THE POPULAR SALTWATER salmon fishing season is upon us.
The salmon fishery kicks off with a six-day hatchery chinook opener on the northern coast that begins Saturday and runs through next Friday (June 28).
The following day, a seven-days-a-week fishery begins, with wild and hatchery kings and hatchery silvers on the agenda.
That fishery will remain in effect until Sept. 22, or when the predetermined quota is met — whichever comes first.
There are indications that we could be in for a productive few months of fishing.
The four-day chinook opening in May wasn’t fantastic — although it did occur in the shadow of the halibut season, so it’s hard to give a fair judgement — but it did show that fish had begun making their way up the coast.
Gear and bait is important, but the most crucial element of fishing success is the existence of fish in the water.
So, the fishery has that going for it.
Even better is a tidbit provided by Dawn Lawrence of Big Salmon Resort (360-645-2374) in Neah Bay.
She said that the commercial salmon fishermen have been doing so well that the commercial fishery was shut down until July.
“So, the salmon are here,” Lawrence said.
And, if the fish have arrived in Neah Bay, then the same can be said for LaPush (Marine Area 3).
In some cases, the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line will divide fisheries in Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay).
But not this time; both the Pacific Ocean and Strait of Juan de Fuca portions of Marine Area 4 will open to salmon fishing Saturday.
Lawrence said that the Father and Son area has reportedly been productive for salmon fishing.
This is good news for anglers with smaller boats, because it means they don’t have to venture out so far into the water to catch some kings.
Unfortunately, boat fishing is the only option around Neah Bay.
The Neah Bay breakwater, which has been much-hyped by this column in recent months, has been shut down to fishing by the Makah tribe.
According to Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist, the actions of a few people wrecked the fishing action for everyone else, forcing the shut down.
“It certainly is a shame, but you can’t hardly blame the Makahs,” Norden said.
If that is the case, then add the Neah Bay breakwater to the inconsiderate-people hit list, along with the Lake Leland campground.
Unfortunately, those areas happened to be associated with two of the more family friendly fishing opportunities on the North Olympic Peninsula. (Fishing at Lake Leland is still open, but the campground will not open this year.)
Enough of that.
Back to the happy news.
The daily limit for the six-day fishery in LaPush and Neah Bay is two hatchery chinook. Release coho and wild chinook.
The daily limit increases the following week when anglers are allowed to harvest a combined total of two fish (wild and hatchery chinook, and hatchery coho), along with two additional pink salmon.
This being 2013, the pinks are making their odd-year-only runs, although they don’t come in full force until later in the summer.
For the rest of the Peninsula, the saltwater salmon season begins Monday, July 1.
But it is a bit confusing.
Sekiu (Marine Area 5), the Port Angeles portion of Marine Area 6, and Hood Canal (Marine Area 12) will open to hatchery kings and hatchery silvers Monday, July 1.
The remainder of Marine Area 6 — east of the tip of Ediz Hook to a straight line between Partridge Point and Point Wilson — is not open to chinook fishing. It will open to coho fishing July 1, though.
Admiralty Inlet (Marine Area 9) opens to coho July 1, but there won’t be chinook fishing until Tuesday, July 16.
Hail to the kings.
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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.