Strait of Juan de Fuca salmon fishing good for pinks and coho, but just OK for ... - The Seattle Times (blog)

Salmon fishing along the Strait of Juan de Fuca is good one day and somewhat slower the next, but in general fish continue to migrate through from Sekiu to Port Angeles.

“Things were kind of hit and miss, and the chinook numbers are just so-so,” said Larry Bennett, the head state Fish and Wildlife fish checker in the Strait.

“The pink and coho numbers have picked up at Sekiu this past weekend, and they’re the biggest thing going on right now,’ he said. “Many are now starting to venture offshore looking for pinks and silver so that is why we’ve seen an increase in their numbers.”

Bennett says on the chinook end the catch average is less than a fish per boat.

A check at Olson’s Resort in Sekiu showed 83 boats with 256 anglers Sunday caught 30 chinook, 59 coho and 201 pinks. At Van Riper’s Resort in Sekiu, 32 boats with 81 anglers Sunday caught 10 chinook, 11 coho, 38 pinks and one sockeye.

At Ediz Hook ramp in Port Angeles, 39 boats with 79 anglers Sunday caught 20 chinook, two coho and 104 pinks.

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500 salmon caught on River Moy in past week

Salmon anglers enjoying terrific sport on River Moy. Picture MayoToday.ie

Despite water levels still being slightly high, it was another excellent week for anglers on the River Moy where over 500 salmon were reported. The lower fisheries are suffering due to the water level, however, this is having a positive effect on the upper fisheries. The Moy Fishery produced just seven for the week, with five from the Ridge Pool and two from the Freshwater Beat.

Bryan Ward reports

On the Ridge Pool, Dublin angler Eamon Fitzsimons had two of 3.5lbs and 6.5lbs on the worm, as did Jim Keeley, N.Ireland. Both John McKinley and Padraig Hastings had success while spinning on the Freshwater Beat.

The Ballina Salmon Anglers’ water yielded fifty salmon, while Mount Falcon, Knockmore, Attymass and Coolcronan also produced their share. Byrne’s Fishery produced twenty-six and Armstrong’s thirty-five including one of 8lbs for Michael Braun, Germany.

Gannon’s Fishery reported thirty-nine for the week, where Simon Stokoe, U.K. had one of 11lbs. The Foxford Fishery also enjoyed a very good week, where their total was fifty-one salmon. At the Foxford Fishery, Peter Feeney, N.Ireland, had two of 9lbs, each to the worm, while Sean O’Brien, Co. Wexford had one of 11.5lbs, also on the worm.

Rinanney and the Foxford town fisheries all reported very good numbers of fish. At Rinanney Horst Zettle, Germany, caught one of 13lbs spinning while Guy Herve, France had one of 12.5lbs.

IFI’s Cloongee Fishery produced almost ninety salmon, including a great fish of 15lbs for Tom Cogan, Co. Monaghan to a spinner and one of 13.5lbs for Alain Soisson, France, also spinning. East Mayo Anglers’ water yielded almost one hundred for the week, where John Noad, U.K. had two of 5lbs and 7lbs on fly, Lothar Deeg, Germany had one of 7lbs also on the fly while Dennis O’Manoney, Dublin had one of 10lbs.  

Ballisodare

The Ballisodare Fishery also experienced a great week, where over two hundred salmon were caught and over one hundred of these released. Among those to have success were local angler Christy O’Gara, who had one of 8lbs, John Murray, 9lbs to the fly, Ronan Waters, 8lbs on fly and Peter Henry who also had one of 8lbs, on the worm.

Shane Maye and Jimmy Cuffe, released fish of 6lbs and 5lbs respectively, taken on the fly, with Eddie Harte capturing a fine fish of 10.5lbs also to the fly. Visiting angler Peter Cunningham released one of 7lbs to the fly, John Connolly had a nice salmon of 11lbs on fly with Eamon Ruddy, taking one of 8lbs to the worm. 

Carrowmore Lake

Although the high wind did hamper efforts on Carrowmore at times during the week, many anglers had good sport on the lake. Michael Naughton and Vincent Rigney had one each to the boat, while J.J. Sullivan and boat partner had two each. Ronnie Maye boated one as did Gary Copney, Vincent Roche and Paddy Byrne. David Donnell had two, Alan Boyd and Jim Ruane, one each as did Larry McElendon.

