AFTER A SHORT hiatus, recreational crab fishing reopens in most marine areas in the state at 8 a.m. this morning.
North Olympic Peninsula waters reopening include Marine Areas 4 (Neah Bay, east of the Tatoosh-Bonilla line), 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 9 (Admiralty Inlet) and 12 (Hood Canal).
In each area, crabbing will be allowed seven days a week through Thursday, Dec. 31.
The openings were approved by fishery managers after summer catch assessments by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife indicated more crab are available for harvest, said Rich Childers, shellfish manager for the department.
The daily catch limit is five Dungeness crab, males only, in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6¼ inches.
In addition, harvesters may catch six red rock crab per day, of either sex, provided those crab measure at least 5 inches across.
Additional information is available on the state crabbing website at tinyurl.com/PDN-CrabInfo.
All Dungeness crab caught in the late-season fishery must be recorded on winter catch cards, which are valid through Dec. 31.
Winter cards — free to those with crab endorsements — are available at license vendors across the state.
Winter catch reports are due by Monday, Feb. 1, 2016.
Fishing changes
The late-season salmon fishery opens today and runs through Sunday, Oct. 11 off of LaPush.
Anglers can keep chinook of a minimum size of 24 inches, hatchery coho of a minimum 16 inches and there is no minimum size for other salmon species.
The daily limit for anglers is two salmon.
Closed for season
Salmon fishing has closed for the season both east and west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line off Neah Bay.
Anglers can still target lingcod (through Oct. 15), plus rockfish and many other year-round species in Marine Area 4.
Wild coho retention
After flirting with wild coho retention on most weekends in September, the dam bursts open today and anglers can keep clipped and unclipped silvers through Saturday, Oct. 31.
There’s no minimum size and anglers can keep a daily limit of two salmon.
Chinook must be released.
Dungeness Bay open
Dungeness Bay in Marine Area 6 opens today for coho fishing, inside of a line from the Dungeness Spit lighthouse to the No. 2 red buoy then to the Port Williams boat ramp.
There is no minimum size, and the daily limit is two coho.
Hatchery chinook of a minimum 22 inches in length have reopened for retention in other open areas of Marine Area 6.
There is no minimum size for other salmon species and the daily limit is two (combined).
No chinook retention
Anglers must release all chinook in Marine Area 9 through Oct. 31.
There’s no minimum size for other salmon species and, the daily limit is two salmon.
Last chance in LaPush
The Last Chance Salmon Derby, an annual event co-sponsored by the Quileute tribe, the City of Forks and the Forks Chamber of Commerce, is set for Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets for the two-day event are $25 and are available now at the Quileute Marina in LaPush, Swain’s in Port Angeles, Forks Outfitters, Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks and the Forks Chamber of Commerce.
Tickets also will be available during the derby at the Quileute Marina.
The largest chinook will bring home a $500 first prize. The second-place king will earn $250 and the third-biggest $100.
Silvers also will earn prizes, with the angler landing the largest coho winning $500, and $250 and $100 for second and third place.
There also is $100 prize for the largest bottom fish.
All ticketholders also are eligible for a prize drawing that will be held on the dock at LaPush within an hour of the close of the derby Sunday.
Coffee, donuts, and camaraderie are available in the Quileute Marina before and during the derby.
For more information, visit www.forkswa.com/salmonderby or phone 360-374-2531.
Builders’ derby
The third annual North Peninsula Building Association Fishing Derby will be held in Port Angeles on Saturday.
Participants do not need to be an association member to participate.
Cash prizes based on angler participation will be awarded to the three largest fish.
Additional raffle prize drawings are planned for all ticket holders.
Derby headquarters are the Port Angeles Yacht Club, 1305 Marine View Drive.
Fishing is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Anglers can buy tickets at the North Peninsula Building Association office in Sequim at 350 W. Washington St., Suite 3.
The association also will sell tickets outside Swain’s General Store, 602 E. First St. in Port Angeles, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
For more information, phone Diana Johnson or Eran Kennedy at 360-452-8160.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
