CORRECTION: Removes reference to the spring chinook salmon opening on the lower Yakima River. That opening has not yet been set.

Fishing options sprout in May for trout, shrimp, lingcod, halibut

This is the time of year when new fishing opportunities start popping open like daffodils in the afternoon sun. On various dates in May, shrimp and lingcod fisheries open in Puget Sound and halibut seasons get under way there and off the coast.

But none of those fisheries draw bigger crowds than the lowland lakes trout-fishing season, which opens April 30 statewide. With 300,000 anglers predicted to turn out that day alone, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has been busy stocking 20 million trout in lakes and ponds from the Olympic Peninsula to the Palouse.

Millions more trout, ranging from eight-inch “catchables” to five-pound jumbos, will be planted during the season, which runs through October, said Jim Uehara, WDFW inland fish manager.

“We stock lakes with trout for the whole season, not just opening day,” Uehara said. “Trout fishing should be most productive in lowland lakes through June, and then again in September. Fishing should be good in the higher-elevation lakes, and those stocked with kokanee, right through the summer.”

For most anglers, a valid 2011-12 fishing license is required to participate in any of these fisheries, now that 2010-11 licenses have expired. The exception is young people under age 15, who fish for free in Washington state.

Licenses and permits are avaiIable online , by phone (1-866-246-9453) and from sporting goods stores and other retail license dealers around the state. A list of license vendors is available online and from local WDFW offices.

Key dates for fisheries opening in May include:

• May 1 – Halibut fishing opens in Marine Area 2 off the south coast (Westport and Ocean Shores) and Puget Sound opens for lingcod.
• May 5 – Halibut fishing opens in Marine Areas 6-10 in Puget Sound, and in Marine Area 1 off the south coast (Ilwaco).
• May 7 – Shrimp fishing opens in areas of Puget Sound.
• May 12 – Halibut fishing opens in marine areas 3 and 4 off the north coast (La Push/Neah Bay).
• May 16 – Fishing opens for hatchery steelhead, sockeye salmon and shad on a section of the lower Columbia River.

Fishing regulations and other information about fisheries scheduled or under way around the state are available in Weekender Regional Reports and in the 2011-12 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet posted on WDFW’s website.

Meanwhile, anglers should be aware that Catch Record Cards for last year’s fishery are due to WDFW by April 30. Card holders are required to report their catch of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut, whether they caught fish or not. The completed cards should be mailed to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fish Program, Catch Record Cards, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia WA 98501-1091.

WASHINGTON STATE’S OFFICIAL SHIP TO STOP AT ILWACO, OFFER VALUE-PRICED SAIL

Ilwaco, Wash. – The brig Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington, and her companion ship, Hawaiian Chieftain, will visit Ilwaco May 2 to 4. The ships will welcome visitors for walk-on tours and a pair of two-hour public sails.

The ships are scheduled to arrive late on May 2 and tie up at the Port of Ilwaco, 165 Howerton Way, Ilwaco. On Tuesday, May 3, both ships will open for public tours from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Wednesday, May 4, Hawaiian Chieftain only will open for tours. Crew in period costumes will welcome visitors. A ticket is not required, but a $3 donation per person is appreciated.

On Tuesday evening, Lady Washington will host guests for a two-hour value-priced Evening Sail from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Wednesday evening, Hawaiian Chieftain will take passengers on a similar trip. Evening Sails feature demonstrations of tall ship handling and an opportunity to enjoy a romantic sunset on the Columbia River. Tickets are just $25 each. To purchase tickets, call 800-200-5239 or visit www.historicalseaport.org.

Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain are taking reservations for school tours during their Ilwaco stopover. Public schools are now eligible for a new scholarship program that will pay 85 percent of an educational program cost, if the money is matched by a local business, service group, or non-profit organization. To arrange a donor match, contact Roxie Underwood, programs manager, 800-200-5239, education@historicalseaport.org.

Lady Washington departs for Grays Harbor on May 4. Hawaiian Chieftain departs for Grays Harbor on May 5. Both vessels return to Ilwaco on May 17 to prepare for participation in the city of Astoria’s bicentennial celebration May 19 to 22.

SAN MATEO, Calif. – State and tribal co-managers today agreed on a package of salmon fisheries that meets conservation goals for wild salmon populations, while providing a variety of fishing opportunities on abundant stocks.

