Woodland Creek Community Center 6729 Pacific Avenue SE, Lacey, WA 98503
Located in Olympia, Washington.
Welcome! Please look around our website. If we offer something you are interested in, you may want to attend a meeting.
Our Corporate Members & Club Officers
Current Events Information
Just a reminder that our annual Holiday Party will be on Thursday December 7 at the Lacey Community Center. This will be a pot luck with the club furnishing turkey, ham and dessert and the rest of the meal pot luck by the attendees. This as a family event so plan to bring your whole crew or friends that might enjoy a night out. There will be a raffle with prizes aimed at all age groups and activities. Here are some of the items that will be in the raffle as of today:
Women/household raffle items
1. Immersion blender (Perfect for Soups and Sauces)
2. Kate Spade Polka Dot whistling tea kettle.
3. 5 piece luggage set
4. Beautiful Inlay wood and marble cutting board with a spreader knife.
5. Ninja Coffee Maker with built in milk frother. Takes grounds or pods.
6. 32" LED TV
7. Gingerbread house kit. Great gift/project for your kids or grandchildren.
8. Deluxe Wooden Game House.. Holds 10 classic games.
9. Magic Bullet. Kitchen prep food processor. Shred Chops and Slices, Accessories dishwasher safe.
10. Air Fryer with touch screen
11. Wide slot Toaster
12. Hot Sauce Variety Pack. (11 bottles of fire)
Outdoor/fishing raffle items
1. Vacuum sealer
2. Saltwater Fishing Journal
3. Pro Troll lighted flasher
4. 10 piece Bayou Seafood set
5. Stainless Steel Tabletop Propane Grill
6. Seahawk blanket
7. 2 Cabela’s gift cards
8. Halibut rod and reel
9. Halibut rod
10. Trolling rod and reel
11. Crab Pot with buoy, line, lead weight and measure
Kids items
1.Sharpie set with 27 markers
2.Sensory bin with 30 pieces
3.Mega bubble blaster
4.Chompin Charlie
5.Nerf scooter blaster
6.Remote control fishing boat
7.Special edition diecast car
Greetings all. Our first fall outing is a razor clam at Twin Harbors. Meet at the mud bay park and ride 12 noon and carpool. Please respond if you are coming and how many so I know how many hot dogs to bring. I will bring 2 extra clam tubes. Remember your license! With a 7 pm low tide of minus one, we should be able to finish digging before dark.
Questions? Contact me or Allen Morrow.
Martin Chen
360-490-3383
If you are a halibut fisher, it is suggested you read this email and respond if you want to keep our quotas where they are.
Allen Morrow
From: rgarner755@aol.com
Sent: Monday, October 09, 2023 10:27 AM
To: RON GARNER
Subject: Action Alert, PSA presidents, please share with your chapters. California is going after some of our halibut quota.
Dear chapter presidents,
Please share this with your chapter members. We need them to act to save what halibut quota we have. There is a link at the bottom for them to act on. Time is of the essence! These need to have time to be printed and put into the PFMC council members folders before the next PFMC meeting. This will give enough time needed for the staff to look through them, proofread them and make sure letters are legit, and file them. Then the PFMC members will start looking at the paperwork before the meeting. This gives them time prior to the meeting to digest what is going on. They will be the ones responsible for make the decision to move quota or not move quota. Since California's salmon seasons were cut, they might be sympathetic towards giving them some of our quota. We need all of the quota we can get and flood them with hundreds of emails to stop this. We will be sending out a voter voice for people to act on this too.
Please respond today! Forward this to all of your friends too.
Ron Garner
Dear Washington State Halibut fishers,
California is moving forward on a strategic move to try to take some of our Washington state halibut quota from the 2A halibut quota (Washington, Oregon, and California) through Pacific Fisheries Management Council. It was kept from moving forward up until this point by Butch Smith and Phil Anderson at the council level. Now California has stepped up its game and is asking for some of our quota to be taken from us and moved down to California for them. Washington has a unique ecosystem that benefits the halibut more than Oregon and California. The larger biomass falls off south of Washington. This is one of the reasons that Washington has a larger quota than Oregon and Washington. Before the Pandemic we had trouble making our seasons last as we caught the fish too quickly. We needed more fish just like everyone wants. Thankfully the Makah’s and other tribes got us an inflated quota in area 2A that has extended our seasons and made more fish for us all to catch. This larger quota can go back to where it was and we could be back to 5-10 days seasons. This effects coastal, strait and Puget Sound all!
From Butch: This is not a DRILL!!!!! California is trying to take Washington's Halibut quota!! Last June California had over 100 letters supporting to move quota from Washington's quota and it gained some traction. Both Phil and I plus WDF Heather are saying NO to that! BUT this November we need your Help!! We need you to write the PFMC Council Just like California did. Let me remind you Northern California has a 100 plus day Halibut season with No management tool or restrictions, so they are fishing 7 days a week!! While us up in Washington are catching most of our quota with very strict management, such as 2 or 3 days a week closed in July etc. Remember the 2A quota can go back down where we are back to 5 or 10 day seasons again plus potentially losing fish to California could be very hard on the state of Washington.