Flies which proved successful over the past week on Carrowmore were the Black Dabbler, Green Peter and Cascade varieties.  

Trout Angling Lough Conn and Cullin

The weather did hamper angling on Conn and Cullin once again, despite this, some anglers did enjoy success. Fishing out of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, Rodger Sanders, Paul Dixon and Ben Dixon, U.K. had five trout to the boat for a day, all taken on the Grey Wulff. Sean Almandras, U.K. also had five for a day, his best was 2lbs. Steven Forehead, also from the U.K. reported seven, his best 1.5lbs, all taken on the Royal Wulff.

Angling out of Murphy’s of Massbrook, Barry Graham and Ned Tyrell, Co. Offaly had six for a day, their best was 2lbs. Boat partners Liam McHugh and Mick Sweeney, Co. Galway had six for a day, including two trout each weighing over 4lbs, taken on mayflies off Coleman’s Shallows.
Dominic Concannon, Co.Derry released four trout, while Bob Allis, U.K./Terrybaun had three for a day on Cullin, his best 1.5lbs.

In the Cloghans area, Stephen Brown and Sean Creane, both Cloghans, had two each on dry Olives, their best 1.5lbs while John Burke, Foxford and Adrian Murphy, Cloghans also had two each all taken on dry flies.

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The Chemical Brothers – The Salmon Dance

This video probably deserves some kind of introduction, but it’s friday and I’m feeling lazy. Just watch and enjoy!

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Whetting your app-etite for Copper River salmon

The Sorting Table: Whetting your app-etite for Copper River salmon

The Sorting Table delves into commercial fishing news from coast to coast. The editorial staff of National Fisherman invites you to share your insights on what’s going on in the industry.

CategoriesRecent EntriesCatch shares: A nation dividedSupporting cast growingGetting ready for the rallyWhat's next for Maine's shrimpers?"That conversation is going to have to happen"California cannabis cultivation compromising cohos? No accounting for fund mismanagementAt least put a label on itWhetting your app-etite for Copper River salmonCod cuts illustrate need for March 21 fishermen's rallyRecent CommentsMike Dolan on NOAA is all apologiesBrian on Introducing the iLobsterBen on Introducing the iLobsterBeringFisherman on Groundfish catch shares going bi-coastal Dick Allen on Jane, doh!National Fisherman on Jane, doh!Wreckfish on Jane, doh!Sierra Anderson on Facing factsken grimshaw on Tough loveJessica on Recovery in a snapArchivesMarch 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011« Cod cuts illustrate need for March 21 fishermen's rally |Main| At least put a label on it »

February 11, 2012Whetting your app-etite for Copper River salmon

If you loves you some Copper River salmon, but don’t know what restaurants and retailers carry it, I have some good news for you — there’s an app for that.

The Copper River Salmon/Prince William Sound Marketing Association announced on Feb. 9 that Copper River Salmon is launching what it hails as the first-ever Salmon Locator App on Facebook. The app’s trade launch will take place just prior to the International Boston Seafood Show, which takes place at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center March 11-13.  A consumer launch of the app will follow at the start of the 2012 Copper River fishery.

The Salmon Locator is designed to direct users to stores and restaurants that carry Copper River kings, sockeye and coho salmon during their respective seasons. Kings are available in May and June, sockeyes from May to July, and cohos from August to September.

So how does the app work? Shoppers log on to www.findcopperriver.org, which brings you to the Salmon Locator on Copper River Salmon’s Facebook page. You type in your location (city, address or zip code) to find you nearest retailers and restaurants carrying Copper River salmon. Generous salmon lovers who wish to share the love can tag the name and address of a store or restaurant that carries Copper River fish.

The app will also help the region’s fishermen connect with where their product is being sold. And food bloggers in 15 key markets will help find and tag Copper River salmon in their cities.

Time will tell whether the Facebook app catches on, but it’s always encouraging to see other avenues for seafood marketing like social media apps being explored.

 

 

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A Shift In Strategy For Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Restoration

CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department won't need as much volunteer help this year stocking millions of inch-long salmon fry (young salmon) into the Merrimack River basin because of an exciting new development. About the same number of fry will be stocked, but fewer rivers are being targeted because Fish and Game does not want to stock on top of fry that may have hatched in the wild.

