Poachers paying the price | Outdoors Notebook

Fish and game violations are being taken more seriously, with some poachers getting their due in court after making bad decisions.

In the early morning hours of Feb. 27, three poachers were busted for illegally catching 39 rockfish while fishing off the Seattle waterfront in Elliott Bay.

Officer Erik Olson of state Fish and Wildlife's enforcement division was patrolling near the grain terminal at Pier 86, a popular sport-fishing area, when he came across the anglers.

All three had valid fishing licenses, so Olson asked them to open their coolers, which were loaded with rockfish.

Olson filed a second-degree commercial-fishing violation and requested monetary restitution.

Earlier this month, Olson received a call from the prosecutor and notified him that the case had gone through the court process.

King County District Court Judge Vicki Seitz "just hammered them," Olson said.

The poachers were denied all motions, bail forfeiture and a reduced fine. The judge sentenced them to 10 days in jail and charged them $2,682 dollars apiece ($2,000 in penalties and $682 in court costs).

They were also put on 24 months unsupervised probation, were suspended from shellfishing and fishing for two years and must not have any criminal offenses for the next two years.

"I've had plenty of fish and wildlife penalties where the guy doesn't get any time in jail," Olson said. "It looks like the judges are getting a little harsher on these types of activities that have major impacts to the resources."

Soon after the judge put the gavel down, it was apparent the violators could flee, so they were immediately brought to jail to serve their sentences.

In April, three types of Puget Sound rockfish were listed under the Endangered Species Act. The burnt-red yelloweye and goldfish-orange canary rockfish were listed as threatened, and the bocaccio was listed as endangered.

In May, fishing was banned for all rockfish from southern Puget Sound to the Canadian border.

Elwha area

activities closing

More work on the eventual removal of two dams on the Elwha River will begin this week, and most happenings on the water at Lake Mills end Monday at sunset.

"The big changes on dam removal have already started, and next week sediment management work will begin and that project does involve closures to fishing and boating in Lake Mills," said Barb Maynes, a spokeswoman for Olympic National Park.

During this time the entire Lake Mills Reservoir and Elwha River between Goblins Gate and Lake Mills will be closed to boating. Kayakers using the river must exit at Goblins Gate and hike out to Rica Canyon Trail and the Elwha River Trail to the Whiskey Bend Trailhead.

The West Lake Mills Trail and Upper Lake Mills Trail will also be closed. The closure is expected to end by Oct. 4.

Lake Mills and Lake Aldwell will face more closures next summer for recreational boating and other public activities.

Dam removal work will begin Sept. 15, 2011, and is expected to be finished by spring 2014.

Notes

• The Washington Sea Grant is hosting a free family event featuring a guided beach walk in an effort to improve water quality, from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 4 at Walker County Park, 2400 Walker Park Road on Oakland Bay in Shelton. Details: 360-432-3054 or e-mail wsgcanal@u.washington.edu.

• The Wild Steelhead Coalition Fall BBQ and Film Premier of "Eastern Rises" is 6 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture. The event is free, but donations are accepted. Details: www.wildsteelheadcoalition.org.

• The Seattle Rifle and Pistol Association Hunter Sight-In is 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 18-19, Sept. 25-26, Oct. 2-3 and Oct. 9-10 at 725 135th Ave. S.E. in Snohomish. Cost is $5. Details: 360-659-9362 or 425-775-9531.

• The Washington Outdoor Women Workshop is Sept. 17-19 at Camp River Ranch in Carnation. Women can learn the basics of archery, freshwater fishing, fly-fishing and tying flies, kayaking, cooking wild game, big-game hunting basics, map and compass reading, wilderness first aid, survival skills, how to start a hunting dog and outdoor photography. Must be at least 18 years old. Cost is $235. Details: www.washingtonoutdoorwomen.org or 425-455-1986.

• The Edmonds Coho Derby hosted by the Sno-King Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers is 6 a.m. on Sept. 11 at Edmonds Marina. Cost is $30. Details: www.fisharc.com/derbies.

• The Everett Coho Derby hosted by the Everett Steelhead and Salmon Club and Snohomish Sportsmen's Club is Sept. 18-19 at the 10th Street ramp in Everett. Cost is $25. Details: www.everettcohoderby.com/derbyinformation.

• The Northwest Knife Collectors Knife Show is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 25, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Little Creek Casino & Resort, 91 West State Highway 106 in Shelton. Cost is $5. Buy, sell, trade and learn about a huge selections of knives, plus demonstrations and cutting competition. Details: www.nwkc.org.

• Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Pheasants Forever are hosting a free Youth Pheasant Hunt 7 a.m. Sept. 25 and 8 a.m. Sept. 26. Open to all hunters under age 15. Details: 253-967-8260 or 253-847-3979 or 253-224-6432.

• The Edmonds Coast Guard Auxiliary hosts public, 12-week novice and experienced boating education courses Sept. 14 and 16. Details: 425-774-4033 or e-mail boatclasses@hotmail.com.

• The Friends of the Cedar River Watershed is hosting the National Wild and Scenic Film Festival 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Patagonia Store, 2100 1st Ave. in Seattle, and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave. in Seattle. Cost is $8 advance and $10 at the door. Details: 206-297-8141 or www.cedarriver.org.

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

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

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

• The Seattle Parks and Recreation's Bicycle Sundays along Lake Washington Boulevard to Seward Park are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday; and Sept. 5, 12, 19 and 26. Details: www.seattle.gov/parks/bicyclesunday.

• 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 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.

Mark Yuasa: 206-464-8780 or myuasa@seattletimes.com; twitter.com/MarkKYuasa