The Seattle Times: Reel Time Northwest

Where they're biting, where they're not

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:29:03 PST

This is an interactive map that shows the best and worst places to cast a line in Washington state. It's usually updated on Mondays and Thursdays.

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Decline of Columbia River white sturgeon and proposed fishing seasons are topic of a meeting on Feb. 11

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:46:03 PST

There are plenty of issues in regards to the Columbia River sturgeon population, and state Fish and Wildlife send out an announcement about a public meeting to gather input on the situation.

Washington and Oregon fisheries managers will host the public meeting 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way in Vancouver.

On the table for discussion is the decline of white sturgeon and what fishery managers intend to to do for the upcoming 2010 fishing season.

The news release went on to say the proposal includes reductions in catch guidelines, new ways to protect spawning sturgeon and scenarios for sport fishing seasons.

"There are concerns about the population itself, and the abundance number of legals [sturgeon between 38-inch minimum to 54-inch maximum] is estimated to be just under 100,000," Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist said in an interview back in December.

"Some other not so positive signs were the sport catch of sub-legal sturgeon has dropped off quite a bit in recent years, and on top of that you have stellar sea lions impacting and preying on the broodstock [white] sturgeon," Hymer said.

Abundance estimates for harvestable size sturgeon were at 123,400 fish in 2006; 135,400 in 2007; and 97,000 in 2008.

An alternative indicator of legal-size abundance, harvest per angler trip in recreation fisheries, remained relatively stable from 1995 through 2007, but declined by 24 percent in 2008 from the previous 13-year average.

The sea lions preying on white sturgeon is a new and growing threat, which has been seen by fisheries officials around Bonneville Dam and Beacon Rock.

Estimated consumption of white sturgeon near the base of the dam alone has increased from 413 fish in 2006 to 1,710 in 2009.

The sport catch estimate in the Lower Columbia River in 2009 is projected to be 18,129 white sturgeon from 115,231 angler trips, which is the lowest catch since 1990.

"The sturgeon catch in the Willamette [on the Oregon side of the Columbia] has also gotten bigger, and so there is some concerns about that as well," Hymer said.

The joint fisheries staff are recommending that the current four-year sturgeon management agreement be renewed for one year [2010] with the combined harvest guideline being reduced from the current 40,000 fish [36,800 actual harvest]. Although the new guideline has not yet been developed, initial estimates indicate a reduction of up to 35 percent may be needed to compensate for reduced sub-legal and legal fish abundance.

Fishery managers will set sturgeon-fishing regulations for the remainder of 2010 at a bi-state public hearing scheduled Feb. 18 in Oregon City.

Local angler gives his view of salmon fishing through cartoons

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:46:02 PST

It is always nice to add a little humor to our fishing days, and Frank Hunt who lives on Camano Island, drew up a funny cartoon related to salmon fishing.

"He has always joked about the guys who have all these theories about when to fish (by tides, moon, rain, temperature, etc.); yet he still catches more fish than any other person I've met," said son-in-law Ray Makela. "I think his cartoons say it all."

Hunt who is 72 years old, and has been fishing for more than 65 years. He is the current leader of the Elger Bay Salmon Derby with 15 blackmouth caught and also has the largest fish on the board, a 16 pounder.

Coho salmon get a boost in Lake Washington

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:16:03 PST

Lake Washington has been getting an annual plant of coho salmon in hopes of increasing their population in the huge urban watershed.

The Bellevue Stream Team in partnership with Roger Urbaniak, a member of the Puget Sound Anglers Lake Washington Chapter, operate the site on private property better known as the Kelsey Creek Coho Incubator Site in Bellevue.

Coho salmon eggs from the Issaquah Hatchery are used to start the life cycle for 30,000 coho. Eggs have been placed in incubators and grown to smolt size where they have begun swimming and looking for food.

Fish are soon to be released into Kelsey Creek where they grow for a year and then head out to sea, returning as three-year old adults.

The lake does host a coho salmon sport fishery north of the 520 Floating Bridge that usually begins each year in mid-September.

All coastal beachs except for Long Beach will be open for razor clam digging

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:01:03 PST

Coastal razor clam diggers are breathing a sigh of relief after state Fish and Wildlife approved digging on four beaches.

