HALIBUT FISHING TAKES a short hiatus this weekend before wrapping up Thursday through Sunday in Marine areas 5 (Sekiu), 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet).
Halibut fishing off La Push and Neah Bay will reopen for an extra day Saturday, May 28.
After bad weather derailed many anglers and produced lower-than-expected catch totals on the opener earlier this month, this “additional” fishing day became much more likely.
And the state Department of Fish and Wildlife confirmed there is sufficient quota remaining in Marine areas 3 and 4 to open the recreational halibut fishery for another day.
Both angler pressure and catch totals were highest last Friday in Port Angeles, and especially in Sekiu, where fish checkers at Mason’s Olson Resort and Van Riper’s Resort tallied 237 halibut landed by 423 anglers in 150 boats.
But the biggest butt of the weekend, a 177-pound behemoth, was landed off Freshwater Bay by experienced halibut and sturgeon angler Mike Constant of Port Angeles.
For more details and a photo of Constant beaming with his big catch, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-BigHalibut.
Halibut meeting in PT
A meeting to discuss recreational halibut fishing will be hosted by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Port Townsend office, 375 Hudson St., at 9 a.m. Monday.
The state is exploring the idea of implementing a halibut catch record card that anglers would turn in quickly after the season ends, similar to the existing crab catch record card, according to Heather Reed, coastal marine policy coordinator for Fish and Wildlife.
“Our sport fishermen think it would represent a better estimate of catch totals,” Reed said.
That’s important for a fishery that was trimmed from 11 days last season to eight this year because anglers went over the halibut catch allocation in Puget Sound.
Reed said the meeting also will touch on sampling methods at Puget Sound ports, and how season-setting dates will be handled for the 2017 halibut fishery.
She said structural changes to halibut fishing, such as a switch from the current derby-style fishery to a longer season with an overall catch limit, would not be explored at the meeting.
“We’ve had that discussion already at a meeting last fall,” Reed said.
That news is sure to frustrate many anglers who are pushing for a longer season to keep anglers safe and reduce pressure on the water.
Any large change would have to be approved by the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the regulating body in charge of all West Coast halibut fisheries.
Hatchery pond stocked
Fish and Wildlife have stocked the South Pond at the Bogachiel Hatchery in Forks with rainbow trout and will open the pond for fishing from Saturday through Sept. 15.
More than 5,000 rainbows were stocked earlier this month.
Statewide rules apply with a daily limit of five trout.
The move comes as a result of Rayonier’s decision to charge a fee to access its timberland on the way to Wentworth Lake, a state-owned and previously stocked lake near Forks.
Now the trout that normally would have been planted in Wentworth Lake are headed to the Bogachiel pond.
Lake fishing report
Ward Norden owner of Snapper Tackle Company and a former fishery biologist who lives in Quilcene, checked in to let me know that yes, there is something going on besides halibut.
“Our local lakes, Leland, Tarboo, Sandy Shore, etc. . . are still producing good numbers of trout for anglers using Power Bait,” Norden said.
“With all lake temperatures hovering around 58 degrees for the last couple weeks, many largemouth bass have completed their spawning, and the males are now guarding their nests in water about 18 inches deep.
“Until the eggs hatch and the fingerlings reach about 1½ inches, the dutiful male bass will not be feeding, just protecting the next generation.”
A video of male bass doing their duty and protecting their nests from artificial lures is viewable online at tinyurl.com/PDN-Bass16.
“In a recent foray into bass water I caught several of the males guarding nests, but I carefully carried each one back to his nest and instructed him to guard those babies well,” Norden said.
Kokanee, or landlocked sockeye, fishing also is getting the attention of anglers.
Jefferson County lakes lack strong kokanee stocks, but Clallam County has three productive kokanee fisheries: Sutherland, Pleasant and Ozette lakes.
“Many anglers are already stocking up on the miniature 1½-inch trolling squids in bright colors that work so well when the kokanee switch from plankton feeding to larger foods.”
An effective kokanee lure for slow drifting is the 1/3-ounce Sonic BaitFish from Mack’s Lure Co.
Kids Fishing Day
The annual Kids Fishing Day at the Carrie Blake Park Reclamation Pond in Sequim will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The pond will be planted with ample catchable- and jumbo-sized rainbow trout that will be hungry for a bite when fishing starts that morning.
Each youth angler up to age 14 can keep two fish.
A separate pond will be available for kids younger than 4.
The Swain’s hot dog trailer, borrowed for the event, will serve hot dogs and soft drinks for 50 cents.
The day of fishing is hosted by the North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the city of Sequim.
Club members will help kids land fish and remove hooks.
Rod and reels will be provided.
A cleaning station also will be on site, where the fish will be cleaned, bagged and iced for transport to the nearest frying pan.
Derby tickets on sale
Anglers can pick up a Port Angeles Salmon Club Halibut Derby ticket for $40 at three North Olympic Peninsula locations: Swain’s General Store and Jerry’s Bait & Tackle in Port Angeles, and Brian’s Sporting Goods and More in Sequim.
Fishing will be contained in Marine Area 6, between Low Point to the west and the Dungeness Spit to the east.
Fishing hours are daylight to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 28, and daylight to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29.
A total of $20,000 in cash prizes will be up for grabs, including $5,000 for the winner.
Anglers can launch their boats for free thanks to the Port of Port Angeles.
The weigh-in will be held at the West Boat Haven ramp and docks, and all fish must be brought in by water.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
