Outdoors | Area nets good quota for halibut fisheries

If you enjoyed the halibut fisheries last year, then you'll get plenty of chances to tug on these heavyweight flatfish this spring and summer.

"I think our areas [Washington, Oregon and California] came out in pretty good shape in catch quotas for this season," said Phil Anderson, a state Fish and Wildlife fisheries policy coordinator who attended the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) meeting in Victoria, B.C., last week.

"The coastal quotas are very similar to last year," Anderson said. "For our areas, the catch limits are all-time highs since we began managing them under harvest quotas."

The sport, commercial and tribal fishery halibut catch quota this year is 1.34 million pounds (1.38 million last year) for all areas south of the U.S.-Canada border. The catch is split evenly between sport, tribal and commercials.

Neah Bay-La Push will open May 15, and close when the catch quota of 83,663 pounds is attained. Fishing will be allowed Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Fishing will reopen three days per week June 19 with a late-season reserve quota of 32,536 pounds.

Westport will open May 1, and close when the catch quota of 50,907 pounds is achieved. Fishing will be allowed Sundays to Thursdays.

The Ilwaco area will be open daily starting May 1, and close when the catch quota of 20,378 pounds is reached.

The opening dates for Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca east of Sekiu will be proposed at a meeting Monday, and recommendations will be forwarded to the National Marine Fisheries Service for approval.

The most heated debate at the meeting in Victoria was the recommendation to possibly reduce the sport charter catch limits in Alaska this summer.

Alaska charter-boat operators were up in arms after a proposal was made to lower the daily catch limit from two to one halibut.

In southeast Alaska, the reduced halibut catch limit would be in effect June 15 to July 30, which is the height of the summer fishing season.

In south-central Alaska, places such as Homer, one of the state's halibut sport-fishing hot beds, the reduction would occur June 15-30.

"All of tourism, not just fishing in Alaska, are going to be affected by this ruling, and the uproar is just beginning," said Donna Bondioli, who represents the Alaska Charter Association. "I understand that the city of Homer's council and mayor are extremely concerned about this as are all the charter people in Alaska."

In 2005, sport anglers caught 9.9 percent of the entire Alaska quota compared to 72.3 percent by the commercials, which doesn't include by-catch, fish wastage and subsistence fisheries.

"The commercial catch was raised again [in 2007 in south-central Alaska and others areas west of there], and yet we are restricting the access to the charter boats," Bondioli said. "It just doesn't make any sense, therefore it turns into an allocation issue."

Additionally, the Alaska Charter Association says by restricting the charter anglers to one fish per day and keeping the private sport fishers to two fish per day, the IPHC has made an arbitrary allocation decision within the recreational sector.

The final approval of the reduction must be signed off by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, D.C., and should occur by mid-February.

"There is a possibility that they won't sign off on this, so I am taking a wait-and-see approach for the moment," said Tom Ohaus, owner of Angling Unlimited Guide Service in Sitka, Alaska.

Notes

• The Washington Sportsmen's Show is today 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center. Details: www.otshows.com.

• The Forum Youngblood snowboarding quarterpipe competition is today at the Summit at Snoqualmie's Summit Central. Open for amateurs 18 and under. Details: www.summitatsnoqualmie.com.

• The Seattle Boat Show is today through Saturday at the Qwest Field Event Center and Chandler's Cove on South Lake Union. Details: www.seattleboatshow.com.

• An eight-week evening class titled Fly Fishing 101: "The Basics of Fly Fishing," is being held by the City of Woodinville Parks and Recreation Thursday through March 22. Alaskan guide Dick Lange will teach the basics of fly-fishing, including entomology, habitat, technique, basic casting and wading. Cost is $44.85 non-residents, and $39 for Woodinville residents. Details: 425-398-9327 or www.ci.woodinville.wa.us.

• The kickoff for the American Lung Association's Climb for Clean Air is 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Seattle REI store, 222 Yale Ave. N., Seattle. Mountaineer Lou Whittaker, the founder of Rainier Mountaineering Inc., and honorary chairman for the two-day fundraising climbs on Mount Rainier, will be there. Dates: July 12-13, 13-14, 18-19, 19-20 and 20-21.

The fundraising event supports the American Lung Association of Washington. Each climber is required to raise a minimum of $3,500 to qualify for a summit attempt. Details: 206-441-5100 or www.alaw.org.

