The hatchery king fishery in central and northern Puget Sound has been frustrating at times, but don't throw in the towel just yet.

The latest reports indicate a giant wall of kings are still milling in Strait of Juan de Fuca, the west side of Vancouver Island and Admiralty Inlet off Whidbey Island.

"It was pretty good, and I haven't seen it this good for chinook in 20 years or so around Port Angeles," said Larry Bennett, the head state Fish and Wildlife fish checker in the Strait. "Usually the kings just dribble in, but that isn't the case this summer."

In the western Strait, places like Sekiu, Pillar Point and Freshwater Bay have all produced fairly good action for hatchery kings and some coho.

Further east off Admiralty Inlet, anglers were encountering fantastic king fishing.

"There looked like more fish caught up there (at Midchannel Bank off Port Townsend) than on opening day (July 16)," said Brett Barkdull, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist who recently fished the bank.

Places like Foulweather Bluff, Possession Bar, Point No Point, Pilot Point, the Edmonds area, Richmond Beach and Kingston have improved this week.

"It finally started to pick up around here for kings," said Pete Sergeeff a state Fish and Wildlife checker at the Don Armeni ramp in West Seattle. "It doesn't matter where you go. The tides are better for fishing this week, plus the fish seem more aggressive and willing to bite."

Good spots are Dolphin Point off Vashon Island, Lincoln Park and Brace Point near Fauntleroy, Southworth and Yeomalt Point.

The South King County Puget Sound Anglers Derby was held last Saturday, and more than 360 anglers caught 47 fish. Kyle Klein caught a 27-pound, 2-ounce king off Dolphin Point and took home $3,500.

While salmon action off the coast is good, the early arrival of tuna has gotten many into a fishing frenzy.

"We saw some pretty good tuna catches this week, and Ilwaco had a lot of effort for an average of five to six tuna per person and the highest private boat has more than 10 per rod," said Wendy Beeghley, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "The tuna were anywhere from 25 to 40 miles offshore."

At Westport, charter boats averaged more than 10 tuna per rod, and private boats caught four to seven per rod. Neah Bay and La Push tuna anglers had some success, but not as much effort.

On the salmon front, Westport anglers averaged close to 0.75 fish per rod with about two chinook caught for every coho. At La Push, it was just over a fish per rod with a 2-to-1 ratio of chinook to coho. At Neah Bay, it was about a fish per rod with more coho in the catch. At Ilwaco, it was a bit under a fish per rod, and more chinook showed up.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com