Neah Bay Reopens Daily For Chinook Retention

OLYMPIA - Anglers fishing in ocean waters off Neah Bay will be allowed to keep one chinook daily beginning Friday, Aug. 21, state fishery managers announced today.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) closed Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) to chinook retention earlier this summer when the catch of chinook salmon was expected to reach the harvest guideline for the area. But catch rates dropped in the final days, allowing WDFW to reopen the area to chinook retention Aug. 14 and 15, said Doug Milward, ocean salmon manager for WDFW.

"Angler participation and catch rates remained low last week," Milward said. "We're still below the guideline for the area, which means we can give anglers the opportunity to catch chinook daily in Marine Area 4."

Beginning Aug. 21, anglers fishing in Neah Bay can keep one chinook as part of the two salmon daily limit, plus two additional pink salmon, but must release all wild coho and chum salmon. However, the section of Marine Area 4 that is east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line will remain closed to chinook retention.

More information on the ocean fishery, including catch guidelines and size limits, can be found in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/ .