Salmon net pen may mean more catches for anglers by 2011

The Central Puget Sound area could see a boost in catches by the 2011 fall fishing season, thanks to the revival of a tribal salmon net pen operation in Agate Pass.

"It is good news to get this net pen back in operation, and it will offer a good fishing opportunity in the future for the tribe and other fishermen," said Jay Zischke, the Suquamish Tribe's marine fish manager.

The tribe delivered 265,000 coho smolts this past Monday from the Gorst Hatchery to its net pen near Agate Pass between Suquamish and Bainbridge Island.

The one-and-a-half year old coho will spend about three months in the 70,000 cubic foot net pen, which is just slightly smaller than an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

The coho will be released sometime this spring, and are held in the net pen to get them used to the saltwater environment, and to put an imprint on the area so they return to the Agate Pass area as adult fish.

The net pen rearing operation began in the mid-1980s, and was a very successful program with good survival rates on adult coho.

"We had quite a few tagged coho coming back, and that led to good fishing opportunity for the tribe and (sport anglers) who had a bubble fishing area around the next pen," Zischke said. "They also contributed to fisheries in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Area 9 (northern Puget Sound) and to Canadian fisheries."

Then in 2003, the program was halted due to budget issues by the state and tribe, and other related problems.

"They (state Fish and Wildlife) needed to push up the timing of when we got those fish to December, which was way too early to put them into the saltwater pens," Zischke said. "That led to losing a lot of them because some would get stressed out, get sick or die of bacterial diseases which is common in coho."

Zischke says the Agate Pass program has been a multiyear collaboration, which has involved working with the state Fish and Wildlife co-managers, the city of Bremerton and the U.S. Navy.

The current net pens limits the tribe to producing about 300,000 coho annually, and Zischke says the plan in the near future is to enlarge the facility so that it is capable of holding up to 500,000.

The tribe is hopeful the program will be able to continue in the long run, although next year will see a dip in coho production due to survival in the hatchery.

Net pen operations are common throughout Puget Sound, and are often successful in contributing to fisheries.

During the first two decades of the Agate Pass program, 600,000 hatchery coho were released each year. Puget Sound coho are considered a "species of concern" under the federal Endangered Species Act.

All Agate Pass produced coho are adipose fin clipped so they are distinguished as hatchery raised fish.

Zischke says another net pen off Myrtle Edwards Park in Elliott Bay will soon receive hatchery coho from the joint efforts of state Fish and Wildlife, and the Suquamish and Muckleshoot tribes.

"That has also been a successful program, and the target is 500,000 fish, but we won't know the exact number until we move them in another week," Zischke said.

Word on razor clams

More coastal razor clam digs are scheduled later this month and in April, and last Saturday's dig had some people a little shook up while others ignored the warnings.

"It was the first time we've ever had a tsunami advisory (from the massive earthquake in Chile) during a dig," said Dan Ayres, the head coastal state Fish and Wildlife shellfish biologist. "My most recurring nightmare is that we have a big earthquake during one of these digs."

While some avoided going to beaches, it didn't stop thousands of others who actually found some pretty decent digging on open beaches from Feb. 26-March 1.

During that period 31,800 trips were taken (Kalaloch totals were not included), and diggers averaged 14.6 (the first 15 clams dug regardless of size or condition is a daily limit).

The tsunami advisory along with stormy weather in December and a marine toxin closure in January has allowed fisheries managers to add some additional digging opportunities.

The final approval to open the beaches are dependent marine toxin testing that show the clams are safe for human consumption.

Planned digs are March 26 (plus-0.1 feet at 4:29 p.m.) at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch; March 27 (-0.1 at 5:19 p.m.) and March 28 (0.0 at 6:04 p.m.) at Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks; and March 29 (-0.1 at 6:35 a.m.), March 30 (-0.7 at 7:22 a.m.), March 31 (-1.0 at 8:07 a.m.), and April 1 (-1.0 at 8:52 a.m.) at Long Beach and Twin Harbors only.

The upcoming digs were also planned around the Ocean Shores Razor Clam Festival on March 27. Details: www.oceanshores.org.

More digs are planned April 16 at Long Beach and Twin Harbors; and April 17-18 at Long Beach, Twin Harbors and Kalaloch. Additional digs could occur in late April or early May.

Notes

• The Eastside Audubon will host a classroom session 7 p.m. March 18 in Kirkland with Brian Bell to explore woodpeckers in Washington. There will also be a field trip on March 20 and May 22. Details: 425-576-8805 or www.eastsideaudubon.org.

