Effort to Catch Salmon Drops in Pacific Northwest in Last Weeks of Season
OutdoorHub Reporters 09.12.12
The number of salmon caught by anglers in recent days has been decreasing as numerous factors hinder the activity. In the Pacific northwest, Fish and Wildlife Biologist Wendy Beeghly has noticed that effort to get out on the water, particularly due to weather, is decreasing among anglers.
For the moment, the bag limit is two fish, one of which can be coho salmon. Starting Thursday September 13, anglers can keep two coho. Illwaco, in the southwestern corner of Washington, reported only 0.8 fish per angler. Most of the catch was coho, Beeghly told the Seattle Times. At Westport, in the middle of Washington’s western coast, 0.8 fish were caught per person, two-thirds of which were coho and one-third chinook salmon.
Further north at La Push, anglers caught an average of 0.85 fish, while anglers at the northwestern corner of Washington, in Neah Bay, caught even less at 0.4 fish per angler. Coho were the dominant catch.
Officials along the coast suggest a number of factors keeping anglers away and decreasing fish catches. They include:
- rough ocean conditions,
- drop in angler turnout and effort,
- southern migration making it harder for anglers, private boats and charter boats to catch fish.
Yet, the season is not over. Anglers in Westport, La Push and Neah Bay have until September 23 as the areas remain open for daily salmon fishing. Illwaco is open for daily fishing until September 30.