Last week, Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP), a marine toxin, had gone above the cutoff threshold at Long Beach, which canceled the dig there.

Testing taken on Tuesday at other beaches were still below the cutoff so digging will proceed at Twin Harbors from Thursday to Sunday, Mocrocks and Copalis will be open Friday to Sunday, and Kalaloch will be open Saturday and Sunday. Digging is allowed between noon and midnight each day.

PSP is a marine toxin produced by a certain type of algae that can cause paralysis and in some cases can lead to death if consumed in sufficient quantities.

PSP had been detected in clams on the Oregon coast where beaches had been closed since December.

No coastal beaches have been closed to razor-clam digging because of elevated PSP levels since 1993, Ayres said. A different marine toxin, domoic acid, prompted a season-long closure in 2002-03.

More testing on clams will be conducted in the weeks to come, and if clams are safe for eating then more digs will occur next month.

Word on coastal razor clam openers should be known soon

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:46:03 PST

The fate of the coastal razor clam digs scheduled to begin by tomorrow (Jan. 29) will be announced anytime now.

"We were able to get on the beaches and dig up the test (razor clam) samples that are at the lab, and we should have the results later this afternoon (Jan. 27) or for certain by tomorrow morning (Jan. 28)," said Dan Ayres, the head coastal state Fish and Wildlife shellfish biologist.

Late last week, fisheries officials decided to cancel the dig at Long Beach where Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) was detected in razor clams.

PSP toxins are produced by microscopic marine algae. Shellfish become toxic by feeding on the algae. The poison acts rapidly in humans, and no antidote has been discovered. The toxin isn't affected by freezing or cooking.

Marine toxin levels in clams dug this past week at Long Beach were slightly above the cutoff level, and other beaches were still just below the action level.

If given the go-ahead, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks will be open Friday to Sunday (Jan. 29-31), and Kalaloch will be open Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 30-31). Digging is allowed between noon and midnight only.

Port of Everett closes highly popular 10th Street boat launch used by anglers

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:01:03 PST

Those planning a trip into northern Puget Sound or Saratoga Passage for a day of salmon fishing, might be in for a big unhappy surprise should they decide to head to the Port of Everett 10th Street boat ramp to launch their boat.

As of Tuesday, Jan. 26 the highly popular boat launch used by hundreds of anglers on peak days of the winter salmon fishing season will be closed for "a much-needed dredging project," according to a news release on the Port's Web site.

"I know a lot of people are upset, and the reason why is that (the Port of Everett) didn't even post a sign in front of the pay booth last weekend when the majority of folks are launching their boats," said Gary Krein, owner of All-Star Charters in Everett. "I heard they finally put up a sign on Sunday evening, but there will be a ton of people who won't know and come this Saturday they won't be happy at all."

The facility will be closed until mid-February, but could be even longer as the contractor for the project has a two-week extension beyond Feb. 15 if it takes more time.

Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood advises anglers to launch their boats at the Mukilteo ramp, "if the wind is not blowing too hard, but it has no dock in place. Or launch at Langus Park just west of I-5, but don't cut the north jetty to tight or else you might end up high and dry."

Chamberlain says there is a good boat launch at Marysville on the east side, but be careful of shallow water areas when heading out from here too.

"There are definitely ways to get out and fish, but I am sure the closure will have a lot of people (angry)," Chamberlain said. "The good news is that there was a lot of problems at the Everett ramp this past summer with retrieving boats during low water. So we have to look at the positive side and what this will do later this summer."

The Port of Everett awarded a contract to KC Equipment to remove approximately 30,000 cubic yards of sediment from the boat launch facility, the news release said.

This $600,000 investment in the boat launch is supported by the Port's Capital Improvement Project budget, and will enhance the operation and safety of the facility.
Last summer, the sedimentation impacted operations at the Port's boat launch. From May to September of 2009, the Port had 22 days in which lanes 11, 12 and 13 of the public boat launch were inoperable during certain low tide periods.

The number of days that lane 13 alone couldn't be used is significantly higher, because it is inaccessible at any minus tide. This is particularly troublesome because lane 13 is designed to provide access to individuals with disabilities.

"This project is essential to providing reliable boating access to the Puget Sound," said Carl Wollebek, Chief of Operations for the Port of Everett said in the news release. "The Port regrets any inconvenience to local boaters while this project is ongoing."