Was out to Humpy Hollow today and after catching 5 pinks my sons and I headed over to Possession. I figured it was time to catch some quality fish and leave the humpies alone. We caught 2 nice silvers in one hour at the SW corner of the horseshoe. It wasn't as fast as the Hollow but the fish were nice chunky hatchery silvers. But what puzzled me is that the place was empty. A few boats here and there but not anywhere near as many as I remember from years past. Used to be able to jump from baot to boat! I'm not complaining, just curious...

Mike,

I fish Possession a lot but lately it's been just too darn easy to stay at the shipwreck or Picnic Point for Humpies. Last weekend I probably caught 30 fish eack morning. I used nothing but my trout rod with 8lb test and a Buzz Bomb. It was a blast. For a while each day I caught a fish on every single cast.

As soon as the Silvers start showing a little more I'll be back at Possession in the rips.

WoodinvilleBill

I headed for Possession from Port Townsend last week, but we couldn't make it there becase the silvers got in the way. Lots of fish were showing along the west side of Whidbey. Some were nice silvers; some were humpies. Heading back there tomorrow with a couple of kids, weather permitting. Will let you know how it goes.

No one was at Possession because it is the WORK WEEK

WORK WEEK??? Isn't that what sick time is for?
I'm lucky, I have Wednesdays off. Course, I work every other weekend...

Hey Mike, I need a job at your place so I can have the middle of the week off. All I get is fri., sat., sun., off and there's way to many people out there. Oh, and if your wondering where everyone is at, they're still in King mode. Alot of good places still booting some big fish and getting a lot of skeins to do up almost everyday. Plenty of river pressure ought to be happening soon also to spread everbody out.

"DO THE WILD THANG"

mikec be careful on where you fish first if you keep any salmon, area 8-2 has a four fish limit only 2 can be coho or chum area 9has a 2 fish limit, you can fish area 9 first retain 2 then go to area 8-2 for 2 more, but going into area 9 with two fish per person is not legal just something i found out, doug

Hmmm ...

I seem to recall something to the effect that once you limit in any marine area, you cannot move to another area for more. Maybe that was only for moving from salt to fresh? Anyway, it is possible that by catching your 2 salmon in area 9, you have limited out for salmon for that day, regardless of where you go after that. It is confusing.

Which if these are legal then:

1. catch 2 silvers in 9, then move to 8.2 and catch 2 humpies
2. catch 2 humpies in 8.2, then move to 9 and catch 2 silvers
3. catch 2 silvers and 2 humpies in 8.2
4. catch 1 silver in 9, then move to 8.2 and catch 3 humpies
5. catch 1 silver in 8.2, then move to 9 and catch 1 silver, then go back to 8.2 and catch 2 humpies

These combinations are definitely not "fringe" cases, seeing as how Shipwreck is the border between 8.2 and 9, and lately there are 100 boats there on any given weekend morning. I suppose that a strict reading of the regs is that the total day's limit for each angler is the most restrictive limit of all of the areas fished that day. This would mean that if you fish area 9 at all, your day's limit is 2 salmon, no chinook or chum, regardless of where else you fished that day.

Regards.

Mike
Woodinville

Mike,

All of those are OK except #2. I believe the Fish Cops would tell you it is fine to move from area to area catching fish as long as you don't have a limit, regardless where caught, when you move into that area. Therefore, moving from the Hollow to 9 with 2 humpies would be illegal since you have the 2 fish limit, no matter which type of salmon they are. Moving from 9 to 8.2 with 2 fish and catching a couple more Humps is fine because you are under the limit for that area. You are not disallowed to fish it just because it wasn't your first stop.

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: Saltine ]

From the Seattle Times yesterday:

A warning has gone out to anglers fishing along the border of Marine Area 9 (northern Puget Sound) and Marine Area 8-2. Anglers who catch their first two fish in Area 9 cannot go to Area 8-2 and add two more pinks or coho to their four-fish daily limit.

"We've been having problems with anglers who don't realize that you cannot move from Area 9 then add on to the more liberal catch limit in Area 8-2," said Curt Kraemer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist.

