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+--- Thread: Spring chinook season going strong (/showthread.php?tid=406061)
Spring chinook season going strong - FishNews - 04-06-2008
Spring chinook season going strong
with halibut, razor clams, turkey on deck
Good fishing for spring chinook salmon has been drawing large numbers of anglers to the lower Columbia River, where a survey team counted more than 1,500 boats on the last Saturday in March.
"This fishery is definitely up and running, with catch rates running as high a chinook per boat in some areas" said Joe Hymer, a fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "We haven't seen fishing this good in a number of years."
But anglers - as well as hunters - will also have an array of other recreational opportunities to consider as new fishing and hunting seasons open this month. New possibilities include fishing for halibut or lake trout, digging razor clams or hunting spring turkey in areas throughout the state.
"April really marks the start of the new year for fishing and hunting," said WDFW Director Jeff Koenings. "While some winter fisheries are still going strong, the cycle begins again this month with a new year of outdoor activities. Whether you like to fish, hunt or observe animals in the wild, this is a great time to get in on the action."
Koenings recommends that anglers and hunters keep the following dates in mind:
"¢ April 5-6 - A two-day spring turkey hunt for hunters age 15 and younger is scheduled statewide.
"¢ April 6-9 - A razor clam dig is tentatively planned at various ocean beaches on morning tides, pending the results of marine toxin tests. See the South Sound/Olympic Peninsula regional report below for more information.
"¢ April 10 - Sportfishing for halibut opens in most areas of Puget Sound (marine areas 6-11 and 13) five days a week, Thursdays through Mondays.
"¢ April 15 - The general spring turkey hunt opens for hunters of all ages and runs through May 31. See WDFW's Washington Wild Turkey Spring Season pamphlet for details http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/index.htm .
"¢ April 16 - Lingcod fishing opens off Neah Bay in Marine Area 4. The fishery has been open in ocean marine areas 1-3 since March 17.
"¢ April 26 - Several hundred lowland lakes open to trout fishing across the state for the biggest "opening day" of the year.
For most people, a valid 2008-09 fishing or hunting license is required to participate in upcoming fishing or hunting seasons. The exception is young people under age 15, who may fish for free. All 2007-08 licenses expired March 31.
Fishing and hunting licenses may be purchased over the Internet ( https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov/ ), by phone (1-866-246-9453), or from license vendors throughout the state (see http://wdfw.wa.gov/lic/vendors/vendors.htm for a list).