• The Coast Guard Auxiliary Edmonds Flotilla is offering "Boating Skills and Seamanship," a 13-week course covering all phases of boating, beginning Tuesday; and "Basic and Advanced Coastal Navigation," a 13-week course for longer-range boat cruising, beginning Tuesday. Details: 206-234-8138 or www.flotilla12edmonds.us.

• The Olympic Peninsula Fly-Fishing Expo is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds near Port Townsend. Exhibitors will display rods, reels, flies, artwork and books. Seminars will be conducted by Brian O'Keefe, Les Johnson, Ray Pelland, Jim Kerr, Steve Buckner, Wade Malwitz, Mike Benbow, Dick Sagara and Skip Morris. Cost is $9 adults, $2 for children 12 and younger. Details: www.cataraft.com/ffexpo07.htm.

• The snow bus to the Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area in the Olympic Peninsula is back up and running. The bus picks up passengers at 9 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. on weekends at the Vern Burton Community Center on 4th St. and Peadbody St. in Port Angeles. The only return trip is at 4:15 p.m. only. Cost is $8.

Those who intend to drive should note that parking lot spaces are extremely limited especially during busy days, so carpooling or parking closer together is advised.

The Hurricane Ridge Road is open Fridays to Sundays during the winter, weather permitting. Details: 360-565-3131 or www.hurricaneridge.com.

• The South King County Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers meeting is 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Des Moines Masonic Hall, 2208 S. 223rd St. Guest speaker is Gary Loomis, founder of G. Loomis Inc. and president of Fish First, a non-profit dedicated to restoration of wild salmon runs. Details: 253-833-1440 or www.Pugetsoundanglers.net.

• The Washington Butterfly Association is hosting a free presentation with Mary Jo Anderson from the Portland Zoo titled "Back from the Brink of Extinction," 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Center for Urban Horticulture at 3501 N.E. 41st St. in Seattle. Learn how the Portland Zoo worked with several governmental and environmental agencies to bring back the Oregon Silverspot. Details: 206-364-4935 or www.naba.org/Chapters/nabaws.

• Author and mountain climber Arlene Blum, PhD will speak and host a slide show on her new memoir "Breaking Trail: A Climbing Life," 7 p.m. March 15 at the Seattle REI store, 222 Yale Ave. N. in Seattle. Details: 206-223-1944 or www.rei.com or www. Arleneblum.com.

• The Washington Trails Association are looking for volunteers for trail maintenance work Feb. 3 at the Taylor Mountain Trails in Issaquah and Feb. 4 at Squak Mountain. Details: 206-625-1367 or www.wta.org.

• Northwest photographer Lee Mann will host a benefit program for the Merlin Falcon Foundation titled "Landscapes and Wildlife of the World," 6:30 p.m. March 21 at the Seattle REI store, 222 Yale Ave. N. in Seattle. Cost is $12. Details: 206-223-1944 or www.rei.com or www.leemannphotography.com.

• The Bellevue Fly Fishing Show is Feb. 9-11 at the Meydenbauer Center, 11100 N.E. 6th Street in Bellevue. Programs will include how-to-do-it and where-to-go seminars, plus a wide range of fly-tying and casting demonstrations. Fly-fishing authors will be signing books, destination exhibitors will reveal their secret fishing places and local conservation clubs will be offering advice.

Classes on nymphing, fly tying and fly-fishing writing also will be offered. Cost is $14 one day, $24 two days, and $32 three days. Children under age 12 are $2. Hours: Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Details: 800-420-7582 or www.flyfishingshow.com.

• The Washington Ski Touring Club offers trips, classes and volunteer opportunities for cross-country, telemark and backcountry skiers. Meetings are at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month through April at the Seattle REI Store, 222 Yale Ave. N. Membership is $20, and $30 for a family. Details: 206-784-8741 or www.wstc.org.

• The Chevrolet U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix at Mount Bachelor Resort near Bend, Ore., is Feb. 3-4 with the Paul Mitchell Progression Session slopestyle events; and Feb. 9-11 is the Chevrolet Revolution Tour. Details: www.ussnowboarding.com/grandprix.

• The Fidalgo Island Chapter of Puget Sound Anglers is hosting the Anacortes Salmon Derby March 10-11 at Cap Sante Boat Haven in Anacortes. Cost is $50. More than $5,000 in prizes will be awarded, $2,000 for the salmon that comes closest to a hidden/secret weight. Details: 360-941-4500 or www.ancortessalmonderby.com.