Washington’s 2011 salmon fishing seasons, developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty Indian co-managers, were finalized today during the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (PFMC) meeting in San Mateo, Calif. The fishing package defines regulations for salmon fisheries in Puget Sound, Washington’s ocean and coastal areas and the Columbia River.

“Salmon fisheries developed for this year meet conservation objectives for wild salmon while providing meaningful fishing opportunities throughout Washington’s waters,” said Phil Anderson, director of WDFW. “Developing these fisheries wouldn’t be possible without strong cooperation between the state, the tribes and our constituents.”

While state and tribal fishers will have a variety of salmon-fishing opportunities this year, many fisheries will be constrained to protect wild salmon listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

“Conservative fisheries must go hand-in-hand with habitat restoration and protection so that we can continue toward our goal of salmon recovery,” said Lorraine Loomis, fisheries manager for the Swinomish Tribe. “State and tribal cooperation is the key to addressing one of the most pressing needs of salmon – more high quality spawning and rearing habitat.”

As in past years, recreational salmon fisheries in 2011 will vary by area:

• Puget Sound: Anglers will have an opportunity to take advantage of an abundant return of pink salmon this year. Nearly 6 million pink salmon are expected to return to Puget Sound, where “bonus” bag limits for pink salmon will be established in marine areas 5 through 11.The majority of pink salmon – the smallest of the Pacific salmon species – return to Washington’s waters in odd-numbered years.

Most chinook and coho fisheries will be similar to last year’s seasons. However, the sport fishery for chinook in inner Elliott Bay will be closed to protect Green River naturally spawning chinook, which are expected to return in low numbers this year. Also, salmon fisheries on the Skokomish River have not yet been settled and state and tribal co-managers plan to continue negotiations over the next several weeks.  

• Washington‘s ocean waters: Despite an expected increase in chinook abundance, the PFMC today adopted a chinook catch quota of 33,700 for the recreational ocean fishery, 27,300 less than last year’s quota. The lower chinook quota is necessary to further protect wild salmon stocks and meet conservation goals, said Anderson, who represents WDFW on the management council.

“The chinook quota is down from last year, but the number of fish available for this summer’s ocean fishery should still provide good fishing opportunities for anglers,” Anderson said.

The PFMC also adopted a quota of 67,200 coho for this year’s recreational ocean fishery, the same number as last year’s quota.

This year’s ocean fishery will begin June 18 with a mark-selective fishery for hatchery chinook in all ocean areas. The fishery will run seven days a week, with a daily limit of two salmon, through June 25 or until 4,800 hatchery chinook are retained.

Recreational ocean salmon fisheries for chinook and hatchery coho will continue June 26 in marine areas 1, 2, 3 and 4. Anglers fishing those marine areas will be allowed to retain one chinook as part of a two-salmon daily limit. Anglers also are allowed one additional pink salmon each day in marine areas 3 and 4.

• Columbia River: The Buoy 10 fishery will be open for chinook and hatchery coho Aug. 1-28.  Anglers will have a two-salmon daily limit, only one of which may be a chinook. From Aug. 29 through Dec. 31, anglers will have a daily limit of two hatchery coho, but must release chinook.

The mainstem Columbia River from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam will be open for chinook and hatchery coho Aug. 1 through Dec. 31. Anglers will be allowed to retain one adult chinook as part of their two-fish daily bag limit through Sept. 9. Beginning Sept. 10, chinook retention will only be allowed upstream of the Lewis River, but up to two adult chinook may be retained.

Specific fishing seasons and regulations for marine areas in Washington and a portion of the Columbia River will be available next week on WDFW’s North of Falcon website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/ .

Spring chinook fishery extended again
on the lower Columbia River

OLYMPIA – Columbia River anglers will have four more days to catch hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon below Bonneville Dam, where tough fishing conditions have held this year’s catch below expected levels since late last month.

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon agreed Thursday to extend the season through April 19 to give anglers more time to reach the initial harvest guideline set at the beginning of the season.

The additional four days of fishing will follow on the heels of an eight-day extension previously approved through April 15.

Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said test fisheries have found relatively high concentrations of spring chinook salmon in the lower river, but water conditions have slowed their passage over Bonneville Dam and made them hard to catch with a hook and line.