So what can you do to help stop this is go on the link I have provided and simply say No to moving Washington Quota to California. Our seasons are short and we use most of all our quota on 2 to 3 days of the week seasons with 4 fish a year Using your name an/or organization write that you Do Not support moving Washington halibut quota to California. You can use your own words but please write the council do not leave it up to someone else. We need a lot of letters so please help.
Thank you
Link below:
Link to PFMC halibut response for you
First razor clam digs of the season start at three beaches
Digging at Mocrocks postponed by marine toxin levelsWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife shellfish managers have confirmed the season's first round of razor clam digging opportunities at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis starting today, Sept. 29, and running through Oct. 2.
"The first razor clam digs of the season will begin on some beaches today, but unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a little longer to harvest at Mocrocks," said Bryce Blumenthal, a WDFW coastal shellfish biologist. "Domoic acid toxicity levels remain elevated on the other beaches that will open, and ocean conditions can change quickly. For that reason, diggers should continually check our website before digging to confirm that beaches remain open as we continue to closely test and monitor the situation."
Domoic acid levels at Mocrocks have exceeded the health guidelines set by Washington Department of Health (WDOH) officials for safe consumption, so that beach remains closed to clamming at this time. Domoic acid, a natural toxin produced by certain types of marine algae, can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities. WDFW shellfish staff will continue to regularly dig test samples of razor clams to monitor the situation. WDOH requires that two test samples taken seven to 10 days apart fall under the health guideline level before a beach can reopen for razor clam digging.
The set of digs at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, and Copalis on Sept. 29-Oct. 2 will proceed after marine toxin results from WDOH showed razor clams are safe to eat at those beaches.
On all open beaches, the daily limit is 15 clams per person. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition.
"It's important that diggers keep the clams they dig to prevent wastage," Blumenthal said. "It's not unusual to encounter some small clams, especially this early in the season."
Not all beaches are open for every dig, so diggers are encouraged to make sure their intended destination is open before heading out.
For more information on these digs, go to WDFW's razor clam webpage.Below are the approved and tentative dates for razor clam digs, along with low tides and beaches. Most successful digging occurs between one and two hours before the listed time of low tide. APPROVED, EVENING TIDES ONLY;
- Sept. 29, Friday; 7:18 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
- Sept. 30, Saturday; 8:04 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Oct. 1, Sunday; 8:49 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors
- Oct. 2, Monday; 9:36 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Final approval of marine toxin testing usually occurs about a week or less – sometimes two to three days – prior to the start of each digging series. More information about domoic acid, as well as current levels at ocean beaches, can be found on WDFW's domoic acid webpage.
TENTATIVE, EVENING TIDES ONLY;
- Oct. 14, Saturday, 7:17 p.m.; 0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Oct. 15, Sunday, 7:52 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Oct. 16, Monday, 8:28 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Oct. 17, Tuesday, 9:06 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Oct. 18, Wednesday, 9:49 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Mocrocks
- Oct. 27, Friday, 6:18 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Oct. 28, Saturday, 7:03 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Oct. 29, Sunday, 7:46 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Oct. 30, Monday, 8:29 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Oct. 31, Tuesday, 9:12 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Mocrocks
- Nov. 12, Sunday, 5:53 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Mocrocks
- Nov. 13, Monday, 6:30 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Nov. 14, Tuesday, 7:09 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Nov. 15, Wednesday, 7:51 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Nov. 16, Thursday, 8:37 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Nov. 17, Friday, 9:27 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Copalis
- Nov. 18, Saturday, 10:22 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Mocrocks
- Nov. 24, Friday, 4:18 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Nov. 25, Saturday, 5:05 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Nov. 26, Sunday, 5:49 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Nov. 27, Monday, 6:31 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Nov. 28, Tuesday, 7:12 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Nov. 29, Wednesday, 7:52 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Mocrocks
- Dec. 13, Wednesday, 6:55 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Dec. 14, Thursday, 7:39 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Dec. 15, Friday, 8:25 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Dec. 16, Saturday, 9:12 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Dec. 17, Sunday, 10:01 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Dec. 26, Tuesday, 6:18 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Dec. 27, Wednesday, 6:57 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
- Dec. 28, Thursday, 7:35 p.m.; -0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
- Dec. 29, Friday, 8:11 p.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
COVID-19 Digging this year is contingent upon continued guidance from public health officials monitoring COVID-19 in coastal communities. WDFW is being guided by risk assessments from local and state health officials, and clam diggers are reminded to recreate responsibly. Health agencies are asking people to:
- Stay home if sick
- Bring personal protective equipment like hand sanitizer
- Leave no trace: Pack out belongings and garbage
- Purchase licenses ahead of the trip
- Bring non-cash payment methods to reduce contact
- Follow local ordinances and guidelines
Licenses All diggers age 15 orolder must have anapplicable 2023-24 fishing license to harvest razor clams. Licenses range from a three-day razor clam license (starting at $9.70) to an annual combination fishing license or Fish Washington license. They are available from WDFWonline and from some 600 license vendors around thestate. Search for license dealers near you.Buy your licenseThe gear Getting started diggingrazor clams can be pretty straightforward. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Clam gun or shovel
- Container/net to store your clams
- License
- Flashlight, headlamp, and/or lantern for night digs
- Rain gear and a towel can come in handy
- As can knee boots, hip waders, or chest waders
- Watchful eye: Keep an eye on waves, especially during night tides
How to digShow us what you got While you’re out digging razor clams, be sure to get some photos of the fun and your haul and participate in the Razor Clam Face-Off! Share your razor clam photos to social media using the hashtags #teamclamgun or #teamclamshovel to show your love for your preferred razor clam gear. 