• Skiers and snowboarders traveling to Mission Ridge, Stevens Pass and the Summit at Snoqualmie can take part in "SkiGreen," a Bonneville Environmental Foundation program meant to help maintain snow-pack levels in the Cascades by supporting the development of wind and solar energy.

Participants can purchase a $2 SkiGreen Tag at a lift or a $20 SkiGreen Tag when purchasing a season pass.

The program reinvests its revenue into renewable energy and conservation projects. Details: 503-248-1905, 866-BEF-TAGS or www.skigreen.org.

• The Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Invitational is Feb. 8-10 at the Roche Harbor Marine & Resort on San Juan Island.

More than $25,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded, including $10,000 for the largest fish. Cost is $600 per boat. Derby entries are limited to 100 boats with four anglers per vessel. Details: 360-378-5562 or email Debbie Sandwith at market@rocheharbor.com.

• The Patty Wagon Ski Bus to the Stevens Pass Ski Area will be offered every Thursday from now through Feb. 22. Morning pickups in North Seattle, Lake Forest Park, Bothell and Monroe. Cost is $186 for eight weeks or $26 per trip. Details: 206-546-6717 or email patty@pattysplaces.com.

• The winter feeding of elk and bighorn sheep has started at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area and Cleman Mountain in Yakima County.

The main feeding site is near the area's headquarters building off Highway 12, southwest of Naches and west of Yakima; the elk are normally fed around 1:30 p.m. daily. When temperatures are low and snow is on the ground, many elk will stay in the area throughout the day.

The interpretive center is operated by volunteers 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Volunteers conduct elk-viewing tours by haywagon through the feeding area. There's a suggested $5 donation. For reservations, call 509-698-5106.

The majestic bighorn sheep also can be viewed in the Tonasket-to-Oroville area off Highway 97 in Okanogan County. A group of Sinlahekin bighorn sheep also live nearly year-round in and around Loomis.

• State Fish and Wildlife officials are asking the public to report dead or ill swans in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties.

Some trumpeter swans in those counties, and in southwestern British Columbia, are plagued each winter with lead poisoning after ingesting lead shot in areas where they feed.

Lead shot has been banned for waterfowl hunting for more than a decade, but biologists believe swans are likely reaching shallow underwater areas where spent lead shot remains.

Callers are asked to leave a message including their name and phone number, and the location and condition of the swans, at 360-466-4345, ext. 266.

• The Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall holds numerous outdoors events, including a monthly "Tracking Club," that meets in Sultan on the third Saturday of each month now through May (but not December) from 9 a.m. to noon.

The program is open to naturalists, hunters and people curious about learning to identify, follow and understand stories written in tracks left by animals on the Skykomish River shoreline. Details: 425-788-1301 or www.wildernessawareness.org.

• The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is looking for volunteers for the wild salmon recovery program now through June. Details: 360-275-3575 or email Chris Daniel at chris@hcseg.org.

• The Salish Lodge and Spa, 30 minutes east of Seattle, offers an array of fall and winter outdoor activities.

The guided fly-fishing package for two guests is available year-round, weather permitting A winter snowshoeing package for two occurs during the winter and early spring.

At the adventure center guests can participate in cross country and downhill skiing trips, guided hikes, kayaking and mountain biking. Details: 800-272-5474 or www.salishlodge.com.

• Alpine Ascents International Inc. will begin offering a variety of guided climbs and instructional programs on Mount Rainier starting next year. The group has scheduled more than 30 expeditions and more than 50 training courses in 14 countries, including the Arctic and Antarctic regions. These expeditions range from six-day training courses in the North Cascades and Alaska to three-month expeditions to Mount Everest to summit climbs and courses on Mount Rainier. Details: 206-378-1927 or www.AlpineAscents.com.

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

• The Northwest Fly Anglers offers 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 S.W. 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.

• Local Escapes, a local-based travel planner and tour operator, offers a two-night guided exploration of the Olympic Peninsula's rainforest, mountains and coastline.

The personal guided package offers snowshoeing, hiking and other recreational activities. The cost is $950 per person and includes two-night accommodations; transportation; all equipment including snowshoes, poles and raingear; park entrance fees and all meals and refreshments. Details: 877-780-4162 or www.localescapes.com.

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