HALIBUT SEASON OPENED inside the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound on a brisk, sunny spring day Thursday with anglers noting both the amount of halibut available and the number of early season dogfish taking anglers’ offerings.
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Fishing for halibut will continue seven days a week in Marine Areas 5-10 until the quota is reached.
Sekiu was the fishing spot with more limited action Thursday, partly because only Van Riper’s Resort has put in its docks for the season at its launch with blackmouth chinook’s opener pushed back to April 14 to extend opportunity.
Mason’s Olsons Resort is planning to place its docks in time for blackmouth next weekend — and the launch experience will soon be a bit different.
Commission approval
In February, the state Fish and Wildlife Commission approved purchasing the four boat ramps and parking area at Mason’s, securing state Department of Fish and Wildlife control and access to the only public fishing and recreational boat launch between Neah Bay to the west and Freshwater Bay, 31 miles to the east.
The $2.43 million purchase was approved on a 6-1 vote with Chair Barbara Baker (Olympia) and commissioners John Lehmkuhl (Wenatchee), Steven Parker (Yakima), Woody Myers (Spokane) and Port Townsend’s Lorna Smith.
Commissioner Melanie Rowland of Twisp voted no, concerned about funding being redirected as lawmakers look for ways to approach a $10 billion to $12 billion state budget deficit.
Funds for the purchase, which already has been appropriated, come from a state Recreation and Conservation Office Boating Facility Program grant and the 2024 state capital budget.
Maintenance is estimated at $200,000 annually to operate the Sekiu ramps and parking area. That will include a 0.75 full-time-equivalent employee — maybe not enough staffing to handle the crowds that flock to the site during king and coho fisheries in the summer.
Talks since 2018
Mason’s owner Brandon Mason has been in negotiations for the portions of property with the state since 2018.
Larry Phillips, current Pacific Fisheries policy director for the American Sportfishing Association, was Region 6 director for Fish and Wildlife when talks first started.
Phillips is an angler himself and is pleased to see the proposal receive approval.
“This is a big win,” Phillips said. “It’s understandable for folks to have concerns, but this provides us with the best long-term solution to access Marine Area 5.”
Phillips called the deal a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” and pointed to the ramp’s crucial economic benefits for the area, some $13 million generated by tens of thousands of angler trips.
One such concern is a winnowing of availability for the launch with the state limiting or delaying fisheries.
“Marine Area 5 is opening late (for blackmouth) due to limited moorage space and all the docks aren’t expected to be installed at the beginning of April,” said Lyle Jennings, Puget Sound recreational fisheries manager with the state.
“We consulted with the Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group and recreational anglers, who indicated a priority to preserve fishing opportunity as long as possible into the winter season.”
Quilcene angler and tackle maker Ward Norden recently ventured out west on a sales visit.
“Arriving at Mason’s Resort, I found winter debris still on the launch and the store’s windows plus doors still boarded up for the winter,” Norden said.
“None of the moorages floats were out but still stacked in the parking lot. From the photograph showing the sale, Mason’s still retains some of the moorage directly in front of the store. Normally after the early opening of Area 4, the resort and store are at least partially open.”
Norden also heard that in spite of the rough ocean conditions, anglers have been able to head out of Neah Bay toward Sail Rock to find pretty good rockfish and lingcod fishing.
Snow Creek access
Norden, who enjoys fishing from his kayak, drove past the old Snow Creek Resort on his way to visit Neah Bay.
“I wish the WDFW would have fixed up their access at the old Snow Creek Resort instead rather than potentially screwing up Sekiu,” Norden said. “Locals are starting to complain about all the kayakers parking along the road (state Highway 112) to launch at Snow Creek.
“There are only about four parking spaces along the road and as many as 20 rigs are seen there on sunny summer weekends. There are as many as 20 parking spots behind the WDFW locked gate, so kayaks and canoes have to be hoistable over the gate.
“In my opinion, the little sandy beach at Snow Creek is the best kayak/canoe launching location on the Olympic Peninsula and could be a huge tourist draw for a growing demographic.”
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at sports@ peninsuladailynews.com.
