PUGET SOUND COMMERCIAL 
SALMON FISHERIES REGULATION HOTLINE
                  2023-21
                  Weeks 42
                  10/17/2023 – 4:30 PM

For the week beginning Sunday October 15 all areas are closed except as follows:


Area 6D (Dungeness Bay) will be open to:
Skiff gillnets using 5-inch minimum mesh size : Open 7 AM to 7PM daily Monday October 16 through Friday October 20. All Chinook and chum must be released by cutting the ensnaring mesh.


Area 7 (San Juan Islands) will be open to:
Reef Nets: 5 AM to 9 PM Daily Sunday, October 15 to Saturday, October 21. Must release all sockeye, Chinook, and unmarked coho.
Reef Net fishers that previously retained chinook or unmarked coho this season are required to submit a department-issued Puget Sound Reef Net Logbook. 
Failure to do so is in violation of WAC and may result in loss of retention of these species in future years.


Area 7 (San Juan Islands) and 7A (Point Roberts): Opening dependent on in-season management and Inside Southern Chum Update from Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans.


Area 7B (Bellingham Bay):
Gillnets using 5-inch minimum mesh size: Open continuously through midnight Sunday, October 29. Retention of sockeye is prohibited.
Purse seines with a 5 inch strip: Open continuously through 6 PM Saturday, October 28. Brailing is required, and purse seines must release all sockeye.


Area 8D (Tulalip Bay) will be open west of a line from Mission Point to Hermosa Point to :
Gillnets using 5-inch minimum mesh size : Open 6 PM Sunday October 15 to 8 AM Monday October 16. 6 PM Monday October 16 to 8 AM Thursday October 19. 6 PM Thursday October 19 to 8 AM Friday October 20. 
All sockeye must be released by cutting the ensnaring mesh.


Area 9A (Port Gamble Bay) will be open to:
Skiff gillnets with nets not to exceed 600 feet in length and 60 meshes in depth using 5-inch minimum mesh, is open continuously through 7 PM Saturday, November 4.
All Chinook and chum must be released by cutting the ensnaring mesh.


Area 10/11 Limited Participation - Gillnets using 5-inch minimum mesh size, Wednesday, October 18 from 5 PM to 9 AM Thursday, October 19 will only be open to the following vessels:
Vessel WN3848LA, FV Bristol Sound, FV Nettie B, FV C-Rae, FV Toni M, FV JanM, Vessel WN66415R, FV Top Flite, FV Katya Dawn, FV Mount Royal.
It is unlawful to land more than 400 chum per license during open the period listed. It is unlawful to posses salmon caught in other Marine Areas while participating in this fishery. Agreement to participate in this fishery will require that
a department observer be allowed on board the vessel while fishing if requested by department staff.


Area 10/11 Limited Participation - Purse Seines with a 5-inch strip, Friday, October 20 from 7 AM to 6 PM will only be open to the following vessels:
FV Adirondack, FV Harbor Gem, FV New Oregon, FV Sofia Lynn, FV Wisconsin, FV Lisa Marie.
It is unlawful to land more than 1,600 chum per license during the open period listed. It is unlawful to posses salmon caught in other Marine Areas while participating in this fishery. Agreement to participate in this fishery will require that
a department observer be allowed on board the vessel while fishing if requested by department staff.
Purse Seines must release all Chinook and Coho.


Areas 12 and 12B (Hood Canal):
Purse seines with a 5-inch strip: Open 7 AM to 6 PM Friday October 20. Purse seines must release all chinook and sockeye.


Due to the current state of the market for salmon, please call and secure a buyer before participating in commercial salmon fisheries. Enforcement will be present on the water and citing for any wastage of unsold fish.	


If you suspect an error in this message or if you have questions, please 360-701-2215.   
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/commercial/salmon/