Fish & Feathers Special event Sept. 19 for youth duck season

Published 10:51 am Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Jackie Ferrier, project leader of the Willapa Refuge Complex, is coordinating a special event for the youth duck-hunting opener on Sept. 19.

The free event will be held at the Willapa Bay Game Refuge for those eligible for the youth hunt, who may be accompanied by their parents or sponsor. It is designed for be an educational day for new hunters. A federal duck stamp is needed and youth must have attended and graduated from a hunter safety class, but no hunting license is required.

There will be refreshments served after the morning shoot. Organizers are requesting volunteers to assist. If you are interested in donating your time in the morning, call Ferrier at 360-751-3370 or myself, Ron Malast, at 665-3573 and leave your name and phone number. You will be contacted. Detailed instructions to follow.

Starting Aug. 24, anglers fishing the Buoy 10 area were required to release any Chinook salmon with an adipose fin. The fishery got off to fast start and has been going strong ever since. Guy Norman, southwest regional director of WDFW, said the quota for the recreation catch was expected to reach 100 percent by Aug. 24.

Under the new rule, anglers are limited to one adult hatchery Chinook with a clipped as part of their daily catch, two steelhead, or one of each. Wild steelhead must be released. Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and many of its tributaries.

Through Aug. 16, the ocean (Area 1) report is as follows:

41 percent of the coho quota, which is 79,400, has been reached. 35.5 percent of the Chinook guideline of 15,750 fish has been attained.

Coastwide ocean totals:

• Percent of Coho quota taken 35.9 percent

• Percent of Chinook quota taken 53.8

Ron Malast can be reached at 665-3473 or raiders7777@centurylink.net