PUGET SOUND COMMERCIAL 
SALMON FISHERIES REGULATION HOTLINE
                  2023-25
                  Weeks 44
                  10/31/2023 – 3:45 PM

For the week beginning Sunday October 29th 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 Monday October 30. 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 29 to Saturday, November 4. 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 7B (Bellingham Bay):
Gillnets using 5-inch minimum mesh size: Open continuously 7 AM Monday October 30 – 4 PM Friday November 3.
Purse seines with a 5 inch strip: 7 AM to 6 PM Daily Monday October 30 through Friday November 3. Brailing of catch and recovery boxes are required. Must release all and Chinook and sockeye. 


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 (South Sound): Due to the low abundance of South and Central sound chum estimated by the ISU model, Areas 10/11 are closed for chum directed fisheries through November 6, and will be re-evaluated for management week 45 on November 7.


Areas 12 and 12B (Hood Canal):
Gillnets using 6 1/4-inch minimum mesh size: Open 7 AM to 8 PM Monday, October 30 and Wednesday, November 1.
Purse seines with a 5 inch strip: Open 7 AM to 6 PM Thursday, November 2 and Friday, November 3. 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/