Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 263
Extension of Recreational and Commercial Fishing Closure Announced for Elwha River and Its Tributaries OLYMPIA – The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Olympic National Park, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have agreed that it is necessary to extend the fishing closure in the Elwha River for another two years, from June 1, 2019 to July 1, 2021. The fishing closure applies to all recreational and commercial fishing in the Elwha River and its tributaries. A fishing moratorium in t... Full story
WDFW seeks input on fishing regulations for Humptulips River OLYMPIA – State fish managers are hosting a public meeting Tuesday, April 23, to discuss fishing regulations on the Humptulips River in southwest Washington. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled the meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. April 23 at the Montesano City Hall. The public can also email comments to GraysHarbor@dfw.wa.gov. Department staff will discuss reinstating the use of selective gear rules for all g... Full story
Langlois Lake in King County to open for 1-day fishing event. Langlois Lake will be open to fishing from one hour before official sunrise to one hour after official sunset on April 20, 2019 for anglers participating in the Project Healing Waters (PHW) fishing event for all game fish. This is a one-day PHW event hosted by the Bellevue/Issaquah chapter of Trout Unlimited and the North Bend chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Project Healing Waters is dedicated to the physical and... Full story
Third weekend opening planned for Columbia River spring chinook fishery below Bonneville Dam OLYMPIA – For the third weekend in a row, a section of the lower Columbia River will reopen for two days of recreational spring chinook salmon fishing beginning Saturday, state fishery managers announced today. The initial spring chinook fishing period from Bonneville Dam downriver to Warrior Rock closed at midnight Wednesday, April 10, then reopened for the weekends beginning April 13 and 20, based o... Full story
OLYMPIA – Razor clam diggers can return to various ocean beaches for a seven-day opening beginning Sunday, Feb. 17. The dig extends over a long weekend and provides a Saturday digging opportunity at Long Beach. State shellfish managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the dig on evening low tides after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat. No digging will be allowed on any beach before noon. The upcoming dig is approved on the following b... Full story
Species affected: All species Location: In the waters downstream of markers on a point of land downstream and across from Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery and upstream of the Highway 14 Bridge. Reason for action: The return of fall chinook to Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery is currently projected to be below the number needed to meet egg take goals for 2018. Closing the fishing season in Drano Lake will increase the number of hatchery fish available for broodstock and help... Full story
Action: Close part of the Samish River to all fishing. Effective dates: Sept.15, 2018 until further notice. Species affected: All species. Location: From the mouth (Bayview –Edison Road) to I-5 bridge Reasons for action: The return of fall chinook to the Samish Hatchery is currently projected to be below the number needed to meet egg take goals for 2018. Closing the fishing season in the lower Samish River will increase the number of hatchery fish available for broodstock and help ensure f... Full story
Policy Veteran Will Focus On State And Federal Policies That Affect Freshwater Fisheries Alexandria, Va. – August 22, 2018 – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is pleased to announce that Clay Crabtree, most recently a Legislative Analyst with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has joined the ASA staff as Policy Director. Crabtree’s tenure began on Monday, August 20, 2018. He will be based in ASA’s Alexandria, Va. offices. “As ASA’s membership grows and diversifies... Full story
Angler establishes redbanded rockfish state record; Arrowtooth flounder record falls the same day OLYMPIA - John Sly of Tacoma has established the state record for the largest redbanded rockfish caught in state waters, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed today. Sly caught the 7.54 pound redbanded rockfish while jigging with bait out of Westport, Washington on June 21. There was no previous state record established for this species. Richard Hale of Tukwila broke... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is inviting people to share their views at four upcoming meetings in Ridgefield on a draft assessment of a state policy that guides the management of salmon fisheries in the lower Columbia River. The policy, adopted in 2013 by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, is designed to promote orderly fisheries, advance the recovery of wild salmon and steelhead, and support the economic well-being of the Columbia River fishing i... Full story
Action: Open the Nisqually River to fishing for salmon and gamefish. Effective dates: Immediately through 11:59 p.m., Jan. 31, 2018. Species affected: Salmon, gamefish. Location: Nisqually River (Pierce and Thurston counties) from the mouth to military tank crossing bridge (located one mile upstream from the mouth of Muck Creek). Reasons for action: Recent surveys indicate that the spawning goal for chum salmon has been met in the Nisqually River and its tributaries, allowing both WDFW and the... Full story
OLYMPIA--The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) confirmed today that two state sport fish records fell during one late September weekend. Mike Benoit, of Gig Harbor, set a new state record for the largest opah caught off the coast of Washington on Sept. 23. The 37.98-pound fish measured 32.5 inches. Benoit was live bait fishing with anchovies out of Westport. The new record exceeded the previous opah record by more than two pounds. That record was held by Jim Watson on a fish... Full story
