Fishing heats up in July for salmon, steelhead and crab

Summer fishing seasons are now in full swing, requiring anglers to make some tough decisions about how to spend their time on the water.

July 2, 2016 2:56 am

Summer fishing seasons are now in full swing, requiring anglers to make some tough decisions about how to spend their time on the water.

Scores of lakes and streams throughout the state are open for trout and other species, while salmon fisheries get underway July 1 in Washington’s ocean waters and several marine areas of Puget Sound.

Here’s a rundown of some of this month’s fishing opportunities:

  • Ocean salmon: Marine areas 1 (Ilwaco), 2 (Westport), 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay) open for salmon fishing July 1.
  • Columbia River salmon and steelhead: Fishing picks up in July for both summer salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River.
  • Puget Sound salmon: Additional areas of the Sound open for salmon fishing July 1, including marine areas 5 (Sekiu), 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca), 7 (San Juan Islands), and a portion of 12 (Hood Canal). Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet) also opens July 1 for catch-and-release salmon fishing and will open July 16 for hatchery chinook retention.
  • Hanford Reach sockeye: The Columbia River is open to fishing for sockeye salmon from the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco upstream to Priest Rapids Dam.
  • Puget Sound crab: All but one marine area in Puget Sound will be open for crab fishing as of July 1. The exception is Marine Area 7, where the crab fishery opens July 15 in the area’s southern portion (San Juan Islands/Bellingham) and Aug. 13 in the northern portion (Gulf of Georgia).

Regulations for fisheries are described in the 2016-17 sport fishing rules pamphlet, available from sporting goods stores and posted online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/.

Meanwhile, WDFW land managers urge everyone planning to spend time outdoors this month to take precautions to avoid sparking a wildfire. Unattended campfires, fireworks, hot vehicle mufflers, careless disposal of cigarettes and outdoor burning are all common causes of wildfires in the state.

For more information about fishing and wildlife viewing available this month, see the Weekender Regional Reports posted on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/weekender/. These reports are updated throughout the month to provide up-to-date information about recreational opportunities around the state.