NO OFFICIAL HALIBUT catch total for Puget Sound marine areas (including Strait of Juan de Fuca) was forthcoming from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife when the agency was queried Wednesday.
Fish and Wildlife halibut policy coordinator Heather Reed said the department was still gathering that information, but she did have poundage totals for La Push and Neah Bay (more on that later).
Reed said her office will look at the totals from today’s halibut fishery and make the announcement about extending the season as soon as possible.
“We know people want to make plans to fish,” Reed said.
She expects Fish and Wildlife to let the public know early next week.
If I were the gambling sort, I’d bet Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound anglers will get those extra fishing days beginning Sunday, May 21.
My opinion comes from a look at the creel reports for last week’s halibut opener and the second day of flatfish fishing, last Saturday.
For last Thursday’s opener, held in perfect weather conditions, creel checkers at Ediz Hook, the Boat Haven and the West Ramp in Port Angeles counted a total of 139 halibut caught by 500 anglers in 208 boats.
Sequim saw 33 halibut landed by 243 anglers in 101 boats in the opener.
Port Townsend had seven halibut come in with 92 anglers fishing in 43 boats.
Sekiu checkers counted 60 halibut and 18 lingcod landed by 370 anglers in 130 boats in counts conducted at Mason’s Olson Resort and Van Riper’s Resort.
The bite and the pressure tailed off considerably Saturday due to wind and choppy seas.
“[Saturday], the weather and seas were awful,” said Dave Croonquist, a member of The Olympic Peninsula Salmon and Halibut Coalition, a group working to restructure halibut seasons.
“Folks were still going out, but most that I talked with came in early —15 to 20 knot winds and 2- to 3-foot seas were not conducive to decent fishing.”
Saturday’s counts totaled 43 halibut caught by 417 anglers in 173 boats in checks done at Ediz Hook and the West Ramp.
Anglers coming back to John Wayne Marina checked in just nine halibut for 243 anglers in 101 boats.
Port Townsend numbers also dipped with three halibut and eight lings brought in by 44 anglers in 23 boats.
Sekiu anglers slightly improved their luck on day two, bringing back 69 halibut and 40 lingcod with 362 anglers counted in 124 boats in counts at Mason’s and Van Riper’s.
Neah Bay and La Push
Reed said poundage numbers for halibut caught last Thursday and Saturday off La Push and Neah Bay totaled 43,517 pounds — leaving 72,082 pounds remaining.
“Neah Bay and La Push’s two-day catch was a little low compared to what we’ve seen the last few years,” Reed said.
That number bodes well for some additional days out west.
Salmon rod success
A solid fish tale triumph unspooled in Freshwater Bay last Thursday.
Port Angeles’ Cookie Singhose-Allison was fishing the opener with her husband Tim Allison.
While anchored in 80 feet of water, she landed a 52-pound halibut on a salmon road while jigging a strip of tuna skin.
I hadn’t heard of the tuna skin method, so I asked Singhose-Allison about her “secret.”
“Tuna skin does have a lot of scent,” she said.
“Usually we use mackerel or brined (my secret recipe) salmon bellies but tuna did the trick this time.”
Landing the heavy fish on the light rod was the highlight of a long day on the water.
“Halibut fishing can be kind of boring (we put in over 12 hours altogether), so I decided to jig for awhile,” Singhose-Allison said.
“It was pretty exciting catching one this big on light line and a salmon rod, the pole was really bent.”
Patience and caution served her well in the retrieve.
“I had to bring it in so carefully,” Singhose-Allison said.
“When it took a run I was sure it would break off. I had to let the fish ‘be in charge,’ play out, then just slowly bring it up. So much fun, quite a rush. Not the biggest halibut I’ve caught (an 85-pounder in Alaska on her own bait) but on the lightest line.”
Singhose-Allison is already thinking ahead to salmon season.
“I love to fish,” she said.
“Last year, I fished unsuccessfully for halibut from my kayak with the same set-up. But after bringing this 52-pounder in, fishing almost in the same depth, I’m rethinking if I want to fish out of my kayak for halibut. Salmon maybe, but probably not halibut.”
Kids Fishing Day
The annual Kids Fishing Day at the Carrie Blake Park Reclamation Pond in Sequim will be held Saturday, May 20.
The event, which attracts up to 500 participants each year, will start with the blowing of a horn at 8 a.m. and wrap up at 2 p.m.
It is presented by the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers, the city of Sequim and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Kids age 14 and younger will fish for free with no need for a license.
Anglers under 4 will have a separate pond all to themselves.
Each youth angler can keep two of the large number of rainbow trout the state will plant in the ponds.
Puget Sound Anglers will provide rod and reel setups and worms to fish and plenty of volunteers will help kids land the fish and remove hooks.
A cleaning station will clean, bag and ice down the fish for transport.
Swain’s has provided its hot dog trailer, and hot dogs and soft drinks will be available for purchase.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