OLYMPIA – State shellfish managers have delayed the opening of the commercial Dungeness crab fishery on Washington's coast due to inadequate meat in crab shells. The commercial fishery on Washington's coast typically opens Dec. 1. Recent testing indicates crabs along the coast do not have sufficient meat in their shells to meet industry standards for harvest. The fishery will be delayed until at least Dec. 16 to allow more time for crabs to fill with more meat. Another round of testing will t... Full story
Despite the winter chill, Washingtonians have plenty of reaso0ns to head outdoors during the holidays. Seasonal fisheries are underway throughout the state, waterfowl hunting is in full swing and birders are gearing up for some prime viewing opportunities. Those planning to spend time outdoors between holiday shopping can enjoy: Steelhead fishing: Fisheries for hatchery steelhead are up and running, drawing stalwart anglers to rivers on both sides of the Cascades. Goose and duck hunting:... Full story
Washington, D.C. – June 28, 2017 – Today, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced the 2017 Regional Fishery Management Council (RFMC) appointments and has shown that recreational fishing and boating are important to the Trump Administration. The appointments of Steve Heins of New York to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Chester Brewer of Florida to the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; and Phil Dyskow of Florida, Dr. Bob Shipp of Alabama, and Dr. Greg Stunz of Texas to the... Full story
Ranger Tugs launched the 2018 R-27 at TrawlerFest in Bremerton, WA. This all new model was an immediate success with much demand and multiple orders taken. She has a fast, dry ride and in keeping with Ranger Tugs’ tradition, an abundance of accommodation space. The R-27 is the newest member of the next generation of Ranger Tugs. This vessel has the distinctive modern styling and innovative design cues of the larger R-29S in a compact yet capable layout. This includes a curved front window and an... Full story
Alexandria, VA - April 25, 2017 - Senior recreation industry corporate and trade association officials met with Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Monday, April 24, capping a full and encouraging day of discussions with administration officials. The meetings were organized by the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable (ORIR) and began in Shenandoah National Park. Twelve hours later, the day’s discussions concluded in Zinke’s offices in downtown Washington, D.C. The eve... Full story
OLYMPIA – State shellfish managers have given the OK for a five-day razor clam dig at Twin Harbors starting April 5, and have tentatively scheduled the beach to open again later this month. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the opening after marine toxin tests showed clams at Twin Harbors are safe to eat. Razor clam diggers should be aware that the first four days of the dig are on evening tides, whereas the last day's dig is on a morning tide, said Dan Ayres, c... Full story
Washington anglers can expect a mixed bag of salmon fisheries this year with slightly increased opportunities in the ocean, seasons similar to last year in the Columbia River, and continued restrictions in Puget Sound. The state's 2017 salmon fishing seasons, developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty tribal co-managers, were finalized during the Pacific Fishery Management Council's meeting in Sacramento, Calif. In recent years, unfavorable environmental... Full story
OLYMPIA – State fishery managers have again extended the initial sportfishing season for spring chinook salmon on the lower Columbia River in response to poor fishing conditions caused by extremely high, turbid water. The fishery will reopen from April 13-17 and from April 20-23 upstream from Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia River to Bonneville Dam, except in the Lewis River sanctuary. The extension was approved today by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon, who previously extended t... Full story
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Last week, President Obama took unilateral action and issued a Presidential Proclamation under the outdated 1906 Antiquities Act, locking-up 1.35 million acres of land in southeastern Utah through designation of the new Bears Ears National Monument and locking-up 300,000 acres of land in Clark County, Nevada through designation of the new Gold Butte National Monument. Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) http://gosar.house.gov/, Chairman Emeritus... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider updating the state's reform policy on Columbia River salmon management during a meeting scheduled Jan. 13-14 in Vancouver, Wash. In addition, the commission is scheduled to review the protective status of three state wildlife species, and consider adopting updates to its North of Falcon salmon season-setting policy. The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish a... Full story
OLYMPIA – Recreational fishing and hunting licenses for the 2017-2018 season, which begins April 1, 2017, are available for sale today. Typically, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) begins to sell the upcoming year's licenses in December. "With the release of our new licensing system last month, we opted to delay selling 2017-18 licenses in order to avoid printing licenses from two separate systems, with slightly different formatting, for a single license year," said Peter V... Full story
OLYMPIA – Puget Sound marine areas currently open for recreational winter crabbing will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, after which all sport crabbers licensed to fish for Dungeness crab in the Sound will have through Feb. 1 to report their winter results. Crabbers who plan to report their catch online should be aware of some changes to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) online system, said Rich Childers, shellfish policy lead for the department. "Crabbers should be prepared t... Full story
OLYMPIA – The state's new recreational license sales system became operational this week, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials say the switch from the old system went as smoothly as possible. The new system began selling hunting and fishing licenses and the Discover Pass on the evening of Dec. 18, several hours earlier than expected, said Peter Vernie, WDFW's licensing division manager. "This secure, next-generation system will improve service to our customers and t... Full story