“Anglers have been catching fish in some areas of the lower river, but turbid, high-water conditions have put a damper on overall catch rates,” LeFleur said. “Visibility underwater is about two feet, so the fish have a hard time seeing anglers’ lures.”

Through April 15, lower-river anglers are projected to have caught and kept a total of 5,900 spring chinook, including 4,600 upriver fish that count toward the 7,700-fish  harvest guideline.

This year’s harvest guideline for the lower river fisheries is based on a projected return of 198,400 upriver fish, minus a 30 percent “buffer” to guard against overestimating the run. Based on the estimated catch through April 19, the fishery will close with a buffer of approximately 43 percent, said Guy Norman, WDFW southwest regional director.

“After this extension, we don’t anticipate making any changes in the season until more fish pass over the dam and we can update the run-size forecast,” Norman said. “We want to give lower-river anglers a chance to catch some more fish, but we also have to make sure we can meet our conservation objectives and our obligations to upriver fisheries.”

The fishery affected by the extension ranges from Buoy 10 upriver to Rooster Rock for boat and bank anglers, and to the fishing boundary below Bonneville Dam for bank anglers only. When the fishery is open, anglers can retain one marked, hatchery-reared adult chinook salmon as part of their daily limit.

Anglers may also retain shad and hatchery-reared steelhead when the spring chinook fishery is open. However, all wild salmon and steelhead not marked as a hatchery fish by a clipped adipose fin must be released unharmed. 

The fishing extension does not affect the spring chinook season above Bonneville Dam, which will be reviewed at a joint-state hearing April 20. That fishery is open seven days a week through April 24 between the Tower Island powerlines below The Dalles Dam and the Washington/Oregon state line, 17 miles upriver from McNary Dam. Bank fishing is also allowed from Bonneville Dam upriver to the powerlines located about 6 miles below The Dalles Dam through April 24. 

Anglers fishing above Bonneville Dam can retain up to two marked, hatchery-reared adult chinook salmon or hatchery steelhead as part of their daily limit.

2011 sport sturgeon retention in the Lower Columbia River

Action:

(1) Below Wauna power lines (near Cathlamet) downstream to the mouth :

• May 1-May 13 – Sturgeon retention prohibited.
• May 14-Jun 26 – White sturgeon retention allowed 7 days per week, 41-inch fork length minimum size and 54-inch fork length maximum. size.
• Jun 27-Jun 30 – Sturgeon retention prohibited.
• Jul 1-Jul 4 – White sturgeon retention allowed 7 days per week, 41-inch fork length minimum size and 54-inch fork length maximum size.
• Jul 5-Dec 31 – Sturgeon retention prohibited.

(2) Above Wauna power lines (near Cathlamet) upstream to Bonneville Dam:

• Jan 1-Jul 31 – White sturgeon retention allowed Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only, 38-inch fork length minimum size and 54-inch fork length maximum size. Release sturgeon on other days.
• Aug 1-Oct 7 – Sturgeon retention not allowed.
• Oct 8-Dec 31 – White sturgeon retention allowed Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only, 38 inch fork length minimum size and 54-inch fork length maximum size. Release sturgeon on other days.

Species affected:   White sturgeon

Reason for action: The regulation is consistent with Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s guidance for 2011 lower Columbia River sturgeon management.The dates for retention of white sturgeon are based on actions adopted at the joint Washington-Oregon public hearing on Feb. 8, 2011.

Other information: Catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon is allowed 7 days per week, except the area from Bonneville Dam downstream to the Navigation Marker 82-Skamania Island line is closed to all fishing for sturgeon from May 1-Aug. 31.  All angling is prohibited from Jan. 1 through Apr. 30, 2011 from a line between the upstream end of Sand Island, located east of Rooster Rock State Park, to a marker on the Oregon shore, downstream to a line between the lower end of Sand Island and a marker on the Oregon shore. Retention of green sturgeon is prohibited.

Information contact: (360) 696-6211. For latest information press *1010.

• Open Thursday May 5, three days per week, Thursday-Saturday until 70% of the quota is achieved, or July 17, whichever is earlier. The fishery will then re-open on Friday August 5, three days per week, Friday-Sunday until the remaining quota is taken, or September 30, whichever occurs first.

