Twenty Days: Ten Openers!!! 2

It started Saturday June 27 with the Neah bay and LaPush lid lifters in Marine Areas 3 & 4. We talked to John Keizer on air, on the opener and he had no less than three strikes in the nine minutes we spoke with him!

Early word is that the coho are thick, almost bothersome and the chinook, running deeper are willing biters if you can get past the silvers!

Sunday, June 28 was the starting gun for MA’s 1 & 2, namely Ilwaco and Westport. It was one of those rare days that halibut and salmon were open on the same day!!!

July one: Where do I start??? Let’s just start at the Straits of Juan de Fuca and head inland:  

The San Juans have just been cranking out the shrimp and lings and halibut all spring. Now, it’s time to give those critters a break and break out the ‘riggers and cutplugs…. It’s the Island Opener!!!

The break of dawn on 7/1 brings with it the MA 7 starting gun. With a killer set of salmon tides the ‘juans should get off to a fast start. I’ll let you know. I’ll BE THERE!

The Puget Sound shrimp season was short, sweet, solid and a great indication of the increased productivity in the Sound.

 Guess what day crabbing opens up in the Sound? You've got it, July one!

Wednesday through Saturday (7/1 thru 9/7) and the entire Labor Day weekend, it’s a Dungeness drill in Marine Areas 6, 8-1, 8-2, 9, 10 & 11.
Make sure you check your gear pre-season and label your buoys clearly. I’ve found that it’s easier to do this in the driveway than on the bay!

Elliott Bay's "bubble fishery" burst last year but I've got a strong suspicion that we're in for a smokin' summer on the bay! Pass this July third opener up at your own risk!

 Local fisheries such as EB are huge since they allow you to hit the water close to home and in many cases before and after work!

July ninth is near and dear to my heart as it’s my daughter Sophia’s birthday.

This year it’s also the Skagit River chinook opener!

What kind of bribery is it gonna cost me to fish this opener???

 How expensive are top-of-the-line graphite tennis racket frames
and what the heck is a “Juicy Handbag” anyway???

 Whatever it takes, it will be well worth it to participate in this historic (first time in 16 years) fishery! The Skagit is your best shot at a wall-hanger king. We saw chinook to 39 lbs in Sitka this year. We will see a bigger one in the Skagit. The fishery is open noon Thursdays through Sundays which plays nicely into the hand of the venerable weekend salmon warrior!

July 16 slams the pedal to the metal with the MA 9 & 10 selective chinook fisheries…The words “full swing” come to mind with a daily salmon fishery that’s open until August 31!
 

The every-day opportunity of this fishery allows families to plan and participate. Here's a shot of my family and I "paticipating" in last years Area 9 chinook season.

We have a long list of people to thank for our increased fishing opportunities beginning with the WDFW, the Wildlife Commission, and Governor Gregiore.
 Industry professionals who hold the decision makers “feet to the selective fishery fire” include but are not limited to:

Master Marine’s Larry Carpenter who takes up a lot of room at the negotiating table.

All Star Charters “Professor of Puget Sound” Gary Krein who tirelessly battles for sportfishing seasons.

The CCA or Coastal Conservation Association and Fish Northwest: Lobbying organizations who have united sport fishermen so we now can speak with a unified voice that cannot be ignored.

Get out there this summer and stay tuned to ESPN 710’s The Outdoor line. We’ll keep you in the loop on the seasons salmon success!!!