Chinook fishery off to strong start in Central Puget Sound

Best spots are Jefferson Head, Kingston and Point Monroe.


By Mark Yuasa

Seattle Times staff reporter


While the majority of the Puget Sound salmon fishing fleet are still seeking out coho, some have shifted their focus on the good hatchery chinook action in Central Puget Sound.

“The chinook fishery is off to a good start,” said Pete Sergeef, a state Fish and Wildlife checker. “We hooked three (Tuesday) at Jefferson Head, and lost three more to seals. Our (state test fishery) boat got an 18-pounder on Sunday, and I also know of another that weighed 14 pounds that came from Shilshole Bay.”

The best action has been happening around Jefferson Head, Kingston and Point Monroe. Other choices are Southworth, Manchester and Allen Bank off Blake Island. Anglers in Central Sound can keep hatchery chinook as part of their two-salmon daily limit through Jan. 31.

Those still looking for coho should try from Meadow Point north to Richmond Beach, West Point off Shil­shole Bay, Edmonds oil docks north to the Edmonds Marina, Mukilteo south to the Shipwreck area, Browns Bay, Possession Bar’s west and east sides, and the east side of Whidbey Island.

The coho fishery in the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Sekiu to Freshwater Bay, as well as Port Angeles, remains decent action. A check from the Ediz Hook ramp in Port Angeles showed 65 boats with 153 anglers Sunday caught 205 coho.

Sekiu anglers are allowed to keep hatchery chinook and coho as part of their two-salmon daily limit through Oct. 31. Port Angeles anglers are allowed to keep one chinook in a two-salmon daily limit.

The coastal razor clam season opened Tuesday at Long Beach and Twin Harbors, and despite heavy fog rolling in by early evening just about everyone managed to get their 15-clam daily limit.

“We had a good razor clam opener, and everybody we saw at Long Beach and Twin Harbors managed to get their limits,” said Dan Ayres, the head .... http://seattletimes.com/html/outdoors/2024733165_fishingreport09xml.html

Nice. I'm looking forward to blackmouth fishing this year. I will try to brave the weather when I can.