WDFW Outreach
1111 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98501
Unsubscribe - Unsubscribe Preferences
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https://www.graysharborbeaches.com/soft-shell-crab.html or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUv0jg6yhz4
Department of Fish and Wildlife
48 Devonshire Road, Montesano, Washington 98563-9618 (360) 249-4628 FAX (360) 249-1229
December 7, 2022
WASHINGTON COASTAL DUNGENESS CRAB INDUSTRY NOTICE
Season Opening Delayed in Washington, Oregon, and California (North of Point Arena)
On December 7, 2022, coastal Dungeness crab Tri-State policy representatives from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and
the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) agreed to delay the opening of the 2022-23 Coastal Dungeness crab fishery from Point Area, California north to the US/Canada border through at
least December 30, 2022. This decision was based on crab condition tests conducted by WDFW, ODFW, and CDFW which shows that test results
at multiple sites across the region do not currently meet the minimum meat recovery criteria.
The Tri-State Dungeness Crab Pre-Season Testing Protocols specify that after the second round of testing, if any area does not meet the minimum meat recovery criteria ( 23% north of Cascade Head and 24% south of Cascade Head) a delay is required, and additional testing is conducted before a season opening date can be confirmed. A third round of both meat recovery and domoic acid testing is scheduled to be conducted in two weeks, with completion no later than December 22, 2022. WDFW will provide additional information regarding the season opening as soon as possible following the
completion of the upcoming tests.
WASHINGTON TEST RESULTS
The stations in the Long Beach
a nd Westport
Test Areas
were completed on December
5, 2022. The
results for all stations
are summarized in the link below.
(If the link does not work, go to
Coastal commercial Dungeness crab fishery then click on
Coastal commercial crab fishery letters and notices then click on Industry Notices )
https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/industry-notice-season-delay-12-7-22.pdf
WDFW is grateful to the fishers and processors that work cooperatively with WDFW to successfully complete this important work.
If you have any questions pertaining to this notice, contact Jamie Fuller at Jamie.Fuller@dfw.wa.gov
or 360-580-0875.
December 1st is the annual Holiday Dinner at the Lacey Community Center. Hope to see you there!
November 2 - Coastal razor clamming has been shut down until further notice due to toxins.
Coastal Steelhead Action Alert!
Don't wait until it's too late! Voice your opinion now! Chinook and Coho will be next
For more information about the Oct. 20 virtual town hall, upcoming virtual town halls and other opportunities to provide feedback, MORE INFO
For those of you who would like to speak, the information is below.
6 to 8 p.m., Oct. 20
Zoom Meeting
Join by phone: 253-215-8782 or 888-475-4499 (Toll Free)
Meeting ID: 838 7279 4632
Send your responses to
Kelly Cunningham- Kelly.Cunningham@dfw.wa.gov
James Losee- James.Losee@dfw.wa.gov
Action Needed
- Read the letter below prepared by Rob Larsen and take a few minutes and respond to this alert now.
- Take things from his proposal that you feel strongly about and, in your own words, let WDFW know how you feel.
- Be sure and include the 3 things below.
Sportsmen who pay for these fish need to be allowed to harvest hatchery steelhead. We believe that this can be done while protecting wild fish.
The department needs to listen to and use public input in crafting the upcoming steelhead season.
In this time of shrinking resources, this season needs to maximize fishing opportunities wherever possible.
2022-23 Proposed Coastal Steelhead Regulations
Author Rob Larsen
With regards the 2022-2023 Steelhead season, I have been asked to speak as the State representative for Puget Sound Anglers, and the Steelhead Trout Club. The information I share represents a large group of sports fishermen and women.
These proposals have taken into account the need to minimize or eliminate the impact on wild steelhead. These proposals are areas where there will be a significant number of hatchery fish and at times when there are minimal wild fish present. The timing will help remove hatchery fish that need to be harvested, keep PHOS at a minimum and maximize recreational harvest of hatchery steelhead.
Care must be taken to craft these fisheries so that our co-managers are able to share equally in the harvest of these fish. In areas where wild fish are below escapement, consider fishing below the hatcheries (1000ft) and sharing excess hatchery fish taken in traps with the tribes. All of these fisheries can and must be opened this year so that we do not waste large numbers of Hatchery Steelhead as has happened for the past two years.
