Idaho Fish Report

OLYMPIA - Beginning Friday (July 19), marine waters off of Westport (Marine Area 2) will be open to salmon fishing seven days a week, joining the three other ocean areas already open on a daily basis, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for WDFW, said the department initially limited the number of fishing days at Westport to five a week (Sundays through Thursdays) to ensure that the catch would not reach the quota too quickly and require an early closure.

"Angler effort continues to grow and success rates are steadily improving," Pattillo said. "While the fishery continues to build at this pace, now is a good time to allow anglers to fish daily off Westport."

Salmon fishing already is open seven days a week in marine areas 1 (Ilwaco), 3 (LaPush) and 4 (Neah Bay).

Anglers fishing in marine areas 1 and 2 may retain two salmon per day, only one of which may be a chinook. Those fishing in marine areas 3 and 4 are allowed to retain up to two chinook as part of their two-fish daily limit, plus two additional pink salmon.

In all four marine areas, anglers must release wild coho salmon.

Information on daily catch limits, minimum size limits and area catch guidelines is available in WDFW's Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet, available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations.

Ocean salmon fisheries are currently scheduled to continue through Sept. 22 in marine areas 3 and 4 and through Sept. 30 in marine areas 1 and 2.

Fishery managers will continue to monitor the ocean salmon fishery throughout the season, and will announce any other changes on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/.