Last weekend’s Everett Coho Derby was a howling success. That is, no one drowned and no one had to call the Coast Guard for assistance during the two-day event, even after the weather went ballistic on Sunday. The fact that salmon were caught and prizes awarded was a bonus.
“Luckily, most of the guys were in by noon Sunday, before the worst of the storm went through,” said derby chairman Mark Spada of Snohomish.
Except for more wind than was absolutely necessary, the derby went off without a hitch. It drew just under 2,000 adult and 220 youth participants, similar to last year’s crowd. The winning coho, 11.31 pounds and caught by Harald Schot of Mount Vernon, was only a step below the 2014 winning weight of 11.96 pounds, caught by Gary Hamlin of Marysville.
From there, however, the prediction of smaller fish than usual this year proved accurate. The top four fish last year were all 11 pounds or better, while the numbers two through four this year were 10, 10 and 9 pounds. The average weight this year was 4.54 pounds, compared to 6.12 pounds in 2014.
The total number of coho entered was also under that of last year, 851 compared to 928 in 2014.
Schot pocketed the $10,000 first-place money; second and $5,000 went to Nicholas Kelleher of Bellevue; third and $2,500 went to Kevin Simpson of Everett; fourth and $1,000 went to Tim Hekker of Woodinville; and fifth went to Steve Reinhart of Marysville, worth $100.
Jamie Malysheff of Everett took first place in the youth division, boating a nice coho just a shade under 9 pounds.
Spada said the bulk of the derby fish entered came from Possession Bar, the west side in particular, and that included the number one coho. Schot was reportedly pulling a flasher/Ace Hi fly setup, at about 100 feet.
Spada said the shipwreck area picked up Sunday and put out a bunch of fish, perhaps partly because anglers decided to stay closer to a ramp in the face of an oncoming storm.
Few fish came from area rivers, Spada said, and none of the larger coho.
Talking about the diminishing size of coho recently, and the same with this summer’s run of pink salmon, Spada said “There’s something going on here. This is the second year in a row that the winning fish was under 12 pounds. In the 20 years of the derby prior to last year, there wasn’t a single first-place coho under 12 pounds.”
The coho run is not yet over, as evidenced by state Fish and Wildlife Department checks from up the Strait of Juan de Fuca: 70 anglers at the Ediz Hook public ramp in Port Angeles on Saturday with 89 coho, and 325 anglers at Olson’s Resort in Sekiu with 458 coho.
Razor clams
Prospects for fall razor clam digs on the coast are looking a little more encouraging all the time, according to WDFW clam manager Dan Ayres in Montesano. An outbreak of a marine toxin — domoic acid — in coastal clams this spring forced an early closure of the recreational season and cast doubt on when, or if, digging would reopen.
Ayres said levels of the toxin in clams, which makes them unfit for human consumption, has slowly declined over the summer, but that a decision on reopening of recreational digs is still in limbo.
“Toxins in Long Beach clams have dropped below the unsafe level set by the state Health Department recently, and that’s a good sign,” Ayres said. “On the other hand, levels in Twin Harbors clams (south of Westport) have gone up a little bit. Kalaloch is looking pretty good, but a lot of the clams there are too small and we probably won’t open that beach yet. What we will probably end up doing, although I don’t like to structure it that way, is to open some beaches and not others for a while this fall.”
Assuming a continuing general decline in toxin levels, recreational digging seasons on certain beaches could open in early to mid-October. Ayres said clam populations on the coast appear to be slightly below 2014 levels, but still well above the long-term average.
An overview of the recently completed 2015-16 coastal clam stock assessment and a look back at last season are available on WDFW’s razor clam webpage, http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/seasons_set.html. During the 2014-15 season, diggers harvested 5.7 million razor clams and averaged 14.4 clams per day, almost 15-clam limits around.
Hunter sight-in
The Marysville Rifle Club will host its annual hunter sight-in program, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 1, 3, 4, 8, 10 and 11, at the club range near Lake Ki, northwest of Marysville. The address is 1601 Lakewood Road, Arlington.
Fees are $10 for one firearm and $5 for each additional firearm up to three, with 50-, 100-, and 200-yard targets available.
To get there driving north on I-5, take the Smokey Point exit 206, turn left over the freeway and go 2.2 miles. Turn right at the stop sign and go 0.7 miles. The range will be on your right, just before reaching Lake Ki.
For more information go to www.marysvillerifleclub.org.
Good cause
The 8th annual Coastal Conservation Association SnoKing banquet and auction will be held Friday at the Brightwater Community Center, 22505 Highway 9, Woodinville. Admission covers a year’s CCA membership, dinner (by Armadillo BBQ), and live and silent auctions, raffles and games. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Individual tickets are $65 per person or $120 per couple, and may be purchased online at www.ccawashington.org/snoking.
Email chapter secretary Wallace Cogley, at wtcogley@yahoo.com.
Hoh chinook reg change
The lower Hoh River, from the DNR Oxbow Campground boat launch downstream to the Olympic National Park boundary near the river’s mouth, has reopened to chinook retention and the use of bait and other standard gear consistent with regulations published in the state sport fishing rules pamphlet. Cooler and wetter weather has moved most summer chinook out of the lower end of the Hoh.
Youth hunting and fishing day event
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is partnering with the Cowlitz Public Shooting Range to sponsor a free shooting event for youth in celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
The event is Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the range, 1000 Toutle Park Road, Castle Rock, three-quarters of a mile east of I-5, exit 52.
Youth 17 and under can shoot free with an accompanying adult, and master hunters and hunter education instructors will be on hand to answer questions and provide guidance. Lunch is provided free and there will be a free raffle for gift cards from Bob’s Sporting Goods and Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Participants may bring their rifle and ammunition, or WDFW will provide rifles, shotguns, ammunition and archery gear for youth to try. Eye and ear protection will be provided.
Contact David Whipple, 360-902-2847.
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