THE DAYS LENGTHEN and the options for outdoor activities also increase on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Today marks the last day of blackmouth fishing in Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), but the chinook fishery is scheduled to remain open through April 30 in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) and Area 12 (Hood Canal).
Out on the West End, rivers are back in shape after last weekend’s storm, so anglers should take care not to spook the wild steelhead and spring chinook making their way upstream.
Lingcod fishing also is now open in Marine Area 3 (LaPush). The daily catch limit is two of a minimum 22 inches in length.
Hurricane Ridge is now up to a snow depth of 116 inches, a far cry from the 6 inches at this time last year.
The ridge plays host to the annual Strapless Weekend in the Olympics Saturday and Sunday, a celebration of all things snowskate.
A snowskate is a skateboard deck mounted to a single short ski about 4 inches off the snow.
Snowskaters will take part in a Park Jam, a freestyle contest in the ridge’s terrain park all day Saturday.
A downhill snowskate race, the Almost Legendary Baked Slalom, is set Sunday.
Spectators are welcome.
If two wheels are more your style, the second portion of the 19th annual Tour de Dungeness bike race is set Saturday in the Dungeness Valley.
Registration runs through the day of the event.
The 12-mile race starts at 9:45 a.m.
The course includes Lotzgesell, Cays, East Anderson, Sequim Dungeness Way, Woodcock and Kitchen-Dick roads.
Tim’s Custom Cabinets, at the corner of Kitchen-Dick and Lotzgesell roads, has loaned its parking lot for vehicle parking.
For more information, contact Mike Van Doren at 360-417-5257 (after 5 p.m.) or 360-775-7796.
Razor clam digs with evening tides also are planned through the weekend at Moclips, Copalis and Long Beach.
Good news in Sequim
An abundance of butter clam, native littleneck clams and oysters at Sequim Bay State Park has led the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to lengthen the upcoming harvest season.
The sport clam and oyster season will run from April 1 through June 30 at Sequim Bay State Park.
A number of beaches in Clallam and Jefferson County are open to shellfish harvest.
To check the status of public clam and oyster beaches, visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish.
State seeks input
Citizens with ideas on how to improve sport fisheries in Puget Sound and Washington’s coastal waters can submit their proposals to Fish and Wildlife through April 30.
State fishery managers will consider proposed rules submitted by the public for most marine fish and shellfish species except salmon, halibut, tuna, and coastal bottomfish.
Fishing regulations for those species are established through separate processes.
That does cut out the trophy species, for sure, but the public could still offer a fix or an improvement to crab, shrimp, shellfish and other fisheries, catch limits, gear, bait, how to report catch totals and more.
To propose fishing rule changes online, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-Rules16, or obtain a submission form by calling 360-902-2700.
The website includes more information about this year’s rule proposal process.
“We are looking for ideas on how we can improve sport fishing opportunities, meet conservation goals for marine fish and shellfish, and simplify fishing rules,” said Craig Burley, manager of the state’s fish management division.
“Next year, we’ll be asking the public for input on simplifying fishing rules for inland fish species in freshwater areas of the state.”
That’s when we all team up and try to get Anderson Lake in Jefferson County to switch to a winter-only fishery, right?
Right.
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.
