Marine Areas 1(ilwaco) & 4 (neah Bay) To Close To Salmon Angling

Salmon fishing to close in Marine Areas 1 and 4

Action: Close Marine Areas 1 and 4 to salmon fishing beginning Monday, Aug. 13.

Effective date: Aug. 13, 2018.

Species affected: Salmon.

Location: Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) and Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay).

Reason for action: Estimates indicate that anglers will reach quotas for coho salmon in areas 1 and 4. Closing the salmon fisheries early will help ensure compliance with conservation requirements.

Recreational fisheries in both areas would have needed to close prior to Aug. 13 had it not been for transfers of quota by the commercial troll fishery, allowing recreational angling to continue through the end of the day, Sunday, Aug. 12.

Sufficient quota remains for both chinook and coho in marine areas 2 (Westport) and 3 (La Push) to remain open.

Additional information: While Marine Area 1 is open, anglers fishing there can retain two salmon, only one of which can be a chinook but must release wild coho. While Marine Area 4 is open, anglers fishing west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line have a two-salmon daily limit but must release chum and wild coho, while those fishing east of the line have a two-salmon limit but must release chum, chinook and wild coho.

The daily limit in Marine Areas 2 remains two salmon, no more than one of which may be a chinook, release wild coho. The daily limit in Marine Area 3 remains two salmon, release wild coho.

Information contact: Wendy Beeghley, Ocean Salmon Manager, (360) 249-1215.