $20 for both days. Youth can participate for $8 for one day and $12 for two days. “Cubs” cost $4 for both days.
Registration at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Breakfast and lunch will be served for a cost of $5 both days.
Limited dry camping is available on a first come, first serve basis.
The Wapiti Bowmen facility is located at 374 E. Arnette Road in Port Angeles.
For more information, visit the club’s website at www.wapitibowmen.us.
Learn to row
The Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association has three learn-to-row summer clinics remaining.
The clinics, open to youth ages 12 and older, start Mondays (Aug. 12, 19 and 26) and run through Fridays each week, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Participants will be taught rowing technique by Rodrigo Rodrigues, a world-class rowing coach, with help from assistant coaches Holly Stevens and Tarah Erickson, both college rowers at the Division 1 level.
The cost for one week is $50.
For more information, or to reserve a spot in one of the clinics, contact John Halberg at 360-460-6525 or at halberg@olypen.com.
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Outdoors columnist Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.