Last fall, adult salmon were released into the Souhegan, Baker and upper Pemigewasset rivers, and successful spawning was confirmed by monitoring radio-tagged fish and counting redds (salmon nests). The shift in strategy was inspired by a record number of 402 returning Atlantic salmon counted at the Essex Dam fish lift downstream in Massachusetts in the spring of 2011. Similar increases were recorded on salmon rivers throughout Maine and Canada. The increase in numbers allowed Fish and Game to take some big steps toward answering questions about natural salmon reproduction.

It has been 35 years since the first salmon fry were released in the Merrimack River watershed under the current Atlantic salmon restoration program, which is funded by the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program. Before 1976, Atlantic salmon had been missing from the waters of the Merrimack since the first attempt at salmon restoration ended more than a century ago in 1895. The original salmon population had been extirpated by dams built in Lawrence and Lowell in the early 1800s.

Optimism ran high in the early days of the modern program. Targets for adult salmon returns were set in the thousands. The program became a catalyst for habitat restoration, land conservation and fish passage projects throughout the Merrimack watershed. Yet the goal of achieving a sustainable salmon run has remained elusive, with an average of 121 adult salmon returning to the Merrimack River each year.

The restoration program holds the first 300 returning Atlantic salmon at the National Fish Hatchery in Nashua, where their eggs are used to produce the millions of juvenile salmon that are stocked throughout the Merrimack River watershed each year. Until 2011, this target was only exceeded once, with 331 salmon returns counted in 1991.

Salmon returns have typically been low because populations throughout North America are in decline. Poor survival in the ocean has been a major obstacle to salmon restoration efforts throughout the region. This remains true despite the closing of an ocean fishery off the western coast of Greenland, where Atlantic salmon congregate before migrating back to their home rivers. Determining the potential cause, or causes, of declining marine survival is a major focus of current research.

"If ocean survival is cyclical, then it is reasonable to believe that salmon restoration can succeed," said Matt Carpenter, a fisheries biologist who coordinates New Hampshire's salmon restoration program. "However, if there has been a fundamental shift in the North Atlantic ecosystem because of a changing climate or other factors, then salmon restoration may not be possible."

It was with this uncertainty about the marine phase of the salmon's life cycle in mind that regional anadromous fisheries planners began, in 2010, to rethink the strategy of the Merrimack River Salmon Program. A common theme has been scaling back hatchery production and shifting focus toward evaluating the potential for natural salmon reproduction in the watershed. This looks especially promising in the Souhegan River, where a recent dam removal has made salmon spawning habitat accessible for the first time in the history of the program. Releasing adult salmon and evaluating their ability to spawn in the wild, rather than waiting until we reach a minimum target of 300 fish before breeding adults are released, will tell us whether the Souhegan River contains habitat that is capable of supporting a sustainable salmon population if marine survival improves.

"It was encouraging to see that marine survival did improve, at least for salmon returning in 2011," said Carpenter.

Fish and Game will continue to monitor the progress of salmon breeding in the wild in the Souhegan and other rivers. In two years, biologists will be able to sample for juvenile salmon, called parr, in areas where successful spawning was recorded.

"This will allow us to measure the reproductive success of salmon that spawned naturally in the watershed," said Carpenter. "Within five years, we should have a better understanding of what to expect from salmon that are allowed to run the river. This information, along with trends in ocean survival, will ultimately determine if successful salmon restoration can be achieved for the Merrimack."

In northern and western New Hampshire, there will be a significant reduction in fry stocking for the Connecticut River Salmon Program due to flood damage at the White River Hatchery in Vermont during Hurricane Irene. Most of the fry will be stocked to the south, in Massachusetts and Connecticut, where juvenile salmon will have to navigate fewer dams on their migration out to sea. New Hampshire Fish and Game biologists will stock a small amount of fry in the Keene area, but will not need volunteers this year.

For more information about anadromous fish restoration activities in New Hampshire, visit http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fisheries_management/conservation.html.

Media Contact
Matthew Carpenter: 603-271-2501
Jane Vachon: 603-271-3211

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Strong returns of Columbia River chinook salmon, coastal coho projected

OLYMPIA - Fishing opportunities look promising for chinook in Washington's ocean waters and the Columbia River, as well as for coho in coastal bays and rivers, according to preseason salmon forecasts released today at a public meeting in Olympia.

