Hook and Fur: Could be a tough year for anglers

A couple of weeks ago in a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife news release, the department gave anglers a heads up that poor returns of chinook, coho, sockeye, and chum this year are expected to limit fishing opportunities in Puget Sound, the Columbia River and Washington coastal areas. On top of that negative news, the department also announced for the first time in five years, the Cowlitz River will not open to smelt dipping.

Laura Heironimus, a fish manager for the department,  said gillnet boats participating in the test fishery near the mouth of the Cowlitz River landed less than 130 pounds of smelt after eight days of fishing.

“That’s well below the 250-pound average daily catch benchmark for opening a recreational fishery. We also didn’t see the frenzied activity by birds and sea lions last month that usually occurs during healthy smelt run. The smelt population appears to be declining again after gaining some ground, so it’s hard to say whether we’ll be able to open a fishery next year.”

So what’s the bottom line when it comes to the 2018 salmon-fishing season? It certainly is going to be different than last year and probably next year as well. According to the wildlife department, the 2018 season is going to be challenging. Opportunities will still be there, but restrictive. The department did not expound on what it meant by restrictive.

Of note, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may ask for additional restrictions on salmon fisheries as the agency weighs conservation measures for southern killer whale, whose populations have been declining along with salmon.

Meanwhile, the department has scheduled meetings this month to inform area residents of a department proposal to move mountain goats from the Olympic National Park to the North Cascades. The relocation is scheduled to begin this and next year’s summer. Reason for the relocation is to reduce damage to the park’s natural resources-especially native vegetation- and public safety. In October 2010,while trying to protect some vacationing cyclists from aggressive actions of a mountain goat estimated to weigh 370 pounds, Robert Boardman of Port Angeles, Washington was repeatedly gored by the goat and bled to death. Mountain goats were introduced to the Olympic Mountains in the 1920s, and have since colonized the entire range, with most of the population residing within the park. Meetings times and dates are available on the department’s website.

Other notes: Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their names into the drawing for a 2018 multiple-season tag which can greatly increase the opportunity for success in the field. The drawing is mid-April, randomly selecting names for 8,500 multi-season deer tags and 1,000 multi-season elk tags. Applications cost $7.10 for residents and $110.50 for nonresidents. A 2018 hunting license is not required to submit an application, but winners of the drawing must purchase one before purchasing a multi-season tag. Deadline for purchasing a multi-season tag is July 31. Winners may choose any weapon type when applying for a special hunt permit for deer or elk. Hunters can apply only once for each species and are limited to harvesting one deer or elk.

Bob Brown can be contacted at robertb1285@centurylink.net.