Outdoors

OUTDOORS: Parks-a-plenty in Jefferson County’s Irondale

Changes in longitude, even if it’s only one degree easterly, are significant. Recently, circumstances dictated that I pack up and leave Deer Park, the name… Continue reading

Monkey Face at Smith Rock State Park. (Pierre LaBossiere/Peninsula Daily News)

OUTDOORS COLUMN: Triumph in a place called Misery

Once upon a time, I climbed mountains. Big, scary mountains. I climbed two 14ers in California, I climbed El Capitan, I climbed Half Dome, I… Continue reading

Monkey Face at Smith Rock State Park. (Pierre LaBossiere/Peninsula Daily News)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife just released its Hunting Prospects for the 2021 hunting seasons. Cody Nelson/Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OUTDOORS: WDFW releases Hunting Prospects for fall 2021

Fall marks the start of hunting seasons for deer, elk, waterfowl and upland game birds in many areas of Washington and to help… Continue reading

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife just released its Hunting Prospects for the 2021 hunting seasons. Cody Nelson/Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OUTDOORS: Forest grouse opener now Sept. 15

Two-week delay to protect hens and chicks

Razor clam diggers should expect a banner harvest season in 2021-2022 with record-size numbers of clams at many ocean beaches. (Photo courtesy of State Department of Fish and Wildlife)

OUTDOORS: Banner razor clam season expected

But not at Kalaloch, which won’t open in 2021-2022

Razor clam diggers should expect a banner harvest season in 2021-2022 with record-size numbers of clams at many ocean beaches. (Photo courtesy of State Department of Fish and Wildlife)
The Olympic Chapter of Salmon For Soldiers hosted 77 service veterans on 34 volunteer skippered fishing boats during last Sunday's Summer Salmon Slammin' event in the waters off Sekiu. Fishing was red-hot across the board as veterans enjoyed a day out on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

OUTDOORS: Veterans salmon fishing outing a huge success

The smoke cleared, then the fog burned off, and 77 service veterans enjoyed the treat that is summer salmon fishing on the Strait of Juan… Continue reading

The Olympic Chapter of Salmon For Soldiers hosted 77 service veterans on 34 volunteer skippered fishing boats during last Sunday's Summer Salmon Slammin' event in the waters off Sekiu. Fishing was red-hot across the board as veterans enjoyed a day out on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

OUTDOORS BRIEF: Additional elk tags available

Hunters who bought a multi-season permit application for elk earlier this year, but were not selected in the April drawing, may be one… Continue reading

Holly Bauman Quilcene angler Ward Norden found beach casting success from the shore of Fort Flagler State Park recently, catching this pink with a pink rotator jig. Pinks are at the height of their odd-year return this month.

OUTDOORS: Olympic Peninsula anglers can fish Canadian waters with caveats

Who’s up for a leisure cruise in Canadian waters? While the land borders between the Great White North and the U.S. remain closed until Aug.… Continue reading

Holly Bauman Quilcene angler Ward Norden found beach casting success from the shore of Fort Flagler State Park recently, catching this pink with a pink rotator jig. Pinks are at the height of their odd-year return this month.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OUTDOORS: Spot shrimp reopens in Marine Area 6 on Wednesday

Recreational spot shrimp will reopen in four Puget Sound marine areas, including most of the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca, for a… Continue reading

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

OUTDOORS: Steelhead season planning underway as state announces steelhead committee

HOPING TO AVOID a repeat of last fall’s bombshell winter steelhead rule change rollout, state fishery managers have drawn back the curtain a bit on… Continue reading

OUTDOORS: King fishery closed off Port Townsend

Still able to target coho and pinks

Courtesy photo 13-year-old Joey Kang of Port Angeles caught a 28-pound king salmon this week at Freshwater Bay near Eagle's Nest. Kang was fishing with his father James Kang of Port Angeles and reeled in his the giant fish himself.

SALMON FISHING: 13-year-old Port Angeles boy catches 28-pounder

Joey Kang, 13, of Port Angeles caught a 28-pound king salmon this week at Freshwater Bay west of Port Angeles. Kang was fishing with his… Continue reading

Courtesy photo 13-year-old Joey Kang of Port Angeles caught a 28-pound king salmon this week at Freshwater Bay near Eagle's Nest. Kang was fishing with his father James Kang of Port Angeles and reeled in his the giant fish himself.
Port Townsend's Don Arnett found success at Midchannel Bank on opening day of salmon season in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet). The chinook bite started hot and has cooled somewhat, but catches are still strong.

OUTDOORS: Marine Area 9 remains open to kings after hot start

Neah Bay chinook limit cut to 1 starting Saturday

Port Townsend's Don Arnett found success at Midchannel Bank on opening day of salmon season in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet). The chinook bite started hot and has cooled somewhat, but catches are still strong.
Photo courtesy of Mason's Olson Resort Chadd Cinkovich shows off his king salmon caught last week in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

OUTDOORS: Marine Area 5 closing to Chinook retention

Hatchery coho and pinks remain open

Photo courtesy of Mason's Olson Resort Chadd Cinkovich shows off his king salmon caught last week in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Anglers Annika Huffman and John Nunnally found success recently with hatchery chinook limits while fishing out of Mason's Resort in Sekiu.

OUTDOORS: Small herring cause of bait shortage

Anglers find success inside Strait of Juan de Fuca

Anglers Annika Huffman and John Nunnally found success recently with hatchery chinook limits while fishing out of Mason's Resort in Sekiu.
Dave Finney caught this hatchery chinook while fishing Midchannel Bank off Port Townsend on opening day in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) in July of 2019.

OUTDOORS: Anglers set to rob Midchannel Bank

It may well be a blink-and-you-miss-it type of fishery, but salmon season will open Friday in the waters off Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet). The… Continue reading

Dave Finney caught this hatchery chinook while fishing Midchannel Bank off Port Townsend on opening day in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) in July of 2019.
The Sequim Chapter of Salmon For Soldiers is planning a large salmon fishing trip for veterans and active-duty military off Sekiu on Aug. 15. Lori Hester, a former Army nurse, limited on salmon Saturday in an outing with the group.

OUTDOORS: Sequim group plans largue Sekiu outing for veterans

A sport fishing fleet 30 vessels strong will provide veterans and active duty military with an outing to remember, a salmon fishing adventure… Continue reading

The Sequim Chapter of Salmon For Soldiers is planning a large salmon fishing trip for veterans and active-duty military off Sekiu on Aug. 15. Lori Hester, a former Army nurse, limited on salmon Saturday in an outing with the group.

OUTDOORS: Kings biting in the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Plenty of halibut remaining

Jesse Major/Peninsula Adventure Sports Mountain bikers compete in the Bon Jon Pedal Bender west of Quilcene, the final leg of this year's Gravel Unravel, last weekend.

ADVENTURE SPORTS: Mountain bikers brave sweltering heat in Bon Jon race

More than 100 mountain bike racers from as far away as Virginia survived some tough climbs and brutal 100-degree heat in the Bon… Continue reading

Jesse Major/Peninsula Adventure Sports Mountain bikers compete in the Bon Jon Pedal Bender west of Quilcene, the final leg of this year's Gravel Unravel, last weekend.

OUTDOORS: Spot shrimp to reopen in Marine Area 6 on July 14

Recreational spot shrimp will reopen in a handful of Puget Sound marine areas, including Marine Area 6 in the eastern half of the… Continue reading