Forecasts for chinook, coho, sockeye and chum salmon mark the starting point for developing 2012 salmon-fishing seasons in Puget Sound, the Columbia River and Washington coastal areas. The forecasts were developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty Indian tribes.

Fishery managers have scheduled a series of public meetings over the next few weeks to discuss potential fishing opportunities before finalizing seasons in early-April. A meeting schedule, salmon forecasts and information about the salmon season-setting process are available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/.

Phil Anderson, WDFW director, said protecting and restoring weak wild salmon populations will continue to be the top priority as fishery managers develop salmon seasons.

"Over the next few weeks, we will work with tribal co-managers and constituents to establish fishing opportunities on abundant runs of hatchery salmon while ensuring we meet or exceed conservation objectives for wild fish populations," said Anderson.

Anderson noted that state budget reductions over the past three years are also a factor in designing fisheries that can be managed effectively with a reduced staff. State general-fund support for WDFW has been reduced by $38.2 million, or nearly 40 percent, since 2009.

As in past years, salmon-fishing prospects in 2012 vary by area:

• Columbia River: About 651,000 fall chinook are expected to return to the Columbia River this season - a run size similar to the last couple year's returns, said Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy coordinator for WDFW.

More than half of the chinook anticipated this year - about 353,000 salmon - will be "upriver brights" headed to the Hanford Reach area and the Snake River. That would be the fourth largest run of upriver brights since 1964, when fishery managers began keeping detailed records, said LeFleur.

While the chinook run is expected to be up, the forecast of 317,000 Columbia River coho is about 45,000 fish below last year's projection.

"I'm expecting salmon fisheries to look a lot like last year," said LeFleur. "We had some great fishing in 2011, especially for fall chinook in the mainstem upstream of Buoy 10. Anglers fishing that section caught a record 28,300 chinook last season."

• Washington's ocean waters: Nearly 191,000 hatchery chinook are expected to return this year to the lower Columbia River. Those salmon, known as "tules," traditionally have been the backbone of the recreational ocean chinook fishery. The 317,000 coho salmon bound for the Columbia River also account for a significant portion of the ocean catch.

"It's still early in the process, but we will likely have an ocean salmon fishery similar to what we have seen the last two years, when we had an abundance of chinook in the ocean but low numbers of hatchery coho," said Doug Milward, ocean salmon fishery manager for WDFW.

• Coastal bays and rivers: Strong returns of wild coho salmon are expected this year to many of Washington's coastal streams, including the Queets, Quillayute, and Hoh rivers, as well as to Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay area rivers, said Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for WDFW.

"If the wild runs come in at forecast, fishing opportunities for coho in those areas should be great this year," he said.

• Puget Sound: Overall, coho returns to Puget Sound are expected to be lower than last season. About 732,000 coho are forecast to return to Puget Sound streams, 249,000 below last year's forecast.

But there are some bright spots for coho in the Sound, including returns to the Nooksack and Samish rivers, said Steve Thiesfeld, Puget Sound salmon manager for WDFW. Coho returns to those two rivers are expected to total about 88,000 fish this season.

Thiesfeld said another bright spot for anglers is Baker Lake, where an abundant sockeye salmon return of about 35,400 fish is expected this season.

Meanwhile, summer/fall chinook salmon returns to Puget Sound are expected to total about 224,000 fish, slightly below last year's projection of 243,000. The bulk of that return is hatchery chinook.

To protect low returns of wild chinook to the Skagit, Snohomish, Stillaguamish and Green (Duwamish) rivers, fisheries throughout Puget Sound will likely be limited to those that focus on hatchery chinook, said Thiesfeld.

State, tribal and federal fishery managers will meet March 2-7 in Sacramento, Calif., with the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) to develop options for this year's commercial and recreational ocean chinook and coho salmon fisheries. The PFMC establishes fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast.

Media Contact
Pat Pattillo, (360) 902-2705

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Why Did the Salmon Cross the Road?

Seattle has been hit by a powerful Pacific storm, that felt somewhere between a hurricane, a tropical rainstorm and a massive snowstorm. Needless to say the driving conditions were extremely poor due with 70mph winds, heavy downpour, and some places expecting several feet of snow. But for those along the Skokomish Valley Road the driving conditions were even more dangerous. The torrential rains flooded a nearby river pushing salmon right over the banks and across the road.

via komonews.com

November 30, 2011 by Jonathon Marshall

Filed Under: Fishing, Incredible, News, Oddities, Salmon, United States, Videos
Tagged: driving conditions, heavy downpour, Hurricane, nearby river, pacific storm, seattle, skokomish valley, snowstorm, tropical rainstorm

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Pure Alaska Salmon Review

I published this full-length review of Pure Alaska Salmon’s wild-caught canned Alaskan Salmon yesterday, but I’ve been so busy I forgot to post it to the main page. So here it is, I hope you’re hungry!