Bobber Down

"Keep your hooks sharp!"

i agree with saltine its in thursdays paper can not catch 2 fish in 8-2 then move to nine and fish becausr you already have your 2 fish limit in 9

Interesting BD. If that is the case, that is news to me. Not sure I understand the 'why' behind it. Also curious if the paper got it right. Seems ridiculous to not allow a boat to go from possesion to the Hollow for a couple pinks....

I agree the limit issue is confusing. Here is how our fishing limits went:
We caught 5 pinks and 1 silver in area 8.2. So one punch card had 4 humpies on it. No more fishing with that rod (or fisherman, except charters do it all the time). We had one silver on the second punch card. No fish on the 3rd card. We then went to Possession, fishing 2 poles. After the first fish limited a second card we were down to one pole and limited that card. So the limits were card 1, 4 salmon from 8.2. Card 2 one salmon each from 8.2 and 9, card 3 2 salmon from area 9. Our cards were filled in as we fished so we always kept it legal.
I have always found this limit issue to be interesting on charters as everyone keeps fishing till the boat limits on every charter I've ever been on. Seems like sports fishers should have the same latitude.
In any case, it's off to fight the crowds this Saturday. Going to try West Point and work north, keeping Humpy Hollow an option if we have bad luck on the silvers. See you on the water.

for all, this type of rules make no sense when you fish the columbia you must follow the rules for which ever port you land in, oregon or washington same with the straits, who to say where you were fishing and were you caught them, if i catch my 2 silvers in 9 go to 8-2 get my 2 pinks pull my boat out in useless bay am i legal?

Mike,

It says in the regs that all anglers can fish untill the boat limit is attained in areas that a salt water license is neccessary.


But that doesn't neccessarily mean that it is right. especially if there are so many fish out like now!

pickeled herring, the fact still remains area 9 has a 2 fish limit, doesn't matter how many people are in the boat, or a boat limit, just like the ocean is open for fishing but the straits can be closed, there again i fish in the ocean but pull in at olsens (mainly halibut) but the straits are closed, so how can you say you must abide by the rules for the port you pull into? bottom line an area limit can only be enforced on the water?

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: DOUG KELLY ]

The Seattle Times got it all wrong !!!!
The Seattle PI got it right...
You can limit in area 9 with 2 salmon then
go to area 8.2 and catch 2 more pinks or chums. JUST DON'T BE FISHING IN AREA 9 with
more than 2 fish each person. If you want to
verify, just read 2001 regs or call Region 4
at Mill Creek.

Good to know that the boat can keep fishing until all limits are met.
I think I handled the situation correctly in filling one angler's limit on the punch card and putting away the rod. If we are supposed to punch our fish as soon as we catch them, then that should be the guiding authority as to how many fish we have left to catch and in what areas we can still fish. Ambiguity in fishing regulations is not a good thing!

Ok guys here's what in says in the regs on page 16:
"You May Not:
Fish for or harvest fish or shellfish in an area with catch in your possession that does not meet the regulations of that area. You may, however, pass through such an area without stopping to fish."

In other words if you've got fish on your boat in an area that's closed, no matter what card it's on, you'd better not drop a line in the water. Could get spendy!!!

I tell you what, for so many holier than thou's on this board at times, you'd think someone would read the regs now and then. I don't even fish salt and knew that one.

Personally I fish freshwater. I don't see the harm in going to the Puyallup and getting 2 kings and then buzzing down to the Nisqually to get 2 more. You're not effecting one system adversally. At least here you know what system they're coming out of.
Not saying I do this, just don't see the sense in the way the laws work. The one time I did it would be the day the fish cop stopped at both places and seen me "Hey didn't I just see you......"
Maybe you can do this legally, not sure on that one. I don't recall seeing that one in there. Man it's to late!!!!

[ 09-01-2001: Message edited by: sinker ]

Thanks for the clarification. I admit to not reading that particular regulation and it does make the limit discrepency clear.

Sorry for sounding so crabby last night. Late night cleaning fish....
Not generally like that.
Oh well,
I think what it comes down to is if you run into a lenient (sp?) fish cop or not.
To me it wouldn't be worth the risk. That would make for some pretty spendy fish.