Outdoors

Crabbers hauled in limits of Dungeness crab like this around the North Olympic Peninsula during the opening weekend of the summer recreational crabbing season.

OUTDOORS: King season opener on fire in Area 6

THE CHINOOK OPENER was hot off Port Angeles and Sekiu with catch rates nearing a fish per angler in some creel check locations as strong… Continue reading

Crabbers hauled in limits of Dungeness crab like this around the North Olympic Peninsula during the opening weekend of the summer recreational crabbing season.

OUTDOORS: Late-summer halibut plan bumps annual limit to 6

Added time would run Aug. 17-Sept. 30

Chris Chandler of Redmond, Ore. caught this hatchery chinook estimated to weight about 15 pounds, while fishing off Sekiu during a 2020 trip with Tom Burlingame's Excel Fishing Charters.

OUTDOORS: Saturday is the big day for king anglers, crabbers

Do anglers toss and turn the night before salmon season opens along the Strait of Juan de Fuca like children awaiting the unwrapping of presents… Continue reading

Chris Chandler of Redmond, Ore. caught this hatchery chinook estimated to weight about 15 pounds, while fishing off Sekiu during a 2020 trip with Tom Burlingame's Excel Fishing Charters.
Anthony Nillson and Mike Surdyk caught these good-sized kings off Neah Bay near Mushroom Rock and Skagway in about 30 feet of water on the chinook opener last Saturday. (Mike Surdyk)

OUTDOORS: Neah Bay kings found closer to shore

Bait, cooler temperatures

Anthony Nillson and Mike Surdyk caught these good-sized kings off Neah Bay near Mushroom Rock and Skagway in about 30 feet of water on the chinook opener last Saturday. (Mike Surdyk)
Jerry's Bait and Tackle This steelhead in spawning colors was caught on a diver and shrimp set up on the Sol Duc River by an angler known as "HairDew" during a fishing outing with Jerry Wright of Jerry's Bait & Tackle.

OUTDOORS: Heat bubble passes, cool water off Pacific Coast

Could help improve coho and king fishing the next few years

Jerry's Bait and Tackle This steelhead in spawning colors was caught on a diver and shrimp set up on the Sol Duc River by an angler known as "HairDew" during a fishing outing with Jerry Wright of Jerry's Bait & Tackle.
Claire Young/WDFW A young crabber holds his catch off the coast of Washington.

OUTDOORS: Recreational crab summer season to open July 1

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Thursday that summer crab-fishing seasons will begin July 1 in the Strait of Juan de… Continue reading

Claire Young/WDFW A young crabber holds his catch off the coast of Washington.
Submitted photo The NW Region of Salmon For Soldiers is seeking boat captains to take veterans out on the water for the annual Sekiu Summer Slam salmon fishing outing on Aug. 5. These vets found success during the event in August of 2021.

OUTDOORS: Boat captains needed for Aug. 5 veterans outing in Sekiu

Crabbing workshop Thursday in Port Hadlock

Submitted photo The NW Region of Salmon For Soldiers is seeking boat captains to take veterans out on the water for the annual Sekiu Summer Slam salmon fishing outing on Aug. 5. These vets found success during the event in August of 2021.
Vicki Wallner hauled in this 64-inch long halibut estimated at 134 pounds in the waters of Marine Area 5 while fishing for lingcod over Memorial Day weekend.

OUTDOORS: Giant halibut landed on light tackle as lingcod outing turns ‘unexpected’

Port Angeles angler catches a sea beast

Vicki Wallner hauled in this 64-inch long halibut estimated at 134 pounds in the waters of Marine Area 5 while fishing for lingcod over Memorial Day weekend.
Sequim's Don Early said he caught this nice halibut within 30 minutes of hitting the water off Port Angeles over the weekend.

OUTDOORS: More halibut dates added off Pacific coast

Thursday through Sunday schedule for Neah Bay starting June 8

Sequim's Don Early said he caught this nice halibut within 30 minutes of hitting the water off Port Angeles over the weekend.
North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers members greet the arrival of the first derelict crab pots to be removed from Sequim and Discovery bays last Saturday. Crab pot removal will continue through June 15.

OUTDOORS: Halibut goes to 7 days a week June 1 off Port Angeles, Sekiu, Puget Sound

halibut fishing is closed Monday and will reopen on a seven-day-a-week basis June 1 off Marine Area… Continue reading

North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers North Olympic Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers members greet the arrival of the first derelict crab pots to be removed from Sequim and Discovery bays last Saturday. Crab pot removal will continue through June 15.
Max Ross recently caught this halibut while fishing the western portion of Marine Area 6.

