*Editors Note: Updated to reflect additional halibut date
The halibut fishery will re-open Sunday, May 21, members of the recreational fishing industry were informed Friday.
Brandon Mason, owner of Mason’s Olson Resort in Sekiu and Marine Area 5 Sportfishing Advisor, confirmed he had been informed of the additional halibut fishing date by Fish and Wildlife staff on Friday afternoon.
Three other potential halibut fishing dates (May 25, June 1 and June 4) have yet to receive approval at this time.
HALIBUT ANGLERS’ ON-AGAIN, off-again ability to actually fish for the species in this creatively scheduled fishery was back on again yesterday.
Thursday was a day for the local die-hards and the retired anglers with time to spare.
Turns out, it’s difficult to entice working men and women to pack up, attach the boat and head off to the North Olympic Peninsula for one day’s worth of halibut fishing.
Last week’s Thursday/Saturday combination had the lure and luster of opening day, for sure. But it also made sense schedule-wise and enabled anglers to take a long fishing weekend.
Not the case this week.
“Tough for the working man to get off for one day of fishing,” said Brandon Mason, owner of Mason’s Olson Resort (360-963-2311) in Sekiu.
“Sekiu is a long ways away for somebody living in the Seattle-Tacoma area.”
Predictably, Mason said angler numbers dipped accordingly.
“We didn’t have near as many boats out as last week,” Mason said Thursday afternoon.
“I’d say we probably have maybe 50 boats here and I’ve seen 11 halibut come in now [as of 3 p.m.].”
Out of those first 11 to come back to shore, Mason said he had seen a 92-pound fish and two above 40 pounds.
The 92-pounder was filleted quickly on board a boat, so no chance for a fish picture.
Fighting the current
Strong tidal conditions also worked against anglers.
“We were fishing for about an hour this morning and using a 5-pound weight to keep everything down because the current was moving so fast,” Mason said.
“We just got done with the one slack tide, so most guys are back getting some lunch.”
It was just a short bite window this morning.”
Most are going to head back out until the other slack tide comes at 7 p.m.”
Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles had similar information.
Less anglers, bigger fish and tough tides.
“Folks were catching some fish, one of the gals from Swain’s was fishing with her boyfriend and they caught a 155-pounder and a 33-pounder,” Aunspach said.
“We weighed them up out here.”
Don’t worry folks, I am trying to round up a photo of the big flattie and some contact information for a fish tale.
“All I could tell you was they were anchored in 80 feet of water,” Aunspach said of the big fish.
“The tides are running pretty tough. But overall a nice day on the water other than a little bit of rain.”
Extra days looking good
Mason, who represents Marine Area 5’s recreational fishing interests, got the same feeling I did when speaking with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s halibut managers.
“I talked to the state a little bit, they didn’t know the numbers yet, but using the state’s average of 19.2 pounds [for halibut caught in the Strait of Juan de Fuca] we are looking at a little more fishing,” he said.
Fish and Wildlife will be totaling up fish count estimates over the weekend with the hope of informing anglers and those in the recreational fishing business by Monday.
“If they feel comfortable with the remaining quota numbers they will allow halibut fishing on Sunday, May 21stand [Thursday, May] 25th.”
So anglers find themselves holding pattern on those two days and the other potential halibut dates: June 1 and June 4.
Rockfish lecture
Identifying and protecting the state’s rockfish populations will be discussed by Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists Lorna Wargo, Rob Davis and Kristen Hinton at a meeting of the North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers on Thursday.
The meeting will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., with a social half hour and auction viewing starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by a brief business meeting and the lecture at 7 p.m.
Anglers will learn tips for honing rockfish species identification skills and why and how to descend or “send them back down.”
An update on population numbers and some rockfish biology also will be offered.
Wargo has been a fisheries manager with the state for 25 years and is the project leader for the agency’s Ocean Groundfish Research Unit.
Davis possesses a wealth of experience having nearly 900 days at-sea observing fisheries in Alaska and leading research surveys for the International Pacific Halibut Commission and Fish and Wildlife.
Hinton similarly brings a hands-on perspective with eight years of experience working along the docks and at-sea on the Atlantic, the North Pacific and off the coast of Washington.
Refreshments, a raffle for fishing gear and a $50 membership drawing (must be present to win) are planned. The public is welcome to attend the free meeting.
Kid’s Fishing Day
The club’s big community event is the free Kids Fishing Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Carrie Blake Park Reclamation Pond. The club provides all the gear, bait and cleaning. Kids ages 14 and younger can keep two fish. A second pond for younger anglers also will be stocked.
Refreshments include hot dogs and soft drinks for 50 cents.
Razor season shuttered
State shellfish managers have closed Mocrocks beach to razor clam digging due to elevated marine toxin levels, bringing the razor clam season to an end.
Fish and Wildlife closed Long Beach and Twin Harbors last week after samples detected high levels of domoic acid.
The next razor clam season will begin in the fall, when the older clams have recovered from spawning and a new generation begins to grow beneath the sand.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