• The Pheasant Forever Puget Sound Chapter 257 banquet is March 27 at the Tacoma Yacht Club. Details: 206-618-0816.

• The Puget Sound Anglers of Lake Washington meeting is 7 p.m. March 11 at the Community Center at Mercer View, 8236 S.E. 24th St. on Mercer Island. Fishing Hall of Fame member Dick Streater will discuss his humorous talk on fishing complete with gadgets. Details: 425-823-0704.

• The Steelhead Trout Club of Washington meeting is 6 p.m. March 9 at the Orient Express Restaurant, 2963 4th Ave. So. in Seattle. Plans for the club's Cowlitz River hatchery winter run steelhead party will be discussed. Details: 425-941-1148.

• The Lake Washington Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation Hunting Heritage banquet and auction is 4 p.m. March 20 at the Issaquah Hilton Garden Inn. Cost is $70 singles and $95 couples. Details: 206-914-7916 or www.lakewanwtf.org.

• The Renton Chapter of the Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 6:15 p.m. March 10 at the Kennydale Memorial Hall, 2424 N.E. 27th St. in Renton. Details: www.rentonpsa.com.

• The Sea-Tac Coastal Conservation Association banquet is 4:30 p.m. March 12 at Pioneer Park Pavilion, 330 S. Meridian in Puyallup. Cost is $75. Details: 360-920-1446.

• Wholesale Sports Outdoor Outfitters in Federal Way will present "The Fundamentals of Fly Casting" classes, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on March 20. Cost is $50. Instructor is Darrel Martin, a certified Federation of Fly-Fishers instructor. Details: 253-835-4100.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers Club offers a beginning eight week fly casting class with certified casting instructors. Classes meet every Tuesday from April 6-May 25 at the Green Lake casting pier in Seattle. Cost is $40. Details: 425-486-5011.

• The Lake City Way Chapter of Ducks Unlimited banquet is 5:30 p.m. March 24 at the Lake City Elks Lodge, 14504 Lake City Way N.E. in Seattle. Details: 206-755-1411.

• The Kitsap Coastal Conservation Association banquet is 4:30 p.m. March 27 at Sons of Norway, 18891 Front St. in Poulsbo. Cost is $60. Details: 360-620-4153.

• The Tacoma Chapter of Trout Unlimited will host the Global Day of Service Clean-Up is 9 a.m.-noon April 17 on the Puyallup River. Details: Rosendo64@yahoo.com or www.troutunlimitedwashington.org.

• Lake Sammamish State Park and Issaquah Paddle Sports are offering kayak nature tours at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. March 7 and March 27. A state park ranger will present an on-the-water program about the Great Blue Heron, and other wildlife viewing. Cost is $5, plus $10 for single kayak or $15 for doubles. Preregistration is required. Details: 206-527-1825 or 866-306-1825.

• The Issaquah Alps Trails Club hosts weekly hikes and meets in downtown Issaquah. Details: www.issaquahalps.org.

• The Washington Sea Grant and Port of Seattle Fishermen's Terminal are hosting a Coast Guard-approved First Aid at Sea Course, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., March 23 at the Nordby Building in Fishermen's Terminal in Seattle. Cost is $80. Details: 206-543-1225.

• The new nonprofit Cascade Musky Association is looking for members. Cost is $25 or $35 for a couple/family membership. Details: www.cascademuskyassociation.com or www.wafish.com.

• The Washington Fly Fishing Club meeting is 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the Seattle Tennis Club. Please RSVP to attend meetings. Details: www.WFFC.com.

• The Western Bass Club meets every third Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Kennydale Hall in Renton. Details: www.westernbassclub.comor www.nickbarrfishing.com.

• The Washington Trails Association offers statewide trip reports and trail conditions. Details: www.wta.org.

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offer various public classes through the year. The public also is invited to club meetings on the third Thursday of each month, at the Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave N., in North Seattle. Details: 206-684-7524.

• The Emerald Sea Dive Club offers year-round activities, including the big buddy program and weekly and monthly dives. The club meets on the first Wednesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. at Alfy's Pizza, 4820 196th SW in Lynnwood. Details: 425-775-2410 or www.emeraldseadiveclub.org.

• The Seattle Audubon Society offers field trips and classes every month. Details: 206-523-4483 or www.seattleaudubon.org.

• Northend Bassmasters is accepting new members who want to learn more about bass fishing. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Crystal Creek Cafe, 22620 Bothell-Everett Highway (Canyon Park) in Bothell. Details: 206-789-4259 or e-mail Gary Millard at glmillard@comcast.net.

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