OUTDOORS: Halibut quota take pointing toward added time

A HALIBUT CATCH update recently provided by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife shows plenty of quota remaining for the North Coast (Neah Bay… Continue reading

Max Ross recently caught this halibut while fishing the western portion of Marine Area 6.
Mukilteo angler Alex Malysheff, right, caught and released this lancetfish while halibut fishing off Neah Bay. A number of lancetfish, usually a tropical species, have washed up on West Coast shores in recent weeks.

OUTDOORS: Lancetfish no stranger to area seas, shores

Deep sea denizen caught and released off Neah Bay, washing ashore on West Coast

Mukilteo angler Alex Malysheff, right, caught and released this lancetfish while halibut fishing off Neah Bay. A number of lancetfish, usually a tropical species, have washed up on West Coast shores in recent weeks.
The Northwest Tandem Rally is coming to Sequim May 27-28, the first time the event has come to the Olympic Peninsula since 2000.

OUTDOOR RECREATION: Tandem bike ride event set in Sequim

Expect to see hundreds of tandem bicycles in the Sequim area on May 27-28. Sequim will be the host this year for… Continue reading

The Northwest Tandem Rally is coming to Sequim May 27-28, the first time the event has come to the Olympic Peninsula since 2000.
Ollie Thibault of Shawnigan Lake, B.C., competes in the NW Cup mountain biking downhill race at Dry Hill on Sunday. More than 500 racers took up the challenge on the Dry Hill courses this weekend. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)

MOUNTAIN BIKING: NW Cup brings huge crowds to Olympic Peninsula

More than 500 mountain bike daredevils from all over the U.S. and Canadian Pacific Northwest descended, literally, upon Port Angeles this weekend… Continue reading

Ollie Thibault of Shawnigan Lake, B.C., competes in the NW Cup mountain biking downhill race at Dry Hill on Sunday. More than 500 racers took up the challenge on the Dry Hill courses this weekend. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles’ Anthony Owen caught this blue-mouthed cabezon while fishing off of Sekiu.

OUTDOORS: Sequim, Discovery, South Dungeness Bay derelict crab pot removal begins May 20

double the expected estimate — were discovered in recent sonar surveys of Sequim Bay, Discovery Bay… Continue reading

Port Angeles’ Anthony Owen caught this blue-mouthed cabezon while fishing off of Sekiu.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Razor Clams openings are set for the outer coast later this week.

OUTDOORS: Season’s final razor clam digs announced

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife shellfish managers this weekend confirmed that final coastal razor clam digs of the season can proceed as… Continue reading

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Razor Clams openings are set for the outer coast later this week.
Nearly 300 runners take off in the Run the Peninsula's Sequim Railroad Bridge run Saturday morning. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

RUN THE PENINSULA: Sequim Bridge Run boasts ideal conditions for 300 competitors

Second in racing series includes 5K, 10K distances

Nearly 300 runners take off in the Run the Peninsula's Sequim Railroad Bridge run Saturday morning. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Manchester's Harold Hordyk caught this blackmouth chinook while fishing off Sekiu. State fisheries managers said Marine Area 5 will close to salmon retention beginning Monday.

AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Chinook retention closing Monday off Sekiu

Anglers have today and Sunday to reel in the last blackmouth chinook of the season.… Continue reading

Manchester's Harold Hordyk caught this blackmouth chinook while fishing off Sekiu. State fisheries managers said Marine Area 5 will close to salmon retention beginning Monday.
Brooke Pederson, 9, of Joyce reels as parents Erik and Paula watch. She soon caught her first fish during the 2022 Kids Fishing Day. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

OUTDOORS: Area lakes stocked and ready for lowland lake opener

With such thrilling fishing experiences available on the waters on and off the North Olympic Peninsula, it can be a bit difficult to get excited… Continue reading

Brooke Pederson, 9, of Joyce reels as parents Erik and Paula watch. She soon caught her first fish during the 2022 Kids Fishing Day. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

MOUNTAIN BIKING: NW Cup returns to Dry Hill for season’s first race

The annual Northwest Cup races returned to Dry Hill this weekend with hundreds of mountain bikers from around the Pacific Northwest trying… Continue reading