The following is a partial list of fisheries that need to be opened:
The Skookumchuck river should be opened from the dead line near the collection site down to the power lines.
The Humptulips 1000 yards up and down stream from Stevens Creek and Stevens creek itself below the hatchery intake.
The Wynoochee River open in both December and January.
The Satsop in December and January and 1000ft below Bingham creek hatchery beginning December 1 through March 31st.
Open the Salmon River both in the park and on the state land below the Salmon River Steelhead hatchery in December and January.
The Quillayute system the same as last year.
The Hoh River same as last year.
Open 1000ft above and below the salmon river on the Queets.
There is a precedent that has been set in Oregon where they allow fishing 1000 feet above and below the hatcheries where wild fish are struggling. National marine fisheries have allowed this in Oregon and it should be allowed in Washington as well.
Based on the increase in summer steelhead, it is reasonable to believe that the ocean conditions have improved and that our winter steelhead will be slightly improved this year over last. (I asked WDFW for a forecast but it was not provided)
We absolutely cannot afford to waste any hatchery fish. The significant amount of waste in the previous two years is unacceptable and we call on the department to maximize the harvest of those hatchery fish for the coming returns. These fish are paid for by the anglers and tax dollars and we should be allowed to harvest them not waste them. It is critical to get public input in region six in determining this cycle of regulations. It does not seem this has been the case in recent years.
I would ask for a written response to this input within one week of the meeting.
I will be following up with James Loose to help craft this year’s regulations.
My premise with this input is we are not discussing hatchery cuts in this town meeting.
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Yesterday (August 20, 2022) was a great day to be on the water. Especially for Jason Dunham, Jason Anderson and David Sperry. Here are pictures of their winning fish. In addition to the three winners we had four smaller fish weighed in.
To the best of my knowledge this is the first time we have more than three fish entered in our derby. The fish are out there in Area 13 so give it a try.
Allen Morrow
You still have time to purchase your derby tickets. They will be available from Dee Glenn (360 491 0431), Mike Silvers (360 951 5160) or me (360 866 0189) until 9:00 PM tonight. Give one of us a call if you need an ticket.
The weigh station will be at the Boston Harbor Marina on the upper deck next to the store. If you have trouble on the water and need assistance we have two safety boats Mike Silvers and Allen Morrow. We will be monitoring channel 68 on your marine radio. Mike’s call sign is “Bobber” and mine is “Rascal”. If you don’t have a radio or can’t reach either of us we can be reached by cell phone. Mike’s number is 360 951 5160 mine is 360 515 1482.
Good luck tomorrow.
Allen Morrow
SSPSA Salmon Derby 2022
Date: Saturday, August 20, 2022
Sun-up until 3:00 pm; Area 13 only
$30/person ($5 goes to Terry Rudnick for Pancreatic Cancer Research)
First Prize: $500 Second Prize: $300
Third Prize: $200
plus drawings
One weigh station: 10 am - 3 pm, Boston Harbor: Any salmon species fish weighed whole in the round
SSPSA Members and their guests may participate; At least one SSPSA member must be in each participating boat;
All people in the boat must have a derby ticket .
For tickets, or more information, please contact:
Mike Silvers (setthehook55@gmail.com), Dee Glenn (deeglen2@comcast.net) or
Allen Morrow (ramorrow@pacifier.com)
The derby is now only 8 days away. Ticket sales will close at 9:00 PM on the 19th. There are fish out there just waiting to be caught. Why not take a chance on not only having a fish for dinner, but also taking home a great prize.
Allen Morrow
Hello
We had a good day with the pond at Westport yesterday during the Mission Outdoors Event.
The volunteers helped 572 kids catch fish. It was very impressive watching them work. There were only 600 trout in the pond so it was nothing short of magic.
We finally had to start a tab at the Ice Cream store because of the smell of them cooking their Waffle Cones. I don't think Mission Outdoors knew what a free Kid's fish pond, set up in the middle of main street would do.
It was a great day
Mike Silvers
Puget Sound Anglers South Sound Chapter
General Meeting Agenda July 7, 2022
Budget Report – Dee
Events: Outings
1. Garage Sale – Mike Silvers- when setup starts
2. Annual Salmon Derby – Mike Silvers – is there a tie-in with Terry this year?
3. Board meeting 7/20
4. Kids fishing events – Boy Scouts
5. Westport event – Steve Cummings
Fishing Reports: 1. Club outing to Riffe Lake, Martin, Mike, Jason
2. Ocean salmon – Mike
3. Miscellaneous – crab, shrimp etc. – any members volunteering info.
Intermission and Book Signings
Featured speaker – Jim Tuggle
Raffle and Drawing.
Next meeting August 4.
Our calendar has been updated with more events.
Hello We have been asked to help 20 kids 3-12 yrs old learn how to fish. This will happen on Wednesday June 29th. We need some help from volunteers that aren't working during the week.
