Take down your calendar and circle July 21.
That’s when the western Strait of Juan de Fuca reopens to king salmon.
Fishing for chinook — allowed in the area this year for the first time since 1997 — closed Monday.
However, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife now says that closure was premature.
“It turned out the last weekend was a little lower than average,” said Craig Bartlett, WDFW spokesman.
Weekend anglers were catching between 141 and 357 chinook daily in Marine Area 5 (Sekiu/Pillar Point), according to the WDFW.
That rate dropped from July 7-8, leaving the area 352 chinook shy of the 2,000-fish quota.
In response, the WDFW will reopen the area to chinook retention on Saturday, July 21.
The daily limit on salmon in the area is two, one of which may be a chinook of at least 22 inches (July 21 only).
Meanwhile, hatchery coho fishing in the western Strait continues to provide unbelievable days on the water.
“It took the fun out of it I limited so fast,” Herb Rempel at Silver King Resort (360-963-2950) said of a day earlier this week. “From (Pillar Point) to Sekiu they have just been raking them in.”
You don’t have to go far.
Rempel is catching most of his fish less than a mile from shore, which means most small boats can join the action.
“It’s great fun on ultralight gear,” said Rempel. “Those guys really put up a squawk.”
While wild coho (identified by their intact adipose fins) and all chum must be released in Area 5, pink salmon are adding to the catch.
Halibut fishing remains open in the area — and in the Eastern Strait (Area 6) — until July 22.
The Eastern Strait, however, doesn’t open to salmon fishing until Aug. 1.
Hood Canal salmon
A new school of pink salmon is showing up at the southern tip of the canal just about nightly, according to Drew Burkhard at the Hoodsport Hatchery.
“They’re catching pinks out front,” said Burkhard, who reminds that fishing in Finch Creek is prohibited.
Burkhard said most anglers are finding success with streamers and other bright, flashy gear.
“They’re tough to get,” Burkhard said. “There’s more man hours spent for pinks than any other (salmon).”
In the hatchery zone, the daily limit is four salmon with no more than two chinook (more than 24 inches long), which currently aren’t a major part of the catch anyway.
Burkhard said chinook will start to show toward the end of the month.
Chum must be released until Oct. 15.
Bank fishermen are working the hatchery zone from just east of Finch Creek.
Along with the hatchery zone, the canal is currently open south of Ayock Point.
Pacific Ocean salmon
Fishing for coho and chinook continues in Marine Areas 3 and 4 — LaPush and Neah Bay.
As of last Sunday, 165 kings of 1,000 allowed were taken from LaPush along with 725 coho of 5,350 allowed.
In Area 4, 544 chinook of 1,700 allowed and 4,308 coho of 23,400 allowed were counted at the same time by the WDFW.
Crabbing
The Strait of Juan de Fuca — including Port Angeles Harbor, Sequim and Discovery bays — opens Monday as does Neah Bay.
Crabbers may begin harvesting Marine Areas 4, 5 and 6 as of 7 a.m. July 16.
The areas are opening based on historical dates as no shell condition survey results are available, according to the WDFW.
Pots, traps and wading gear may all be used.
All areas inside the Strait of Juan de Fuca, including all bays in Marine Areas 5 and 6, have been closed since Easter to protect crab in their molting state.
Sequim Bay was the most productive area last year and is a good first bet this season.
Meanwhile, Hood Canal remains open Fridays through Mondays.
“Some people say it’s slow compared to last year,” said Dave Sterritt, WDFW shellfish biologist. “But then last year’s catch was exceptional.”
Port Townsend Bay and Kilisut Harbor — both in Marine Area 9 — also remain open.
Wherever you go, remember to use your Dungeness crab catch-record cards, a vital part of the WDFW’s latest attempt to better track harvest and population.
River fishing
Steelhead are sparse in rivers of the West End while cutthroat trout are moving up stream.
Rivers of the Quillayute System — the Bogachiel, Calawah, Dickey and Sol Duc — are still best.
“It’s not a really strong summer run,” said Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks (360-374-6330).
Gooding said there are also sockeye salmon, which may be kept, in the Sol Duc.
Wild adult coho and chinook along with wild steelhead must currently be released in all rivers of the Quillayute System.
For other action, head to the higher stretches of rivers, where cutthroat trout may be found.
Also try the Elwha, open to steelhead below the lower dam.
No matter where you go, expect low water levels and hope for a little rain.
Darrick Meneken is a sports and outdoors columnist and writer for the Peninsula Daily News. He can be reached at 360-417-3526, or e-mail darrick.meneken@peninsuladailynews.com. Outdoor recreation reports appear in the PDN Thursdays and Fridays.
