MA-2 Later Start
Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 7:10 pmQuestion; Why is MA-2 starting a week later than the coastal areas? Also why does MA-2 have a one chinook limit when MA-3,4 have two chinook limit?
Welcome aboard 2X!
Generally the ocean fisheries are viewed as mixed stock interception (as opposed to terminal or single stock origin) fisheries.
As such, they are often managed as much on an estimated Time Of Entry basis as they are on a relative abundance standpoint. So, along with manipulating bag limits, delaying an opening could possibly allow a weaker stock to pass through the management area to ensure a longer season and therefore more opportunity for recreational anglers.
Here's a copy and paste from the WDFW North of Falcon page:
For 2017, the Pacific Fishery Management Council approved a recreational chinook catch quota
of 45,000 fish, which is 10,000 more fish than 2016's quota. The PFMC, which
establishes fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast,
also adopted a quota of 42,000 coho for this year's recreational ocean fishery – about
23,100 more fish than last year's quota.
Recreational ocean salmon fisheries for chinook and coho will be open daily beginning
July 1 in Marine Area 2 (Westport) and June 24 in marine areas 1 (Ilwaco) 3 (La Push)
and 4 (Neah Bay). All areas will close the earlier of Sept. 4 or when the catch quota is
met.
In marine areas 1 and 2, anglers will be allowed to retain two salmon, only one of which
can be a chinook. Anglers fishing in marine areas 3 and 4 will have a two-salmon daily
limit. In all marine areas, anglers must release wild coho.