When to go Ocean bottomfishing in 2024

Tim poses with big lingcod

For some, spring is marked by the beginning of baseball season, but for many fishy folks, it’s all about ocean bottomfishing opening up!

And that time is this coming weekend, Saturday, March 9th.

I’ve got so many resources for you to consider to get all caught up on ocean bottomfishing prep and ideas in this blog post that we have to get right to it.

Read more

Puget Sound Salmon Forecasts 2024

Couple of beefy puget sound chinook

I endured 6 hours of North of Falcon zoom meetings to bring you these fresh-off-the-grill salmon forecasts for the year 2024!

Okay, it wasn’t that bad. This forecast “unveiling” was the beginning of the North of Falcon process, wherein the salmon seasons get set and eventually printed prior to the July 1st new regulations year.

If you’re already confused, you are in good company as the entire process of salmon forecast models and the resulting seasons leave a lot of recreational anglers who are only semi-familiar with the process scratching their heads.

Read more

Puget Sound Winter Crab Season October 2023

Good crab pot pull

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today that many Puget Sound marine areas will reopen for recreational crab fishing beginning Oct. 1.

Openings were approved based on preliminary harvest estimates using catch record card information from the 2023 summer season and what is expected to occur during the winter season.

Waters reopening to sport crabbing Oct. 1 include:

Read more

Additional recreational halibut fishing off coast and Puget Sound to open next month; annual bag limit to increase

My crew with their limit of halibut out of westport 2023

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
July 24, 2023
Contact: Lorna Wargo, 360-581-5611
Media contact: Mark Yuasa, 360-902-2262

Additional recreational halibut fishing off coast and Puget Sound to open next month; annual bag limit to increase

Read more

Spot shrimp fishing to reopen for additional opportunities in some Puget Sound marine areas

205-spot-shrimp-in-a-pot

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
July 17, 2023
Contact: Don Velasquez, 4425-725-3038
Media contact: Mark Yuasa, 360-902-2262

Spot shrimp fishing to reopen for additional opportunities in some Puget Sound marine areas

Read more

Should we lie to WDFW about the fish we caught?

Box full of fresh chrome salmon

You might be thinking this is a ridiculous blog post just from the title, but it’s actually a really important question to think through with a full understanding of how our fishing and catching data is used by WDFW. By attempting to apply logic and reason to this question we will hopefully illuminate some things we may not fully understand.

Read more

Puget Sound Crab Season 2023

Hood Canal Crabbing can product some nice hauls of crab
Hood Canal Crabbing can product some nice hauls of crab

The details of our Puget Sound summer crabbing season have finally been announced! Most of it gets underway on July 1st, with some of the usual areas delaying their openers out of concern for soft shells continuing through July.

This blog post will share the season details and connect you to helpful resources for anyone just starting out, or if you need a refresher / new gear for this crabbing season.

Read more

Ocean salmon fishing at La Push and Neah Bay (Marine Areas 3 and 4) opens June 17, Ilwaco and Westport (Marine Areas 1 and 2) opens June 24

Limits of nice chinook salmon caught in the Strait during July

June 7, 2023
Contact: Fish Program, 360-902-2700
Media contact: Mark Yuasa, 360-902-2262

Ocean salmon fishing at La Push and Neah Bay (Marine Areas 3 and 4) opens June 17, Ilwaco and Westport (Marine Areas 1 and 2) opens June 24

Read more

WDFW announces additional halibut fishing days Public invited to June 7 virtual meeting

Me holding 47 lb halibut up with Gaff

June 1, 2023
Media Contact: Eryn Couch, 360-890-6604

WDFW announces additional halibut fishing days Public invited to June 7 virtual meeting

Read more