Expect a large number of king salmon to return this summer

It is time once again to look into the salmon fishing crystal ball, and while anglers were flush with a record-sized pink salmon return last season, it looks like this summer will be the crowning "Year of the Kings."

More than 650,000 king salmon, the largest and most prized of the salmon species, are expected back to the Columbia River.

That equates to about 234,000 more than last year, and will be one of the largest returns since 2002.

"There are a lot of chinook out there in the ocean, and we're predicting a very good year of fishing," said Doug Milward, the head state Fish and Wildlife coastal salmon manager. "The commercial trollers off Westport have found good numbers of fish, and so have the trollers south of Leadbetter Point (off the mouth of Willapa Bay)."

Fisheries managers said the troll fishery was so good that it closed Saturday, and they caught about 4,000 kings daily. The decent fishing, mainly off Westport ,was even attracting Northern California and Oregon trollers.

Milward says about 70 percent of the fish caught in the Westport troll fishery have been hatchery-marked with a missing adipose fin, indicating they're of healthy hatchery stocks.

The first ever ocean hatchery-marked chinook selective fishery opened Saturday off Neah Bay, La Push, Westport and Ilwaco. All are open daily through June 30.

"We got a couple kings (15 to 16 pounds) in the boat, and released four," said Tim Flynt, a retired state Fish and Wildlife salmon manager, who was off the Grays Harbor Buoy off Westport on the Saturday opener. "There are more wild fish (one hatchery-marked king for every six caught) than they thought."

Flynt said the baitfish schools were patchy, and other anglers hooked into some nice kings over 20 pounds.

Ilwaco, La Push and Neah Bay will then reopen July 1, and Westport on July 4. Anglers should check the regulations on when each port is open during the week.

While this summer's Columbia coho return will be modest (390,000 forecast to return compared to 1 million last year), the summer should provide some glory moments off the entire coast.

In the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Sekiu to Ediz Hook, the hatchery-marked king salmon fishery will be open July 1-Aug. 15, and it should be good right from the start.

"I believe there's every reason to think the Strait chinook season could be like last year when fishing was excellent," said Pat Pattillo, the head state Fish and Wildlife assistant director. "The downside is that it was so good last year we had to close it down early."

The late coho fishery off Sekiu from Sept. 16-30 should be something to look at for big fish that commonly exceed 15-plus pounds.

The San Juan Islands also open July 1, and the good news here is just across the border on the south end of Vancouver Island, king fishing has been very good. Thus, many of those fish are bound for North Sound hatcheries and the fish highway goes right through the island chain.

The northern and central Puget Sound (Marine Catch Areas 9 and 10) hatchery-marked king salmon fishery opens July 16-Aug. 31, and the early indication is this should be a good summer fishery.

"The 2007 and 2008 king fishing in Areas 9 and 10 were outstanding for hatchery chinook, and while last year was disappointing I'm comfortable with suggesting that we'll be back on track this summer," said Tony Floor, director of fishing affairs for the Northwest Marine Trade Association.

The inner-Elliott Bay king fishery opens July 2 to Aug. 8, and fishing is allowed Fridays to Sundays.

The king fishing is currently open in the Tacoma area and while it started off very good, fishing has been fair off the Clay Banks for fish up to 25 pounds. Look for this area, and other points to the north and south to get amped up for migrating kings in July and August.

In August, many will begin to focus their attention on the Buoy 10 area at the mouth of the Columbia River for kings and coho.

Another late summer fishery to target is Willapa Bay at Washaway Beach where some of the hatchery kings headed to the Columbia will dip in along the shallow shoreline.

The Puget Sound coho fishery could see improvements over past years as a strong return of 90,000 are expected back to the Skagit River (sections open either Sept. 1 or 16), which is three times larger than last year.

"With those kind of numbers we've got it set up to look like a strong fishery in the river and marine areas, and we've got the data to back up that forecast," Pattillo said. "Another favorite is the selective king fishery in the Skykomish River."

Other areas expecting decent coho numbers are the Stillaguamish and Snohomish River systems (both open Sept. 1 for coho), and the South Sound area.

Those who recall last year's good late summer coho fishery off places like Shilshole Bay and West Point might see another one this time around.

Note

• The Lake Washington Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers Lake Washington Trout Derby is June 19 at Gene Coulon Park in Renton. Derby starts at daybreak until 2 p.m. Cost is $15. Details: 425-885-3689 or www.psalakewashington.org.

• The Eastside Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 7 p.m. June 16 at the North Bellevue Community Center. Doug Saint-Denise of Ridge to River Outdoors will discuss Skykomish River kings and steelhead. Details: 425 408-1930.

• The Jimmy Green Memorial Fly Fishing Fair and Casting Expo is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 19 at Lake Tye, 14964 Fryelands Blvd. in Monroe. Free admission, food and drink, seminars, classes and casting demonstrations. Details: 425-452-9138 or 206-362-4030.

• The Wholesale Sports Outdoor Outfitters in Federal Way is offering The Fundamentals of Fly Casting class 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 26. Cost is $50. Class will be taught by Darrel Martin a certified Federation of Fly-Fishers instructor and Michael Martin. Details: 253-835-4100.

• The Seattle Parks and Recreation's Bicycle Sundays along Lake Washington Blvd. to Seward Park are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on June 13 and 27; July 5, 11, 18 and 25; Aug. 1, 22 and 29; and Sept. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Details: www.seattle.gov/parks/bicyclesunday.

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

• 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. Also follow him on http://twitter.com/MarkKYuasa