HITTING BOTTOM IN life is something we all try to avoid.
In halibut fishing, however, hitting bottom, and then maintaining a steady presence on the sea floor, is good advice.
Doing so may prove lucrative for halibut anglers competing for the $5,000 top prize in the Port Angeles Salmon Club Halibut Derby on Saturday and Sunday.
If winds kick up waves and conspire with tidal currents to produce a whole lot of shaking out on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, staying on the bottom will be a tougher task.
But bottoming out is crucial, according to Brian Menkal of Brian’s Sporting Goods and More (360-683-1950) in Sequim.
“No matter the method, jigging, bait bag, anchoring, you have to make sure your line stays down on the bottom,” Menkal said.
“These fish are ambush predators, hanging out on the bottom waiting to strike and not suspended up and down the water column like salmon.”
Menkal believes the stronger halibut fishing in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) has been in the waters near Sequim — the Dungeness Triangle, if you will.
“I’ve heard lots of good stories from the Sequim area, and it seems like the bite has been better than off Port Angeles,” Menkal said.
“Most are fishing between Dungeness Bar, Dallas Bank and south toward Protection Island.
“The first weekend we heard about a 110-pounder, and there have been several in the 60-pound class and lots from 25 to 60 pounds.
“We did see a nice picture of a guy filleting one down at the marina that was 65 to 70 pounds.”
Menkal clued me in to the benefits of using a spreader bar, another common halibut tactic.
“There are two types, metallic or monofilament line,” Menkal said.
“They way they work is they separate the weight from the lure and allow the lure to trail along behind and leave a scent trail the halibut can pick up on.
“These guys have very, very good olfactory nerves, so they will smell your bait coming.”
Spreader bars can sometimes get your line tangled together, so spread with care.
“The fun thing about halibut fishing is that everybody has their own individual favorite setups,” Menkal said.
“If you catch a 60-pounder with a mackerel, that’s probably what you’ll be using.
“But they eat everything, so it’s like putting down food for a hungry teenager: it’ll get snapped up.”
Another trick is to add scent to your bait.
“Lots of people inject added scent in there,” Menkal said.
“Herring oil, halibut scent, butt juice. A real, permeating scent so they know something that smells like food is headed in there.”
Bob Aunspach of Swain’s General Store (360-452-2357) in Port Angeles said that the waters east of Port Angeles have offered up more halibut than west of town.
“East of Ediz Hook has seemed to produce better than the west,” Aunspach said.
“That could change, of course. And last year I thought west did better, and the winner was hooked east of town.”
Tides shouldn’t play a big role, either.
“Tides will be fine,” Aunspach said.
“It’s been working out despite the minus tides for the first two weekends.”
The more tidal action there is also could be a benefit in spreading out scent along the sea floor.
“Some of the bigger tides are good for anchoring because the current is going in a certain direction for a long amount of time and really sending that scent out,” Aunspach said.
“It might be three hours before the bite starts and then it gets going in a big way.”
Those waiting until the last minute to get in on the halibut derby are in luck.
Port Angeles Salmon Club members will sell the $40 tickets at the derby’s headquarters, the Port Angeles Yacht Club, 1305 Marine Drive, today, and again Saturday and Sunday.
Another ticket-selling table is set up today at Swain’s, 602 E. First St., and anglers also can purchase tickets at Brian’s Sporting Goods and More, 609 W. Washington St., No. 21 in Sequim, and Jerry’s Bait and Tackle, 2720 U.S. Highway 101 in Port Angeles.
New leader
The Swain’s monthly fish ladder added a new leader last weekend: an 81-pound halibut now atop the charts.
For the months of March, May, July, August and October, Swain’s will tally up submitted fish for a shot at gift cards ranging from $25 to $100 for fourth through first places.
All anglers need to do to pick up a fish ladder ticket is drop by Swain’s with four cans of food for donation to the Port Angeles Food Bank.
Hoh River closure
The Hoh River and South Fork Hoh River will close to all recreational fishing from Saturday, June 6, through Friday, July 31, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Thursday.
The Hoh River’s population of spring/summer chinook has been near or below a 900-fish escapement goal for the last nine years.
Escapement refers to the number of chinook that escape commercial and recreational fisheries and reach spawning grounds.
This state believes the closure will reduce encounters and mortalities of spring chinook that occur while anglers are targeting other fish, such as summer steelhead.
“There was no spring chinook season planned for the river this year,” state Regional Fish Program Manager Steve Thiesfeld said.
“The river was going to be open for trout or game fish, and the better summer steelhead fishing typically occurs in August [after the closure ends].
“So with the decision we tried to preserve most of the summer steelhead.”
But with the snow pack drought in the Olympic Mountains already impacting stream flow, there’s a good chance that the closure may be extended.
“Realistically, I think anglers throughout the state and on the Olympic Peninsula should be watching for additional restrictions as we move to the fall season,” Thiesfeld.
Thiesfeld also said the Hoh tribe has cut the number of days it plans to net the river.
“We’ve had some positive discussions with the Hoh tribe about taking some time off and leaving the river unfettered for a period of time, but we couldn’t quite get there this year,” Thiesfeld said.
“Everybody is taking a reduction on fishing this year, the park leading the way with some conservation moves.”
Earlier this week, Olympic National Park closed the Hoh River watershed to recreational fishing.
The Hoh River mouth will be closed to recreational fishing through August 31. The Hoh River, South Fork Hoh River and their tributaries will be closed through October 31.
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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.