It’s been a while since we had a post as mouth-watering as this one, that’s normally Adam Guy’s arena these days. But despite the fact that I’m a good cook and a fisherman it’s not all that often that I’m eating fish at home. In fact, the last time I had a diet where I was eating fish consistently was in La Paz, where we ate Dorado, Snapper, and even Marlin and Tuna. Even then I left most of the cooking to friend and chef Micheal Leary. Still, I think I came up with a few really nice dishes made with Pure Alaska Salmon’s wild-caught canned salmon, like these fish cakes.

Continue Reading “Pure Alaska Salmon Review”

October 29, 2011 by Jonathon Marshall

Filed Under: Fishing, Food, Highlights, Reviews, Salmon, United States
Tagged: Alaska, alaska salmon, alaskan salmon, canned salmon, commercial fishing, fish cakes, Salmon, sustainable choice, sustainable food, wild-caught

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Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement Program Funds First Wenatchee River Salmon Fishery in 25 Years

The Wenatchee River salmon fishery-recently opened for the first time in at least 25 years- is the latest result of the Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement program.

Since April 2010, all anglers 15 years and older fishing for salmon or steelhead on the Columbia River or its tributaries have been required to purchase an $8.75 endorsement to support management of those fisheries. The endorsement pays for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery management activities including scientific monitoring and evaluation, data collection, permitting, reporting and enforcement.

The endorsement has generated more than $1 million annually to avert recreational fishery closures and increase fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River basin.

"This program has made it possible to maintain existing opportunity and open new fisheries such as the Wenatchee River hatchery summer salmon season," said WDFW Fish Program Assistant Director Jim Scott.

The Wenatchee River fishery opened Aug. 1 from the river mouth at the confluence with the Columbia River to 400 feet below Dryden Dam. Anglers are allowed to retain two hatchery-marked (adipose-fin-clipped) adult and jack summer chinook salmon per day. The season runs through Oct. 15 with selective gear rules and night closure in effect. Anglers are required release fish other than hatchery chinook salmon.

Another section of the Wenatchee River, from the mouth of Peshastin Creek to the Icicle Creek road bridge west of Leavenworth, will open Sept. 1 through Oct. 15 for retention of hatchery summer chinook salmon under the same rules.

Season and rule details are listed on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=1077.

The Wenatchee River fishery is allowed because hatchery summer chinook returns to the river are expected to exceed spawning escapement needs, WDFW's Northcentral Regional Fish Program Manager Jeff Korth explained. Hatchery summer chinook are not listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, but Upper Columbia River spring chinook are listed as endangered and steelhead and bull trout are listed as threatened. The majority of spring chinook and bull trout have already migrated to the upper Wenatchee River, but a few steelhead remain in the area of the recently-opened fishery.

"Monitoring the impacts of the fishery on listed stocks is essential, but monitoring and other management activities for this fishery are expensive," Scott said.

Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement program was created by the 2009 Washington Legislature (Senate Bill 5421). A board of citizens representing four regions within the Columbia River basin reviews fishery proposals and has been instrumental in the success of the program.

Besides the Wenatchee River fishery, the endorsement program also supported salmon or steelhead seasons on other rivers in the Columbia River system, including the Snake, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen.

Media Contact
Jeff Korth, (509) 754-4624, ext. 224

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Special July 6 meeting on troll salmon permit case

Salem, Ore. -- The Oregon Commercial Fisheries Permit Board will meet on Wednesday, July 6 at 9 a.m. to prepare the final order in the limited entry troll salmon permit contested case hearing for Gary Almendinger.
Public wishing to listen to the meeting may do so at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Headquarters Building, 3406 Cherry Avenue NE, Salem, Oregon.
The meeting location is accessible to person with disabilities. A request for an interpreter for the hearing impaired or for other accommodations for persons with disabilities should be made at least 48 hours before the meeting to DeAnna Erickson, (503) 947-6112.

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