ANGLER, AUTHOR AND guide John Beath of Sequim will present his Top 10 Tactics for Catching Halibut in the Strait of Juan de Fuca at tonight’s meeting of the North Olympic Peninsula Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers.
The group meets at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., with a social half-hour of fish stories and viewing of raffle items starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by Beath’s presentation at 7 p.m. A business meeting will follow.
Beath, who also manufactures tackle when he’s not on the water or writing about fishing, will include secrets and strategies to consistently catch halibut in the waters of our state and British Columbia.
He’ll cover tides and currents, top baits, lures, anchoring, chumming, drifting, jigging and share images, area charts and video of halibut fishing.
Beath also will go over the requirements laid out by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. and Canadian Customs for fishing in Canadian waters and returning home to a U.S. port.
Beath is the owner of SquidPro Tackle, www.Halibut.net and www.HalibutChronicles.com.
The public is welcome to attend the meeting.
Refreshments, a raffle for fishing gear and a membership drawing for those in attendance also will be held.
Fudge equals funds
Puget Sound Anglers will receive a portion of fudge sales this month from Carlsborg’s We Do Fudge.
The drive-thru fudge stand is located off Hooker Road at 11 Valley Center Place and hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Fudge also may be purchased at www.wedofudge.com.
Last razor digs
Razor clam diggers have one last chance to dig during a series of digs beginning today.
Mocrocks will be open for digging today through Sunday, joined by Long Beach and Twin Harbors on Saturday and Sunday and Copalis on Saturday.
“Since this is likely the last dig of the spring season, we expect a good turnout,” said Dan Ayres, WDFW’s coastal shellfish manager. “The opening also coincides with the Long Beach Razor Clam Festival on Saturday.”
Digging must be completed by noon today and Friday.
That’s not the case this weekend, when low tides occur close to noon Saturday and Sunday, Ayres said.
The upcoming dig is approved on the following beaches, dates and morning low tides:
• Today: 9:46 a.m.; -0.9 feet; Mocrocks
• Friday: 10:37 a.m.; -0.7 feet; Mocrocks
• Saturday: 11:34 a.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks, Copalis (digging hours will be extended to 1 p.m.)
• Sunday: 12:38 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks (digging hours will be extended to 2 p.m.).
Hunting changes
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved changes for the upcoming hunting season at public meetings last week in Olympia.
The biggest change impacting North Olympic Peninsula hunters comes in a rise in the limits for pintail ducksd to two birds a day in all general waterfowl seasons.
This change was made due to improved conditions in breeding areas.
Key changes in hunting rules approved by the commission for the upcoming season include:
Special seasons for waterfowl hunters under age 16 will be staggered to allow an individual hunter to participate in youth hunts on both sides of the state. The special youth hunt is set for Sept. 22-23 in western Washington, followed by a youth hunt Sept. 29-30 in eastern Washington.
The commission also approved a proposal to allow hunters to use primers designed for use in modern cartridges during muzzleloader seasons, but explicitly banned the use of unmanned aircraft — also known as drones — while hunting.
Hunting rules and regulations can be found in the 2018-19 Big Game Hunting Seasons and Regulations pamphlet, which will be available online today at wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations and at Fish and Wildlife offices and hunting license vendors across the state starting the last week of this month.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