Where: Gwinwood Retreat Center 6015 30th AVE Lacey, WA 98503
Time frame Wednesday 6/29 10:00-12:00 Teaching kids
12:00-1:00 Lunch (Furnished)
1:00-3:00 Teaching kids
Let me know if you can help out. -- Mike Silvers Puget Sound Anglers South Sound Chapter setthehook55@gmail.com cell/text (360)951-5160
Hello! Anybody want to help kids fish in Cabela's pond this Saturday 6/11 & Sunday 6/12 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM? Cabela's has asked for our help at their fish pond. We will be using their pond with 350 Rainbow Trout. Cabela's is furnishing coffee, drinks and Meconi's for our lunch.
Let me know if you can help. --
Mike Silvers Puget Sound Anglers South Sound Chapter setthehook55@gmail.com cell/text (360)951-5160
This Saturday 5/14 the City of Lakewood is having a Kid's Fishing event at the boat ramp on American Lake. They say they have a number of volunteers but few fishermen to help the kids fish on the lake. If you can help these kids fish on the net just show up at 7:00 AM or give John Pahutski, WDFW a call at (360)480-5177. John will have fish stocked inside a netted area. There is a large sandy beach area to fish from. Go enjoy yourselves.
455 kids fished the Lacey Family Fish-In on April 9.
On Saturday April 16 we will have our annual Boat Show and Safety inspection in the upper parking lot at Swantown from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM. This in opportunity for you to show off your boat and more importantly get it inspected to ensure it meets all the Coast Guard safety requirements. A representative of the U. S. Power Squadron will conduct the surveys and will issue a decal to be placed on the boat verifying that it has all the required safety gear. I have found that having the decal has allowed me to avoid safety inspections by the Coast Guard or local law enforcement officials. If you plan to bring your boat make sure that you check all your flares to make sure that they are current and also that the navigation lights are working. Those are the most common causes of failure to pass the inspection. We hope to see you all Saturday morning. Allen Morrow
You might find this interesting in light of the CCA/PSA emails I forwarded last month.
Allen From: CCA Washington
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2022 10:53 AM
To: Allen Morrow
Subject: Final Budget Approved by Governor Inslee Legislative Update
Hi Allen, Several weeks ago, our final legislative update provided details on several priorities that CCA, along with our coalition partners, worked on this session. At the end of last week, Governor Inslee signed the budget into law, but did issue section vetoes of several fishery conservation and reform provisions that the legislature funded in the budget. Voluntary Non-tribal Columbia River Buyback We are pleased to announce that a voluntary buyback of non-tribal gillnet licenses has been approved by the Governor. This $14.4 million budget item includes language ensuring that the buyback benefits salmon and steelhead conservation by reducing impacts of the gillnet fishery while supporting selective harvest methods that are better suited to protect wild salmonid populations and non-target species, such as B-run steelhead. This voluntary buyback program is a huge step toward getting the bi-state Columbia River fishery reforms back on track and transitioning non-tribal gillnets out of the mainstem Columbia River and into off-channel areas. CCA’s focus will now turn to closely monitoring WDFW’s implementation of the buyback and ensuring their fishery policies align with this renewed direction from the Legislature and Governor. Puget Sound Salmon Harvest Reporting and Transparency Unfortunately, Governor Inslee vetoed two budget items designed to increase transparency in the broken North of Falcon process. This first item he vetoed would have simply required WDFW to issue a report to the Legislature documenting the total harvest related mortalities to ESA-listed Puget Sound Chinook compared to established fishery conservation objectives over the past 10 years. The Governor cited insufficient funding to prepare the report, although much of this information is already a requirement of the 1985 Puget Sound Salmon Management Plan. WDFW has not produced this information for many years. The other item vetoed by Governor Inslee is funding to improve salmon population data analysis and WDFW staffing to effectively engage in the North of Falcon process. The Governor’s veto was based on a requirement that any state-generated documents and notes from North of Falcon be made available to the public following the conclusion of the process. The Governor was concerned that a more open and transparent process will make negotiations with tribal entities more difficult. Using Science to Establish Commercial Fishery Mortality Estimates Governor Inslee also vetoed a third-party scientific review of WDFW’s fishery mortality estimates for the lower Columbia River non-tribal commercial fishing gears. WDFW has never done a scientific study to determine the release mortality rates from gillnets and rarely subjects the fishery to monitoring. While the Governor claims to support science, it is surprising that he is unwilling to allow a scientific review of commercial mortality estimates. It is difficult to understand why anyone would oppose transparency and science in the management of a public resource.
!!!!!! SPECIAL NOTE: !!!!!!
I am forwarding this request that those interested in the North of Falcon season setting provide support at the meeting on Wednesday March 30. Information on how to sign in on Zoom is in the material. Allen Morrow From: rgarner755@aol.com Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2022 9:22 AM
To: rgarner755@aol.com (PSA State-Level Board Members)
Subject: Re: Please review for urgent action alert for all PSA Chapters Chapters, Please send this out to your members if you agree. Dan Stauffer who has been working on our behalf at North of Falcon for years, wrote this up asking for participation at the North of Falcon meeting #2 via zoom. Link to the website is below.
