Hood Canal Spring Bounty FISHING, SHRIMPING & SHELLFISH

Ron Adams, Outdoor Pro Staff, Verle's Sporting Goods

I love this time of year. Spring is just around the corner and so are recreational opportunities in the Hood Canal area.

Fishing

Winter fishing for resident king salmon known as "Blackmouth" and harvesting clams and oysters on the Hood Canal and South Puget sound in the months of February and March is rewarding for those willing to bundle up. Head over to Verle's Sporting Goods to get your gear and license-- and a little local insight. Verle's carries everything you need for an excellent local adventure – along with friendly and local knowledge.

According to a Department of Fish and Wildlife recent press release, coho returns to Puget Sound and surrounding rivers are mostly forecast to be up in 2021 over the previous year, at about 615,000 wild and hatchery coho. About 504,600 fish returned in 2020. The middle and south Sound areas in particular are expected to see an increase of more than 45,000 fish. Puget Sound Chinook and chum, however, are once again expected to experience a down year. As has been the case in other recent years, low returns of some stocks – particularly mid-Hood Canal Chinook – are likely to hinder fisheries in the region.

April marks the beginning of trout season and there is no shortage of great fishing opportunities in the best lakes nestled around the Hood Canal. The lakes are generously stocked with state reared trout with many lakes receiving trout that weigh in excess of 5 lbs. Whether hiking to a remote lake or heading out on marine waters, fishing opportunities abound in Washington. Be sure to review the rules and regulations and purchase the proper fishing license before you go. The state annually runs a fishing contest for prizes sponsored by local sporting goods stores such as Verle's Sporting Goods. Check with the WDFW current fishing pamphlet for details, wdfw.wa.gov. Washington's lowland lakes offer some of the best fishing opportunities in the state with great access for families and many being regularly stocked by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Carved by glaciers and ice, high mountain lakes around the Olympic Mountain range offer anglers a recreational experience unmatched by any other waters in the state.

The fishing is spectacular in these high elevation gems and the experience is punctuated by fantastic camping, hiking, wildlife watching and the scenic vistas.

Shrimping

In May even more opportunities are offered to those seeking a great fishing adventure. May marks what the Hood Canal may be most famous for: Spot Shrimp season. Spot shrimp are abundant in Washington waters but nowhere in our state are they more abundant than in the Canal.

Spot shrimp are considered by many as the tastiest shrimp in the world with a texture closer to lobster. So come on out and turn an opportunity into a family adventure you will treasure. Shrimping is fun and family-oriented and rewarding. Hood Canal is the epicenter of shrimping and families travel from all over to participate in the short but sweet season.

2020 was a banner year for spot shrimping on Hood Canal, reported Katelyn Bosley, WDFW Puget Sound crustacean biologist. “Shrimpers were very successful this year in Hood Canal, harvesting the quota in just five days of fishing” she reported, adding “the number of harvesters catching full limits in Hood Canal increased from 43 percent in 2019 to 68%” in 2020. The WDFW will release 2021 dates later this season. Visit wdfw.wa.gov for details.

It is important that fishers continue to wear their masks, follow physical distancing protocols and #recreate responsibly, especially as they return to the dock, where crowding can occur.

Harvesting Shellfish

Clam, mussel and oyster harvesting seasons vary by beach throughout Puget Sound. For size and harvest limits, the best place to start is on the new statewide resource website: eregulations.com/washington/fishing/. For at-a-glance, site-specific harvest seasons, please see the 2021 Puget Sound clam, mussel, and oyster season guide.

Current water quality information, beach locations, harvest seasons, and health advisories can be found by searching for the beach name in the search tool on this page, or by visiting the Department of Health's (DOH) shellfish safety interactive map at fortress.wa.gov/doh/biotoxin/ biotoxin.html. You can also visit shellfishtrail.org for a list of area restaurants and stores that serve or sell fresh seafood if the tides or time are not cooperating when you are in the area. For a quick overview check out the details on pages 31-24.