Puget Sound coho fishery shows mixed results

The coho fishery in Puget Sound is turning into a soap opera.

Why are anglers finding good fishing one day and then stood up the next? Did they show up early, and is this the peak of what may be a lackluster return? And why is Lake Washington seeing such a strong early run?

We may never get the answers to all our questions, but those who keep plugging away are finding enough coho to keep the saga interesting.

"We didn't do so good Sunday and ended up with two coho, but then Monday we got eight off West Point [south of Shilshole Bay]," said Gary Krein, owner of All-Star Charters in Everett. "Guys in Edmonds are getting some too, and there have been a few fish off Richmond Beach."

Places like the Shipwreck area just south of Mukilteo and Possession Point were somewhat slow, but more coho appeared of late.

The bright spot is that the coho numbers returning to Lake Washington continue to look strong with 6,244 being counted at the Ballard Locks through Sept. 8. The biggest single-day count was Sept. 7, when 1,157 coho were counted.

Biologists say the lake's coho return has definitely started off well, and it will be interesting to see if it builds over the next 10 days. But most remain cautious as to how it will turn out. The historical peak in the lake is Sept. 18-23.

The Edmonds Coho Derby was held this past Saturday, and 750 tickets were sold with 200 coho weighed in.

"It was a little on the slow side for the derby, but 200 fish is respectable for this time of year and it will only get better," said Tony Floor, director of fishing affairs for Northwest Marine Trade Association.

Derby results: 1. Bill Ward, 14-pound, 7.5-ounce coho, $5,000; 2. Scott Rippel, 12-7, $2,000; 3. Randy Antonio, 10-13.5, $1,000.

Anglers in northern Puget Sound [Area 9] and Sekiu [Area 5] will be allowed to keep all coho [hatchery and wild fish] starting Sept. 16.

In North Sound, anglers at Point No Point, Possession Bar's west side, and Bush and Lagoon points on Whidbey Island have reported releasing larger wild coho.

The bad news is that the Strait of Juan de Fuca, particularly the Sekiu area, has slowed significantly in recent days.

"The Sekiu area has dropped way down for coho, and it was actually pretty dead [Tuesday] where it was barely a fish per boat average," said Larry Bennett, the head state Fish and Wildlife sampler in the Strait area. "Hopefully that [last week's good fishing] wasn't the peak of the coho run and more will come."

Bennett says Port Angeles is slow with just a few coho caught at midweek.

The "No Fin, You Win" Sekiu Coho Derby was held Sunday with 549 entrants. Derby results: 1. Don Andrews of Renton, 13.19-pound coho, $2,745; 2. William Lewis of Tacoma, 13.04, $1,098; 3. Jimmy McFadden of Spanaway, 13.02, $549.

Fishing reports

• Tuna and salmon off the coast: "Westport was pretty decent, and Monday it was over a coho per person along with a few chinook but virtually no effort," said Wendy Beeghly, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "The Westport charters are finding tuna and were averaging 10 per person. I heard the Westport charters were going 50 miles out, and the Ilwaco private boats were going 30 miles."

There have been a few salmon caught at La Push, but not much effort. Neah Bay was very slow for coho. All ocean ports are open daily for salmon through this Saturday. The late-season salmon fishery at La Push opens Sept. 20.

• Coho and chinook at Willapa Bay, and coho in Grays Harbor: "There was a 48-pound king that came in last Saturday at Willapa Bay, and it has been OK but still not good," Floor said. "The gill-net fishery goes in Sunday night, and that could make things tough."

A check at the Tokeland Marina at Willapa last Saturday had 113 anglers with 22 chinook and 13 coho. At the South Bend ramp, 66 anglers Sunday had six chinook and five coho.

Grays Harbor opens Sept. 16 for coho only, and it is probably still on the early side as the run generally peaks later next month.

• Salmon, steelhead and trout in Columbia River and its tributaries: "There are quite a few coho in the Lewis, Cowlitz [good for sea-run cutthroat too] and at the mouth of Toutle," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "We're also seeing chinook in Kalama and Washougal."

The mainstem Columbia's best spot for chinook is the gorge, but catches are scattered throughout the lower river. Fisheries managers will meet Friday. It might remain open through the weekend, but a lot depends on weather and catches.

It is still a little on the early side for chinook in Hanford Reach, with about one chinook caught for every 17 hours on the water.

• Salmon in local rivers: "Fair in the Snohomish with a few coho caught, but it has slowed down progressively since the last spot of rain we had," said Bryan Nelson at Three Rivers Marine and Tackle in Woodinville. "I was down on the river recently, and during the evening tide push there was quite a few coho moving in."

The Duwamish/Green River from Old Highway 99 Road to I-405 is open for chinook and coho, and a few fish were reported caught Wednesday. The river below Old Highway 99 opens Sept. 16 for salmon.

The Lower Samish is producing some fair king action for those able to tolerate the crowded fishery. The Puyallup and Nisqually rivers are open for hatchery kings, but slow.

• Other fish reports: "Just a few coho and blackmouth around," said Art Tatchell at the Point Defiance Park Boathouse in Tacoma. "The best bite has been out between the Clay Banks and Point Dalco in the middle of the out tide and rips."

Still fair numbers of squid being caught at the Des Moines pier especially during an evening flood tide.

The warm weather has yellow perch actively on the bite in Lake Washington off the docks at Madison Park, Leschi, Mount Baker to Seward Park and Gene Coulon Park.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com