HERE’S ADDED INCENTIVE to head to Neah Bay this weekend, courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Starting today anglers in the ocean waters off Marine Area 4 can keep two chinook as part of their two-salmon daily limit.
Last month the chinook limit was decreased to one per day after the start of the season was a little too hot.
It appears the one-chinook regulation worked a little too good.
“We’ve kept a close watch on the pace of catches for these fisheries, and it now appears that enough of the quota remains to allow anglers two chinook per day . . . without exceeding the recreational catch quota,” state salmon policy coordinator Pat Pattillo said in a statement.
The announcement was made Thursday.
Stephen Jimmicum of Big Salmon Resort (360-645-2374) in Neah Bay had yet to hear about the daily limit increase when contacted, but said it could provide a boost to the number of anglers who make their way to the resort.
“That would be pretty good for us,” Jimmicum said.
Jimmicum said the salmon fishing remains steady in Neah Bay.
Silvers are still dominating the harvest, but some kings are also being caught.
The ocean salmon season in Marine Area 3 and 4 is open seven days a week until Sept. 23.
The new two-chinook limit applies only to the part of Marine Area 4 that is open for salmon fishing. The salmon fishery was closed east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line earlier this month.
Port Townsend salmon
Coho still haven’t overthrown the kings in Port Townsend. At least not yet.
“There are still a few kings in the 15- to 18-pound class being caught, although more and more coho are showing in the catch,” Ward Norden, a fishing tackle wholesaler and former fishery biologist, said.
“Strangely enough, the beach casters are doing a little better than the boat fishers on some days.”
Norden said a successful tactic some beach anglers are employing is putting mini plastic squids on Buzz Bomb jig hooks.
The size of the silvers being caught off Port Townsend isn’t much to brag about.
Sekiu and Port Angeles have been reporting big-for-this-time-of-year coho over the last month, often 7 to 8 pounds.
Norden said there have been a few in that weight class in Port Townsend, but most are actually smaller than the typical 4- to 5-pound range.
Quilcene coho
The heat wave burning up the North Olympic Peninsula could prevent coho from making their way to the Quilcene hatchery.
This makes the Quilcene/Dabob Bay salmon fishery a potential hot spot for coho this weekend.
“With the hot weather and minus tides for the next couple days, not many coho should be moving up river since the fish have to cross some very warm shallow water in the bay to get to the river mouth,” Norden said.
The daily limit in Quilcene/Dabob Bay is four coho and there is no minimum size.
Big catches
Ethan Donovan has been fishing for half his life and has reached the level where he is catching summer-run steelhead that average 10-11 pounds.
Ethan is only 4 years old.
He makes a smooth drift with the floats and is quick on the hook set, and has a knack for catching the big steelies his dad is looking for.
By comparison, his dad’s summer-run catches average 6-8 pounds.
So if you’re wondering where the best fishing spots are on the North Olympic Peninsula, just ask the kid who has been fishing the rivers since he was 2 years old.
Antler show
The fourth annual Quilcene Antler Show will take place Sept. 15-16 at the Quilcene High School gym.
Hunters from all over the Peninsula are invited to bring their trophies to display and listen to talks given by local guides and taxidermists.
Exhibitors can save a lot of time by registering their antlers online.
Outdoors-related merchandise vendors are sought for the antler show.
The antler show is in conjunction with the Quilcene Fair and a gun and knife show.
Entrance to the antler show requires a $1 donation, and if you go to the antler show first you can get a dollar off admission to the gun and knife show.
Hours for the antler show are noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16.
For more information, contact Mari Phillips at 360-765-0688 or visit quilceneantlershow.org.
Sekiu kids derby
The annual Clallam Bay-Sekiu Lions Club Kids Salmon Derby is Saturday.
There is no entry fee for the derby, which is open to kids ages 5-14.
Registration starts at 5:30 a.m. at Olson’s Resort and Van Riper’s Resort.
Weigh-in must be done by noon near the Lions Club swings.
Prizes and refreshments for kids also will be by the Lions Club swings.
Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third largest legal salmon catches.
For more information, questions, or to donate, call Adam Campbell at 360-461-6701 or Roy Morris 360-963-2442.
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 Lee Horton appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.