Puget Sound Commercial Fisheries Hotline Message Number 13
Recorded Friday, October 26th, 2007 at 12:00 PM

The 2007 Puget Sound Commercial Salmon Regulation pamphlet was mailed the week of May 13th. If you have not received a copy please contact (360) 902-2700 and ask for a copy or check our web site where one may be downloaded at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/commregs/salregs.htm

On Tuesday, October 23rd the third test catch of the Apple Cove Test Fishery yielded a total of 1,828 chum, 48 Coho, and 21 Chinook in 6 sets. The South Sound chum runsize has been updated from the pre-season forecast of 408,000 to 550,000.

Please be aware that fisheries ending on Fridays close at 4 PM per RCW 77.50.010(1). Also for Areas 7 and 7A a Fish Friendly certification card within your immediate possession is required to participate.

For the period of October 28th – November 3rd all areas are currently closed except as follows:

Area 6D Dungeness Bay will be open to skiff gill nets using 5 – inch minimum mesh size from 7 AM to 7 PM daily, Monday October 29th through Wednesday, October 31st. All Chinook and chum salmon must be released by cutting the meshes ensnaring the fish.

Areas 7 and 7A San Juan Islands and Point Roberts are open for reef nets 5 AM to 9 PM daily, continuously through Saturday, November 17th. Chinook and sockeye must be released at all times.

Areas 7 and 7A San Juan Islands and Point Roberts are open daily for gill nets using 6 ¼ -inch minimum mesh from 12:00 Noon to Midnight through Saturday, November 17th.

Areas 7 and 7A San Juan Islands and Point Roberts are open daily for purse seines using the 5-inch strip from 7 AM to 3:15 PM for vessels without an operating recovery box and 7 AM to 6 PM for vessels with an operating recovery box through Saturday, November 17th.

• Brailing is required and all Chinook and coho must be released and if injured or lethargic, placed in the recovery box for release after they have recovered.

Area 7B Bellingham Bay is open continuously to gill nets using 6 ¼ -inch minimum mesh through 8 PM November 3rd, and to purse seines using the 5-inch strip continuously through 6 PM November 3rd.

• All gears must release Sockeye immediately.

Area 8A Port Susan and Port Gardner will be open to gill nets using 6 ¼ -inch minimum mesh from 8 AM to 8 PM on:

• Monday, October 29th
• Wednesday, October 31st
• Friday, November 2nd

Area 8A Port Susan and Port Gardner will be open to all purse seine vessels using the 5-inch strip from 7 AM to 6 PM Tuesday, October 30th, and Thursday, November 1st. Chinook must be released.

Area 8D Tulalip Bay will be open to gill nets using 6 ¼ -inch minimum mesh from 8 AM to 8 PM on:

• Thursday, November 1st
• Friday, November 2nd

Area 8D Tulalip Bay will be open to purse seines using the 5-inch strip from 7 AM to 6 PM on Wednesday, October 31st. Chinook must be released.

Area 9A Port Gamble Bay is open to gill nets and skiff gill nets limited to 600 feet in length and 60 meshes in depth using 5-inch minimum mesh size continuously until 8 PM Saturday, November 3rd. All Chinook must be released by cutting the meshes ensnaring the fish.

Areas 10 and 11 Seattle and Tacoma will be open to gill nets using 6 ¼ -inch minimum mesh during the following dates and times:

• 4 PM Sunday, October 28th to 7 AM Monday, October 29th.
• 4 PM Tuesday, October 30th to 7 AM Wednesday October 31st.
• 5 PM Wednesday, October 31st to 9 AM Thursday, November 1st.

Areas 10 and 11 Seattle and Tacoma will be open to purse seines using the 5-inch strip from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Monday, October 29th and Wednesday, October 31st. Chinook and coho must be released.

Areas 12 and 12B Hood Canal will be open to gill nets using 6 ¼ -inch minimum mesh from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on:

• Tuesday, October 30st
• Thursday, November 1st
• Friday, November 2nd

Areas 12 and 12B Hood Canal will be open to purse seines using the 5-inch strip from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Monday, October 29th and Wednesday, October 31st. Chinook must be released.

If you suspect an error in this message or have questions please contact Jeromy Jording at (360) 902-2717.