Go to the March 30th meeting from 9-3. This is very important to get our fisheries back. Read very carefully. Thank you Ron Garner
https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falcon/public-meetings
To all, once again it is North of Falcon season and we have a need to show unity and make our opinions known to WDFW in a very clear manner. I humbly ask for the broader PSA memberships support at North of Falcon #2 this Wednesday March 30th. I have included the link to the webinar registration. On the meeting calendar tree click the Join a Meeting tab for NOF #2 March 30th and request the Puget Sound Rec breakout room. You will sent an email link to join the meeting .
For a bit of background, after the forecast meeting and NOF #1 I felt rather secure in thinking we could achieve very similar seasons to last year with a few wiggles and tweaks to get us there. This, despite uncertainties around managing chinook under the precepts of the newly submitted Resource Management Plan and a new baseline period in the FRAM associated with said RMP. Unfortunately the first proposed fisheries package the state submitted for modeling contained some surprising details that caused some upheaval this week and resulted in this letter to you, my peers.
I will outline my strategy below, centered around certain topics of discussion I think will happen on Wednesday. The summer A7 chinook season is proposed to start August 15th and run concurrent with the coho season. There is a position among the Sportfish Advisory Group that this action offers enough savings to also model a February winter blackmouth season in A7 without taking impacts from other areas. This should also avoid last years debacle. I feel strongly that many Samish chinook will be subject to commercial clean up if the Bellingham Bay bubble fishery is under utilized under this proposal. As currently modeled A9 will NOT be open for chinook until August 1st! This will be devastating for Port Townsend and severely limit our opportunity to achieve any sort of harvest share on Skokomish/George Adams chinook before they migrate into A12. The Sportfish Advisors will be vocal about retaining the July period in A9. Please support this! A10 is modeled to open on July 16th. There are realistic worries effort shift could close A10 before many adult chinook runs arrive in August. Also, if you hear discussion of reopening the portion of A9 north of the Hood Canal Bridge please support it. I don't think we will get it, but this has been a long term goal of many and I do think we can attain this goal soon if we don't don't lose momentum. In rather worrisome news, the WDFW and Tribes have not come to agreement on how to model coho this year. We do have issues to work around, but also see pleasing signs of recovery elsewhere that show our rebuilding plan for the events of 2015/16 are working. The Sportfish Advisors will likely discuss recent harvest imbalances tilting in favor of the tribes in areas 8-1, 8-2 and 10. We should strongly support suggestions to remedy this imbalance in those three areas. Winter blackmouth season is being modeled in A10 in the February period rather than March as discussed at NOF#1. After the Makah winter troll and Tulalip commercial fisheries were added to the FRAM, late!! all the chinook impact numbers that looked workable went up by a fair margin. I know we will be asked to help bring those numbers down. I know the tribes don't care for our winter fisheries and I suspect these fisheries are first on the chopping block. The charter fleet is making a case for more Catch & Release to create more time on the water. They may have a point, and their association has one very passionate member driving this, but watch the harvest calculator on the live modeling tool we use. The total chinook harvest goes way down when either winter BM or C&R is added to FRAM. I would also point out that C&R was heralded as a tool to preserve steelhead opportunity and we are all too familiar with that story. Lastly, remember that the N.W.I.F.C. has a new Chair this NOF season. He is certainly under pressure to establish strong leadership. As this is potentially the last year of seeking our ESA exemption under Section 7 the tribes will be looking for everything possible under "their" permit and the state probably won't rock the boat for fear of threatening the approval process of the new chinook RMP. Key points for additional emphasis, or the hard stuff. ● Use the chat function liberally! Load it up. Identify yourself and affiliation especially in regards to your home waters. Be respectful, but very firm. The WDFW does read the chat! Remember, you may get what you ask for! Don't put in print, on the record exactly what you're willing to give up. ● Please refrain from 'Raising Your Hand' to speak. Your club leaders and the Sportfish Advisors need your support, but too much WDFW and/or Tribe bashing will disrupt and derail achieving our goals. ● A9 July period is very important. This may be the loudest issue of the year. Keep the chat active. ● Areas 8-1, 8-2 and 10's coho harvest imbalance must be emphasized. Again chat. ● Speak your heart about winter blackmouth and C&R opportunity, but please pay attention to the harvest count. Losing thousands of adult chinook from our coolers for limited time opportunity in the winter deserves careful consideration. ● As discussion works its way towards terminal and river fisheries you may notice a lack of engagement. Leadership for some of these opportunities has been somewhat absent. This where to 'Raise Your Hand' and speak live for your home waters. ● Late season unmarked coho opportunity seems achievable in A5 and A6 despite low Strait of Juan de Fuca returns. Sekiu and the peninsula chapters needs our support on this goal. In closing, let me express my strong sentiment that this NOF season can be a moment for us to proudly show by example what our creed " Puget Sound Anglers are bound by nothing but integrity and our own common goals" means to us. Sorry for the length of this appeal to my peers, I thank you sincerely for your membership and dedication to those precious common goals. Proudly a Puget Sound Angler, Dan H. Stauffer V.P. PSA SnoKing
((Please see pdf document "PSA Letter to ....." at the bottom of this page))
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Once again it is time to pay your yearly dues. For a family membership it is $35.00 and for a corporate membership it is $75.00. Dues are due by April. If you do not pay by then, you wil be removed from the membership list, will not receive The Reel News, or the clubs newsletter. You can pay your dues at the monthly meetings or send a check to the club at:
Puget Sound Anglers
P.O.Box 1002
Olympia, Washington 98507
!!NEW!!
