OUTDOORS: Albacore fishing an adventure off La Push

FISHING FOR ALBACORE tuna off La Push recently, Port Angeles angler George Schoenfeldt and his fishing partners Bill Heilman, Anthony Joe Gort and Russell Thorn had a great day, hauling in 36 of the tasty ocean dwellers in a little more than two hours.

He said he lives out at La Push during the summer and fishes for tuna four or five times a year off the coast in his 24-foot North River boat.

“I’ll go out a couple more times, weather permitting,” Schoenfeldt said. “Everything has to align — the weather, the current, the water temperature.”

He said the group motored 45 miles off of La Push to find the tuna.

“You fish them right on the surface,” Schoenfeldt said. “What you do is have your poles out and skip along the surface while the boat is going 6 to 8 knots, so you are going along pretty fast.”

And the catching action is fast and furious.

“Two-and a-half hours to get out there, two hours to catch the fish and two hours to get back,” Schoenfeldt said. “Everybody has a job to do. And you need a younger person out there, too.”

Schoenfeldt said the group caught most of the tuna, which he estimated as averaging around 15 pounds, by trolling before switching over to jigging.

“We were using wooden cedar plugs and clones that look like a hoochie but are intended for tuna,” he said.

Schoenfeldt was fishing wounded, having injured three of his ribs in a fall off of a ladder while painting a house.

He said he cans most of his catch.

“I can it up and give away some to friends for sushi,” Schoenfeldt said.

“My daughter [Lonee] made labels that say, ‘Captain Schoenfeldt’s Albacore Tuna — Troll Caught La Push, Washington,’ and I give those as gifts.”

There are no daily or possession limits for albacore and mackerel. Yellowfin, skipjack and Northern bluefin have a daily limit of two, but no possession limit.

Rivers at a trickle

Salmon possession rule changes go into effect Sunday on a number of West End rivers.

So be sure to check the regulations before wetting a line.

If you can find a deep enough pool to cast toward, that is.

Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim went fishing out west on Sunday.

“Out on the Quillayute on Sunday and didn’t see any fish at Richwine [Bar] or Leyendecker [Park],” Menkal said. “Well, I did see one roll at Leyendecker, down below the rapids in faster water. I talked to one guy who had been out there for two days and hadn’t seen any fish, either.

“The water was so low and so clear, I felt sorry for the fish, there’s so little water for them to work for.”

Coho in off Sekiu

Silvers are moving through the Strait of Juan de Fuca with creel reports from fishing ramps and marinas throughout Puget Sound showing more and more coho.

And less pink, particularly out west off Sekiu.

Last Saturday, 157 anglers caught 166 coho and 45 pinks in checks conducted at Mason’s Olson’s Resort.

Fish checks at Van Ripers’ Resort showed 79 anglers caught 50 coho and four pinks Tuesday, while at Mason’s 51 anglers brought in 41 coho and one pink.

Those ratios of silvers to pinks are more of what anglers are looking for.

As to where to find them? Silvers can be found anywhere at Sekiu, but when the runs come through in bigger numbers, head toward the edge of the shipping lanes near the middle of the Strait and set the downriggers for deep water — 530 to 550 feet.

Crabbing wraps

The summer recreational crab season wraps up Monday everywhere but the San Juan Islands.

“This is the last big weekend before crab closes down, get the pots out there and get them rolling,” Menkal said.

Paddleboarder emphasis

Safety emphasis patrols focusing on stand up paddleboarders will be conducted by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office over the Labor Day weekend.

Officers will focus on educating paddleboarders about laws and safe practices.

Every vessel, no matter its size, is required by state and federal law to carry a sounding device — a horn, whistle or bell; a white all-around navigation light for low visibility and every paddleboarder must have a Coast Guard approved life jacket that is in good condition and the right size and type for the person wearing it.

Ages 12 and younger must always wear their life jackets on board.

Penalties for failing to carry the proper safety gear is a civil infraction punishable by a $99 fine for each violation.

“Stand up paddleboarders need to remember that as soon as they leave a designated swim area, they are considered a vessel and subject to recreational boating laws,” said Clallam Sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Munger. “The law requires people to carry a life jacket. We strongly recommend people choose to always wear it, along with a leash, for maximum safety on the water.”

Cougar hunting

An internal working group of department biologists and enforcement officers has been assembled by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop recommended changes to the cougar hunting seasons.

After hearing from concerned constituents at the March 2019 commission meeting, the department began reviewing its current cougar hunting rules in order to bring the commission potential amendments for their consideration.

“Our group has met five times over the last six months to discuss changes to the hunt structure,” said Anis Aoude, Fish and Wildlife game division manager. “After completing our internal process, we will begin a public engagement process to receive feedback from our stakeholders.”

In the coming months, WDFW will discuss progress with the Fish and Wildlife Commission at their Wildlife Committee meetings, seek input from key external stakeholders, open a public comment period, host a digital open house with a question and answer session and provide information through social media.

In addition, the commission will seek public comment as they consider changes during a public hearing on proposed rules in March prior to making a decision in April 2020.

“Public safety remains one of our highest concerns,” said Aoude. “This internal cougar working group continues to work at finding the balance between maintaining sustainable cougar populations while also addressing public safety.”

Cougars can be found all over the North Olympic Peninsula, but the Quilcene area has had a rash of recent cougar/livestock interactions

Salmon/steelheading

Menkal will offer his two-part Introduction to Salmon and Steelhead Fishing course at his store, 609 W. Washington St., No. 21 in Sequim, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday with part two following at the same time Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Menkal knows a ton of tips, tricks and locations to fish around the North Olympic Peninsula and offers the course for $50 per person plus tax.

Menkal asks attendees to RSVP to 360-683-1950.

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