Northwest Fishing Reports

10 is almost there, 9 has a ways to go.



Central Puget Sound hatchery king harvest rate nearing catch quota ceiling

Posted by Mark Yuasa

photo
(Photo courtesy of Keith Robbins, owner of A Spot Tail Salmon Guide in Seattle.)

The central Puget Sound (Marine Catch Area 10) hatchery king harvest quota is nearing its ceiling level, and could face a closure in the very near future.

“The Area 10 catch picked up and we’re at 807 fish landed through Sunday (Aug. 3), which puts us at 73 percent (of the harvest quota of 1,112 hatchery chinook),” said Ryan Lothrop, the state Fish and Wildlife Puget Sound recreational salmon manager.

“We are definitely approaching a point where we need to watch it very closely,” Lothrop said. “It doesn’t take much to catch a couple hundred fish. Historically we are hitting the peak right now, and all it takes is a blip to put us over the edge.”

Lothrop says fishery managers will get new updated estimates in the next couple of days, and they plan to have a conference call discussion with sport fishing advisors on Wednesday at around 1 p.m.

In the northern Puget Sound (Area 9) hatchery king fishery through Sunday (Aug. 3) showed 1,947 fish harvested and have reached 60 percent of the catch harvest ceiling of 3,218 fish.

“A slight pulse of fish moved through Area 9 this week,” Lothrop said.

The state test fishery boat data through last Friday had picked up a few more fish, and has a mark rate 82 percent in Area 9 (kings with missing adipose fin indicating they are of hatchery origin) and 70 percent mark rate in Area 10.

Hatchery king fishing has been fair at times at places like Kingston, Jefferson Head, Southworth, Dolphin Point, Allen Bank off Blake Island; Point Monroe, Richmond Beach to Edmonds oil dock, Meadow Point, Possession Bar, Point No Point, Pilot Point, Bush Point off west side of Whidbey Island and Midchannel Bank off Port Townsend.

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I'm going camping east of the mountains this weekend. Hoping the Area 9 quota lasts through the 16th!

I just heard the same thing,,,,,, as a new Fly guy I wanted to try a few of these around Manette but heard they weren't around yet. None of the reports on this site showed otherwise so I was waiting. Now it seems I've waited too long. I'd go out tonight, but one too many adult beverages to walk in the tide,,,, and tomorrow night is the Hawks game. It looks like I may have missed my shot. If it's still open Saturday I will be out there trying my luck with flies.

Well done to those who fished rather than reading reports (my bad). But as a new guy with limited time and resources I only have so much I can do.

I just saw this on the WDFW web page:

August 6, 2014

Chinook harvest closes in Marine Area 10

Action: Closes harvest of hatchery chinook in Area 10, except at Sinclair Inlet and year-round fishing piers.

Effective Date: 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, through 11:59 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, 2014.

Species affected: Chinook salmon.

Location: Marine Area 10 (Seattle/Bremerton), except Sinclair Inlet, Elliott Bay Fishing Pier at Terminal 86, Seacrest Pier, Waterman Pier, Bremerton Boardwalk, and Illahee State Park Pier.

Reason for action: Preliminary estimates indicate that landed catch of chinook will meet the preseason expectations. The chinook fishery is closed to control impacts on stocks of concern and ensure compliance with conservation objectives and agreed-to management plans.

Other information: Daily limit remains at 2 salmon. Release chinook and chum. Shilshole Bay remains closed. Elliott Bay remains closed, except for the specified Elliott Bay Fishery. Anglers should consult the Fishing in Washington, Sports Fishing Rules pamphlet for specific regulations for Sinclair Inlet, Elliott Bay Fishery, and year-round fishing piers.

Information contact: Ryan Lothrop, (360) 902-2808