Hi everyone, WDFW is looking for help in its efforts to fin clip hatchery salmon before they are released. These are the hatcheries where help is needed Clear Creek and Kalama Creek on the Nisqually. Coulter Creek, Garrison, Issaquah, Minter Creek, Naselle, Nemah, Lyons Ferry, Soos Creek and Speelyai. Information on how you can volunteer is in the News Release.
From: WDFW Public Affairs Sent: Friday, March 11, 2022 5:05 PM
Subject: WDFW News Release: Volunteers sought as WDFW marks millions of hatchery salmon for release
WDFW NEWS RELEASE Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501 wdfw.wa.gov March 11, 2022 Hatchery contact: Jill Cady, 360-902-2819 Volunteer contact: Christine Redmond, 360-902-8303 Public Affairs contact: Ben Anderson, 360-902-0045
Volunteers sought as WDFW marks millions of hatchery salmon for release Paid positions also available as marking effort continues OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is seeking additional help marking more than 110 million hatchery salmon and steelhead to identify them as hatchery fish before being released into state waters in 2022. WDFW’s mass-marking program has played a vital role in salmon management since the mid-1990s. Hatchery fish are marked by clipping their adipose fin while still in the fry stage, before being released to make their way from their home waters to the ocean and back. This marking helps differentiate hatchery fish from natural-origin or “wild” fish, playing a key role in fisheries where anglers may encounter salmon stocks or species listed under the Endangered Species Act. WDFW is currently hiring paid positions to perform this vital work, but staffing in recent years has been challenging, said Eric Kinne, WDFW’s Hatchery Division manager. “This work is essential to fishing throughout the state, and critical to salmon conservation efforts,” said Kinne. “We continue working to recruit for these positions, but last year members of the community stepped up in a big way to help us complete this annual effort.” This work is performed every year for several months in the spring and early summer, at hatchery facilities across Washington. Work is often performed in shifts throughout the day and even on weekends, so there are many opportunities to volunteer. Anyone interested in volunteering at a WDFW hatchery can visit WDFW’s website at https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/volunteer Anyone interested in applying for a paid marking position can look for positions in their area and apply through Kelly Services. These temporary, full-time positions pay $16.49 per hour with the ability to start immediately, no experience required and training provided. WDFW requested additional funding ahead of this year’s legislative session to improve automation of its marking process and fund additional work, but much of the annual marking effort is still done by hand by employees and volunteers working in marking trailers. “We have 11 million more fish to mark this year than last year, which is great news but also means we need even more help in 2022,” Kinne said. “If this work isn’t completed, it could have big impacts on fisheries in Washington.” To learn more about WDFW’s mass-marking program, visit https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/hatcheries/mass-marking. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish, wildlife, and recreational and commercial opportunities.
!!! ALSO !!!
If you haven’t seen this release it is your chance to let WDFW know what you think about current and future opportunities to fish for coastal bottom fish. Allen Morrow From: WDFW Public Affairs Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2022 4:44 PM
Subject: WDFW News Release: Public invited to provide input on 2023-2024 coastal recreational bottomfish fisheries
WDFW NEWS RELEASE Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 1111 Washington St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501 wdfw.wa.gov March 8, 2022 Contact: Lorna Wargo, 360-581-5611 Public Affairs Contact: Ben Anderson, 360-902-0045 Public invited to provide input on 2023-2024 coastal recreational bottomfish fisheries
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is hosting two virtual public meetings this spring to discuss management options for coastal recreational bott
What is happening?
We've got an Outing planned for Saturday 1/29/22 in Grayland.
The plan is to leave MudBay Park & Ride at 12:30pm on Saturday 1/29/22. Heading for Grayland to have a bonfire and eat some dogs before digging clams.
For those that would like to try fishing for Surf Perch there should be time before digging. Long range forecast is for some strong winds. I'll keep you posted.
It should be a daylight dig. Low Tide is 4:30 and is a -0.7
For those that would like to meet us down there, we will be at the usual spot behind Grayland Beach State Park. Hit the beach, turn left and look for the 1st fresh water flowing over the beach. We will be set up just before it. Look for the Blue/White Outings Banner
Let me know if you plan on joining us and I'll throw in enuf dogs for everybody. It is a great way to get out of the house and I have yet to hear of clams spreading any virus.
If you are interested in going or would like some more information, just holler at me or Mike.
