Westport opens daily for salmon fishing Aug. 3

OLYMPIA - Beginning Aug. 3, marine waters off of Westport (Marine Area 2) will be open to salmon fishing seven days a week, joining the three other ocean areas already open on a daily basis, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for WDFW, said the department initially limited the number of days open at Westport to five a week (Sundays through Thursdays) to ensure that the catch would not reach the quota too quickly and require an early closure.

"Because catch rates are stable, we can allow fishing daily off Westport without much risk of having to shorten the salmon season," Pattillo said.

Salmon fishing already is open seven days a week in marine areas 1 (Ilwaco), 3 (LaPush) and 4 (Neah Bay).

The daily catch limit is two salmon for all areas of the ocean fishery. Anglers fishing in marine areas 1, 2 and 4 may retain one chinook as part of their two-salmon daily limit. Those fishing in Marine Area 3 are allowed to retain two chinook per day.

In all four marine areas, anglers must release wild coho salmon.

Ocean salmon fisheries are currently scheduled to continue through Sept. 18 in marine areas 2, 3 and 4, and through Sept. 30 in Marine Area 1.

Fishery managers will continue to monitor the ocean salmon fishery throughout the season, and announce any other changes on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/. Additional information on the ocean fishery, including minimum size limits and area catch guidelines, is available in WDFW's Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet, available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations.