Angling Still Slow In Most Areas

Large mature chinook have appeared in catch reports and schools of baitfish are returning to Puget Sound, but slow fishing continues in most areas.

The key is finding baitfish. Reports indicate a fair amount of herring and candlefish at Midchannel Bank, Middle and Hein banks, the San Juan Islands, Point No Point and areas off Point Defiance in Tacoma.

Jeff Lingbloom, a charter-boat operator in Bellingham, said Eliza Island, in Bellingham Bay, Lummi Rocks, on the west side of Lummi Island, and Point Lawrence, east Orcas Island, were "plugged with baitfish over the weekend."

Strong ebb tides last weekend made Point Lawrence's northeast corner the "hot spot," with blackmouth averaging 8 to 12 pounds, including a few up to 20 pounds.

Other areas worth a try are the west beach of Orcas Island, Obstruction Pass, and Middle, Hein and Coyote banks.

Morning low tides this week should make Point No Point and Midchannel Bank fair bets for chinook, 4 to 12 pounds.

"The candlefish are on the bank (Midchannel), but salmon fishing is just starting to pick up," said Rocky D'Aquisto, owner of Point Wilson Jig Darts. "It's not hot by any means, but there's a lot of bait for the salmon to feed on."

Sekiu was slow for chinook through yesterday because of bad weather, but a week ago reports were fair to good, so fishing could perk up at any time.

Anglers fishing from the Caves to Eagle Bay last weekend said strong winds and tides made it difficult to get bait to the bottom, where a majority of the chinook have been caught.

Fishing has been fair for chinook off Freshwater Bay and the humps off Port Angeles.

"The second and third humps were good last weekend, and trolling anglers got a few off Freshwater Bay at depths of about 140 to 180 feet," said Don Frizzell of Port Angeles Charters.

Most of central and south Puget Sound is slow, although at high-tide change, Point Dalco in Tacoma has produced a few large mature chinook into the upper teens.

Anglers continue to report a fair amount of large spawner herring in Dalco Passage bound for Quartermaster Harbor.

A Fisheries checker at Armeni ramp in West Seattle said a few blackmouth were caught over the weekend off West Point, Blakely Rock and Jefferson Head.

SALMON BITES

-- The good news for anglers this summer along the Strait of Juan de Fuca is the predicted run size of 31.8 million pink salmon (also known as humpies) heading for the Fraser River in British Columbia.

"The challenge is how to target the pinks and not the wild coho stocks of concern," said Tony Floor of the Department of Fisheries.

Salmon closures and regulations along the Strait of Juan de Fuca and northern Puget Sound probably will resemble last year, but resort owners and charter operators hope the pink run could extend the season.

Last year, areas from Sekiu east to Port Angeles and south to the Edmonds-Kingston line were closed to all recreational salmon angling from September to October.

"It's unbelievable to have a fish run of this magnitude, so we must find a way to create a good sports fishery that targets pinks," said Harold Van Riper of Sekus, a member of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council.

The council represents sports and commercial interest groups and sets the seasons and regulations from Washington to California.

"We should have more details of what's going to happen in the Straits and areas of Puget Sound in the next week," said Van Riper.

RAZOR CLAMS

-- The spring razor clam season on Washington coastal beaches is expected to begin Tuesday and will run through May 11, according to the Department of Fisheries.

Final samples have been sent to the Health Department, which monitors razor clams for paralytic shellfish poisonings. Results will be known by Monday.

Provided the toxin levels are safe, razor clamming will be allowed on beaches north of Cape Shoalwater to Olympic National Park beach trail #3 at the north end of Kalaloch beach (excluding Quinault Indian Reservation beaches).

The Long Beach Peninsula area continues to have levels of toxins slightly higher than the standard allowed for safe human consumption, and is closed.

Razor clams may be harvested during morning hours only, on odd-numbered dates. Diggers must keep their first 15 clams, regardless of size or condition.

Low minus tides are the most productive times, and this year the clams are expected to be larger than normal.

Clam diggers can call the Department of Fisheries hotline for current information: (206) 427-9500 ($1 per call). If you are unable to access the hotline, call (206) 902-2250.

A $3.50 license is required for state residents aged 15-69 and for all nonresident diggers.

WHALE WATCHING

-- The gray whale migration has begun and Westport charter operators offer whale-watching trips.

More than 23,000 gray whales leave Baja California in late winter and migrate along the West Coast to Arctic seas.

"We had a fabulous show this past weekend with a whale following our boat for over 45 minutes," said Ken Bowe, of Deep Sea Charters in Westport. "At one point, we had a whale come up and nudge the boat; we call them friendlies."

The best time to see the 45-ton giants is late March through April.

"Each year, there seems to be more and more whales migrating north, so that's an encouraging sign," Bowe said.

Trips usually last about 2 1/2 hours, and watchers are reminded to dress according to the weather.

For information, call the Whale Watching Headquarters at Westport, (206) 268-9300.

FISHING SPOTS

-- Sekiu - Slow at midweek but could improve any time for chinook. Best areas are from the Caves west to Eagle Bay. -- Freshwater Bay - Not many anglers out since the weekend but could be a fair bet for chinook at depths of 140 to 180 feet. -- Port Angeles - The humps and Winter Hole should be fair bets for chinook. -- San Juan Islands - Fair off Eliza Island, Lummi Rocks and Point Lawrence for chinook. Also worth a try are the west beach of Orcas Island, Obstruction Pass, and Middle, Hein and Coyote banks. -- Midchannel Bank - Fishing for chinook has improved steadily in the past two weeks, and the bank has plenty of candlefish. -- West Whidbey Island - No recent reports, but Double Bluff has been a consistent producer for blackmouth. -- Point No Point - Fair to good bet for chinook near and at low-tide change. -- Saratoga Passage - A few blackmouth have been caught by trolling off Camano Head, Oak Harbor Bay and Polnell Point. -- Possession Bar - Slow at midweek for chinook. -- Jefferson Head - Slow at midweek for salmon, although a few small blackmouth have been caught near the morning high-tide change. -- Shilshole Bay - Slow for salmon, but West Point might be a fair bet for small blackmouth. -- Elliott Bay - Slow in the bay for salmon. Slow off Allen Bank and Southworth for blackmouth and resident coho, but a few have been caught off Blakely Rock. -- Point Defiance - Slow overall, although a few large mature chinook have been reported off Point Dalco and the Clay Banks. -- Anderson Island - Slow for salmon. -- Skagit system - River is a little murky but fishable. Slow for steelhead on the lower section. Kim Weymouth at Ed's Sport Shop in Mount Vernon weighed five steelhead last week that topped 20 pounds. Check for closures and special regulations. -- Snohomish system - All wild steelhead must be released. Check for closures and special regulations. -- Stillaguamish River - Slow for steelhead. Check for closures and special regulations. -- Green River - Closed to all gamefishing. -- Coastal rivers - Fair for a mix of late hatchery and native steelhead on the Bogachiel, Soleduck and Hoh. -- Smelt - Dipping on the Cowlitz River has been very slow in recent days. If you want to take a chance, the best areas were from Kelso upstream.