Neah Bay King Limit Dropping To 1 A Day

THE FOLLOWING IS AN EMERGENCY RULE CHANGE NOTICE FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Neah Bay (Marine Area 4) recreational salmon seasons update

Action: Reduces the daily Chinook limit beginning July 24.

Effective date: July 21 through September 15, 2021.

ANNIKA MILLER HOLDS A CHINOOK SHE CAUGHT OFF NEAH BAY LAST JULY. (FISHING PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY BY CHAD HUFFMAN)

Species affected: Salmon.

Location: Neah Bay (Marine Area 4).

Rules:

Immediately through July 23: Daily limit 2. Chinook – min. size 24”. Coho – min. size 16”. Release wild coho.

July 24 through July 31: Daily limit 2, up to 1 may be a Chinook. Chinook – min. size 24”. Coho – min. size 16”. Release wild coho.

August 1 through September 15: Daily limit 2, up to 1 may be a Chinook. Chinook – min. size 24”. Coho – min. size 16”. Release chum and wild coho.

Reason for action: While there are available Chinook remaining in the Area 4 quota, the recent closure of adjacent Catch Area 5 to Chinook retention is expected to lead to increased fishing effort and increased catch of Chinook in Area 4. Lowering the limit to one Chinook per angler will allow the Area 4 fishery to remain open further into the season without exceeding its quota.

Additional information: The catch quotas for recreational fisheries North of Cape Falcon in 2021 are 27,250 Chinook and 70,000 marked coho, with an Area 4 Chinook guideline of 5,825 and Area 4 coho quota of 5,730.

Waters east of a true north-south line through Sail Rock are closed through July 31.

After August 1, Chinook retention prohibited east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line.

Marine Areas 1 through 4 are scheduled to close Sept. 15, but areas could close earlier if quotas are met.