HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown Not everyone is enthusiastic about recreational crabbing in Washington's coastal waters and Puget Sound during winter months because of conditions. Wind, rain and chilly temperatures do not fit the palate of everyone, and it is only the hardiest of individuals who participates in the sport during those months. That said, crabbing has reopened in Marine Area 10 for the month of December, joining the rest of Puget Sound already open to late-season crabbing. Marine Area 10 has been closed since the summer-fishery ended in early September. The season opened Dec. 1 and will be open seven days a week. All other marine areas of Puget Sound are already open to crab fishing through Dec. 31. The daily catch limit in Puget Sound is five Dungeness crabs, males only in hard-shell condition with a minimum carapace width of 6.5 inches. In addition fishers may catch six red rock crab of either six per day, provided those crabs measure at least five inches across. All Dungeness crabs caught in the late-season must be recorded on winter catch cards. Recreational crabbing is open in all coastal waters except Willapa Bay , which is closed because of elevated toxin levels. Marine toxin is not an issue in Puget Sound crabs. Dan Eyres, coastal fish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)m said the department typically opens the area north of Klipsan Beach to state commercial crabbing later the season on cooperation with tribal co-managers. Crab now coming into the market from tribal fisheries currently open along the central and northern Washington coast have been tested and are safe.
Fishing reports
" Fishing in the Cowlitz has been fair, mainly due to high flows which have been running near the 15,000 cubic feet per second. Some nice coho are being caught and the odd steelhead. The coho limit is down to one adult, but anglers can still catch five silver jacks or one coho adult or one fall king if one can be found to keep. Most of them are pretty dark right now. There has been a little rain, so bring the rain gear. Also, bring along patience. In one recent week, Tacoma Power recovered 1,346 coho adults, 751 jacks, 164 chinook adults, eight jacks, 89 summer steelhead and 18 cutthroat trout at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. Also, 781 coho adults, 382 jacks, 117 chinook adults, eight jacks and nine cutthroat trout in to the Tilton River at Gust Backstorm Park in Morton. Of the 3,300 summer steelhead that have been recycled during the 2015 season, a total of 1,678 have been accounted for through Nov. 20. " Joe Hymer, supervisory fish biologist for Pacific States Marine Fishery, reported effort has been light and no catch of steelhead on the Coweeman, however on the Kalama, a mix of coho and steelhead are being caught. Conditions are low and clearing, said John Bechbold of Bob's Sporting Goods. Effort has been light on the North Fork Lewis, while on the East Fork, some steelhead and coho are being caught. However, the steelhead were wild and had to be released and so do all salmon as required. Anglers are using chartreuse corkies and yarn in Kennedy Creek. It is also being reported the Creek is muddy. No reports available for the Nisqually and Puyallup rivers.
Bob Brown lives in Roy and is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be reached at robertb1285@centurylink.net
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