Allen Morrow ramorrow@pacifier.com
360-866-0189
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Mike Silvers
Puget Sound Anglers South Sound Chapter
setthehook55@gmail.com
cell/text (360)951-5160
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please take a look at this document. It addresses an attempt by some in the legislature to place control of WDFW’s salmon hatchery program in the hands of groups opposed to its very existence. This effort will become law unless we can create enough public comment in opposition to it. If any of these bills pass, we will have even less opportunities to fish than we have today.
Allen Morrow, President
South Sound Chapter Puget Sound Anglers
NO NO NO to Power Grab of WDFW and 3rd Party oversight of our Salmon Policies!!!!! The Governor's office, Senate, and House are all trying to gain power over WDFW.
Our new win of increased hatchery production is under attack! We worked very, very hard with WDFW Commissioners and Washington State Treaty tribes to push HSRG out of our state salmon policy. This came out with the new WDFW Commission Hatchery Policy C-3624. Now there is a second Washington State Joint Co-Manager Salmon Policy that will become the supreme policy for our state. This was a giant victory for us. The anti-hatchery type organizations that lost their perpetual funding machine and control of salmon management are in high gear, to remove WDFW’s power. Inside the new Governors Salmon Strategy, while there is good in it, it has language that reinstalls a third-party override on our salmon policy. It puts WSAS (Washington State Academy of Sciences) in charge as the overall Salmon managers. HSRG/WSAS types have engaged some of the leaders of Senate Natural Resources, House Natural Resources, and Governor’s office to take away our voice that allowed us to make the new hatchery policy. Hatchery production will be increased where possible under ESA and Hatchery and Genetic Management Plans (HGMP) with our new policy, which is now in jeopardy.
Bills being produced in the legislature are to squash WDFW and rewrite their own salmon policy. Senate Bill SB5721 neuters the WDFW Commission by making them advisory only. The director falls under the Commissioner of Public lands. The Commission is your voice for WDFW, which was established by vote under Referendum 45. This was by the will of the people. Yes, there are current problems with the WDFW Commission as it has not been fully staffed in quite some time. That falls on the governor’s office for not staffing it. There is SB 5661 being produced to fill those seats if the Governor does not do that.
While there is a lot of emotion around WDFW and the Commission, it is still the people's best avenue to WDFW and resources. By changing the WDFW and its Commission authority will open the door to go back to HSRG and kill our increased hatchery production policy.
The Commission process was how we removed the HSRG/third party over our salmon policies. Now they want to remove our win of increased hatchery production and silence us. The new Governors Salmon Strategy and some senate and house bills, want to put the Washington Academy of Sciences in power. They are loyal HSRG fans and are known for not being hatchery friendly. We need your help to stop these damaging bills that will result in decreased hatchery production. They are SB5721 (Power grab of WDFW), SB5656 (if the senate does not confirm WDFW Commissioners within one year or they are removed, giving them the ability to hold a hammer over their head to be confirmed and control the way they vote on as a commissioner), and House bill HB1653 (3rd Party over riding WDFW And Tribes).
Please click on these links and sign on as OPPOSED to stop the damaging bills. We just worked with Senator Maria Cantwell and others to get us $400 Million for increased hatchery production. We also spent two years on the Orca Task Force proving that we are in need of more salmon to feed the Orcas. NOAA listened, as did WDFW, and Washington State. They are currently putting together increased hatchery production to feed the Orcas. This could all be in jeopardy under these new bills and the Governors Salmon Strategy.
Please click on the Links to the Senate bills below and choose "OPPOSE" along with a few words like " I want the WDFW Commission to retain the decision-making capabilities over our Fishing and Hunting in our state " for SB5721 and HB1653, an example of SB5656 could be something like " We do not want to give Senate the power to remove commissioners by not confirming them or give them the ability to hamper their votes, for them to gain senate confirmation after the 1 year window." These are just examples, we encourage everyone to respond in their own words if they wish.
SB5721 Full Bill Document for SB5721
SB5656 Full Bill Document for SB5656
HB1653 Full Bill Document forHB1653
Thank you
Puget Sound Anglers
Be sure to check the Club News tab and the Calendar tab to see what is currently going on with our club. Monthly meetings are held at the Lacey Community Center/Woodland Creek Community Park (see directions below) on the first Thursday of each month. All are welcome to attend. Come listen to our guest speaker and other fish stories.
WDFW Announcement
Area 13 + has reopened!
FISHING RULE CHANGE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
May 19, 2021
Marine Area 13 open to salmon fishing
Action: Re-opens salmon seasons under permanent rules as listed in the 2020/2021 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Effective date: Immediately.
Species affected: Salmon.
Location: Marine Area 13.
Reason for action: Federal Endangered Species Act consultations on 2021-22 Puget Sound salmon fisheries have been completed (NMFS Consultation #WCR-2021-01008), and a Biological Opinion and Incidental Take Statement have been issued. Accordingly, Marine Area 13 salmon fisheries can be reopened consistent with preseason fishing plans.
Information contact: Fish Program, 360-902-2700
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.
Individuals who need to receive this information in an alternative format, language, or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact the Title VI/ADA Compliance Coordinator by phone at 360-902-2349, TTY (711), or email (Title6@dfw.wa.gov).
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.
