Northwest Reel Life August 2024 Volume 3 Issue 10 - Flipbook - Page 10
Wild coho are not allowed
to be kept keeping those
runs going so be sure to
only keep clipped silvers.
This is also a staging area
for chums and in the salt,
they can be misidentified
easily as their purple bars
are light and sometimes
even non-existent this time
of year. Chums must be
released so be sure to look
at the fish closely and know
what you have caught.
MARINE AREA 4, the last
of the “ocean” areas had a
rough start to the chinook
fishing. As of July 11th, only
25% of the quota had been
caught which normally
that time of year the quota
is getting close to being
filled. I fished this area on
July 12th and 13th, when
the daily limit of chinook
went to 2 per day and we
did not hook a single adult
chinook. The seas were
rough and kept my little 18foot boat limited to trolling
along the kelp line and
near shore but those that
could make it further out
did well. This indicated the
chinook were here but out
deeper than usual. Coho
were being caught but not
in respectable numbers
which could indicate a later
return this year which is
great since area 5 to the
east is slated to be open
into October for coho.
Come August the rules for
chinook change in Marine
Area 4 with it only being
open west of the BonillaTatoosh line. Coho is slated
to remain open until midSeptember in all Marine
Area 4.
Regardless of where you
decide to go, be sure to
head out to the open ocean
for some great fall salmon
fishing. Of course, before
you go be sure to check the
emergency regulations as
these fisheries are subject
to quotas and can close
quickly. They can also open
or be extended as well and
just maybe you will find
a bonus opportunity out
in the ocean. Either way,
be ready for some cold,
wet, and rough weather as
well as bring sunscreen as
afternoons are known to
burn off the fog and remind
us it is still summertime.
