Pelagic Catches Highlight Labor Day Weekend News

Ahhh, yes, Labor Day, that moment of the year when all news stops.

Right? Wrong.

As yours truly enjoyed a break from his labors and reacquainted himself with the simple joys of catching stocker trout during a campout high in Oregon’s Cascades, actual hook-and-bullet news was happening, including some notable pelagic action:

A crew breaking in their new 27-foot tuna boat caught a very rare 9-foot-2, 160-plus-pound striped marlin out of Garibaldi about 50 miles out. ODFW reported it was one of four caught between last Friday and Sunday.

“Billfish like striped marlin aren’t a regular sight here – but when warm currents move north and baitfish are plentiful, these powerful predators sometimes make their way within reach of Oregon’s recreational fleets,” ODFW posted.

An experienced crew of two in a 16-foot boat caught a pile of albacore 44 miles out of Depoe Bay.

And reader Gary Lundquist and buddy Sawyer Solomon brought a bluefin aboard out of Westport on Sunday. Even as bluefin stocks are rebuilding in the North Pacific and this is a less rare occurrence nowadays, it’s still a full-circle story because Lundquist was one of the first people who happened across the one that died on an Orcas Island beach in 2023.

Also on the pelagic front, along with retention of any Chinook continuing for a few more days at Buoy 10, Oregon’s Central Coast opened for all kings and coho on Monday.

Speaking of salmonids, I was all ready to write up a big blog about catching and releasing a mess of rainbows at recently stocked (and crazy-busy) Trillium Lake south of Mount Hood, but rather than a bunch of self-important blather, I’d rather pass along kudos to young Leo, a friend of the family who this summer became interested in catching salmon, so I sent him a bunch of my best Buzz Bombs and a mess of leaders. And over the long weekend, his mom sent me a success pic of him with a nice pink. Congrats, Leo, and enjoy the ride catching these fish will take you on!

On the news-news front, some sportsmen are unhappy about the proposed rescinding of the U.S. Forest Service’s Roadless Rule, which they fear will lead to roadbuilding and logging in backcountry areas set aside in 2001.

Ducks Unlimited reports Oregon’s total duck estimate was down 12 percent from 2024 “but similar to the (long term average),” while Washington was “essentially unchanged” from last year. Past drought years had Beaver States mallards below LTA, but a wetter spring this year than 2024 may have helped Evergreen State waterfowl.

And with crab season now mostly closed on Puget Sound, WDFW is reminding shellfishers to report their catches, and with fall big game seasons beginning, the agency is also getting the word out to Washington deer, elk and moose hunters about new rules in place and meant to limit the spread of chronic wasting disease.

I’m sure as I continue to dig through my emails I’ll find more overlooked news, but in the meanwhile, back to that other grind of mine, proofing our other magazines.