Bottomfish Restrictions

The retention of bottomfish, except sablefish and Pacific cod, with halibut onboard is prohibited from May 1 through September 30.  The retention of yelloweye and canary rockfish is prohibited.

OLYMPIA – Clam diggers today got a green light to proceed with a five-day razor clam dig on ocean beaches scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 19.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/ 

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the dig – the second of two openings this month – after marine toxin tests showed that the clams on all four beaches are safe to eat.

Two beaches – Long Beach and Twin Harbors – will open for digging April 19 through April 22 until noon each day, plus April 23 until 1 p.m. Copalis and Mocrocks will be open for digging April 21-22 until noon and April 23 until 1 p.m. under that plan.

Fishery managers agreed to an extra hour of digging Saturday, April 23, because low tide won’t occur until 11:27 a.m. that morning, said Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager.

Ayres noted that a coastwide beach cleanup is also scheduled that day, so diggers may encounter people carrying plastic bags as well as clam shovels. Last year, volunteers for CoastSavers removed 16 tons of trash along the Washington coastline and will have sign-up stations at a number of beaches.

“Diggers who get their limits early might want to pitch in,” Ayres said.

Under state rules, harvesters may take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 taken, regardless of size or condition. Each digger’s limit must be kept in a separate container.

Dates and morning low tides for the upcoming dig are:

• April 19 (Tuesday), 8:07 a.m. (-1.8 feet); Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• April 20 (Wednesday), 8:54 a.m. (-1.7 feet); Long Beach, Twin Harbors
• April 21 (Thursday), 9:42 a.m. (-1.4 feet); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks
• April 22 (Friday), 10:33 a.m. (-0.8 feet); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks
• April 23 (Saturday), 11:27 a.m. (-0.2 feet); Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks – digging allowed until 1 p.m.

LIMIT:
The first 15 clams dug, regardless of size or condition. Each person must carry their own catch container, but may share digging tools.

HOW TO DIG:
First look for a “clam show”. What is a clam show? That’s where a clam has withdrawn its neck or started to dig, leaving a hole or dimple in the sand. There are three major kinds of “shows” to look for:
1. Dimple: a depression in the sand
2. Doughnut: depression which has raised sides
3. Keyhole: this is usually in drier sand areas and is shaped like an “hour-glass” or is a hole with very distinct sides.
Always look for the larger sized holes about the size of a quarter. This is a good indication that the clam will be larger, but not always. Clams will also show at the edge of the surf line when you pound the beach with a shovel handle or your foot. They may squirt sand and water out of the hole where they are located. You need to be quick when digging in the surf as razor clams dig quite fast in the soft fluid sand.

How to Dig With a Clam Shovel
1. Place the shovel blade 4 to 6 inches seaward of the clam show. The handle of the shovel should be pointed toward the sand dunes. 2. Use your body weight to push the shovel blade straight into the sand while you drop to one knee. In hard sand, gently rock the shovel handle from side to side for ease of entry. It is very important to keep the blade as vertical as possible to keep from breaking the clam shell.
3. Pull the handle back just enough to break the suction in the sand, still keeping the blade as straight as possible. The sand will crack as shown.
4. Remove sand by lifting the shovel upward and forward. Repeat this 2 to 3 times.
5. Succeeding scoops of sand expose the clam enough to reach down with your hand and grasp its shell. Razor clams move rapidly downward but not horizontally.

How to Use the “Clam Tube” (aka “Clam Gun”)
1. Facing the ocean, check impression of tube in sand, then center the tube over the” clam show.”
2. Slant the top of the tube slightly toward the sand dunes. Work the tube in carefully with a rocking or twisting motion.
3. Work the tube down 6? to 10? below the surface. Place thumb over air vent, pull up using your leg muscles (keeping your back straight will avoid muscle strain!). Do this one to three times.
4. Check each core that you bring up. The clam may be concealed within. If the clam does not come up with the tube, reach into the hole for it. Remember to keep the first 15 clams and avoid wasting any.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/

Two new CDIP Wave Buoys have been recently deployed near the mouth of the Columbia, as a result of local lobbying. One (CDIP STA#162) is located at Clatsop Spit and the other (CDIP#179) is located at the Astoria Canyon. They measure wave height, wave direction, wave period and sea surface temp. The data are broadcast on http://ndbc.noaa.gov/ and the NWS Marine Weather Channel.