Razor clam dig at Twin Harbors cancelled due to elevated levels of marine toxins

10/24/2016 – John W. J. Snyder – Northwest Fishing News   OLYMPIA – Elevated marine toxin levels have prompted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to cancel a razor clam dig scheduled to start Friday at Twin Harbors. State shellfish managers already scratched a dig at Long Beach – that was also scheduled …

Hatchery coho salmon can be retained in all of Area 13 beginning Oct. 22

A day with Big King Salmon Charters 10/22/2016 – J. W. Snyder – NWFN   Action:   Hatchery coho can be kept as part of the daily limit in all of Marine Area 13 (South Sound). Effective Dates:  Oct 22, until further notice. Species affected:  Salmon Locations:  Marine Area 13 Reason for action: State and tribal …

WDFW approves razor clam digs at 2 beaches, awaits test on third

10/06/2016 – JohnSnyder – NWFN   OLYMPIA – Washington’s fall razor clam season will get underway Friday, Oct. 14 at Copalis and Mocrocks as planned, but the status of Twin Harbors in that dig will depend on the results of one more marine toxin test. Long Beach will remain closed to clam digging due to …

Hatchery coho can be retained in Tulalip Bubble fishery

Photo courtesy of River Chrome Guide Service 09/14/2016 – J. W. Snyder – Northwest Fishing News    WDFW fishing rule change Action: Hatchery coho can be kept as part of the daily limit in the Tulalip Bubble fishery.  Effective Date:  Saturday and Sundays only, effective Sept. 17 through Sept. 25, 2016. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Waters west of …

Release chinook marked with hole punch in Upper Columbia River fisheries

Photo courtesy of Swannys Fishing 09/008/2016 – John Snyder – NWFN    WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE Action: Anglers are required to release chinook salmon that have a ¼-inch diameter (round) hole punched in the upper lobe of the caudal (tail) fin Effective dates: Sept. 15 – Oct. 31, 2016 Species affected: Fall chinook salmon (hatchery and wild) …

Elwha, Nisqually rivers designated gene banks to protect wild steelhead

08/15/2016 – John Snyder- NWFN    OLYMPIA –The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today designated the Nisqually and Elwha rivers as wild steelhead gene banks to help conserve wild steelhead populations. Under that designation, both rivers will be off-limits to releases of steelhead raised in state hatcheries, which can pose risks to native …

Bass caught in Snohomish County shatters 39-year-old state record

08/12/2016 – John Snyder – Northwest Fishing News   OLYMPIA – A Snohomish County angler has set a new state record for the biggest largemouth bass caught in state waters, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed today. Bill Evans of Bothell caught the monster bass Aug. 8 in Lake Bosworth in Snohomish …

Anglers can keep 2 chinook in Marine Area 1 beginning Aug. 16

08/11/2016 – John Snyder – NWFN    WDFW Fishing Rule Change Marine Area 1   Action: Anglers will be allowed to keep two chinook daily as part of their two salmon daily limit in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco). Anglers must release wild coho.  Effective Dates: August 16, 2016 Species affected: Chinook Locations: Marine Area 1 …

Rampant fishing access closures, will there ever be an end?

08/06/2016 – John Snyder – Northwest Fishing News   Normally this time of year, you would see determined anglers lined up along the beach at Salsbury point fishing for the Coho that are on their journey to spawning grounds within several Hood canal estuaries. Today the beach remains empty because the Washington Department of Fish …

Salmon season closes August 5th in Marine Area 9

08/02/2016 – J. W. Snyder – NWFN   Salmon season closes Aug. 5 in Marine Area 9   Action: Closes salmon fishing in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), excluding the Edmonds Public Fishing Pier. Effective Date: 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, 2016. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet). Reason …