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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 3 B Crab harvesting reopens along portions of Oregon coast The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the reopening of recreational and commercial bay crabbing from the north jetty of the Coquille River to the north jetty of Coos Bay on Wednesday. The reopening includes crab harvested in bays and estuar- ies, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties. Crab samples taken from the area indicate levels of domoic acid have dropped and remain below the alert level. The recreational crabbing season in the ocean closed coast-wide on Oct. 16. Crab harvesting remains closed from the California Fishing border to the north jetty of the Coquille River (including the Coquille estuary), and from Tahkenitch Creek (north of Winchester Bay) to Cape Foulweather (north of Newport). Crabbing north of Cape Foulweather to the Columbia River remains open in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jetties. Wednesday’s test results and health advisory come at a complicated time of year for Oregon’s crab fisheries. By rule, Dec. 1 is Oregon’s earli- est annual start for ocean crab- bing, for both commercial and recreational fisheries. However, this year, due to low crab meat yield and ele- from 1B renowned for its crappie and trophy bass fisheries, and the site of bass tournaments. Anglers should also try one of the many smaller lakes scat- tered along Highway 101 and throughout the coastal dunes area, or Triangle Lake closer to the Willamette Valley. The warmwater fish available in the south coast area include: Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bullheads, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, green sunfish, warmouth and channel cat- fish. North and South Tenmile Lake pro- vide some of the finest warmwater fishing on the Oregon coast. Located on the east side of Hwy 101 mid-way between Reedsport and Coos Bay, the combined lakes offer nearly 2,000 acres of water and miles of shoreline to fish for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and brown bullhead catfish. Much of the property around Tenmile is privately-owned and the lakes are best fished by boat, but a fishing dock at Tenmile Lake County Park in the small community of Lakeside is wheelchair accessible and a great spot for kids. There also is a campground and boat launch at the County Park. Spinreel Campground (US Forest Service) on the west side of Hwy 101 offers camping for those wanting an extended stay. Several area resorts and marinas also provide camping spaces, lodging and boat rentals. health advisory; opens after Dec. 1 in ocean areas where biotoxins are below the alert level. • Commercial ocean crab- bing – Delayed in all areas until at least Dec. 16. • Commercial bay crabbing – Commercial bay crabbing is re-opened in Coos Bay on Monday, Nov. 27; commercial bay crabbing remains closed from the California border to the north jetty of the Coquille River (including the Coquille estuary), and from Tahkenitch Creek to Cape Foulweather. Commercial bay crabbing remains open at this time in bays and estuaries, and on beaches, docks, piers, and jet- ties within the areas that are vated levels of biotoxins in some areas, much of Oregon’s ocean area remains closed to crabbing after Dec. 1. Additional testing for meat yield and biotoxin levels will continue at least through the end of December. For both recreational and commercial crab fishermen, below is a simple guide for what is currently open and closed. Before you go crabbing, please confirm the status of ODFW/ODA harvest areas relative to concerns about ele- vated biotoxins at the website below. • Recreational crabbing – Currently open in all bays and estuaries that are not under the The shoreline of North and South Tenmile is varied as a number of streams flow from the coastal foothills and into the lakes creating several large arms and many smaller bays and inlets dotted with pilings, docks and boat houses. Both lakes are shallow with an average depth of about 15 feet and abundant aquatic weeds, willows and bank vegetation that provide excellent cover and pro- ductive habitat for warmwater fish. Fish generally range from 1 to 4- pounds, but a 6-pound bass is not uncommon. Bass fishing is best dur- ing periods of warmer water from spring through early fall. When spring water temperatures reach about 60 degrees F, the bass move into shallower water to spawn. During the spawn, lures and jigs that imitate prey such as small fish and crayfish, and soft plastic worms work well. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and other surface lures are also effective. Anglers should target areas around willows, docks, logs or vegetation that provide a combination of cover and patches of open water. Good locations include the Black’s Creek arm and railroad trestle crossing on North Lake, and the Coleman and Templeton arms of South Lake. • Crappie Anglers catch crappie in both lakes with good fishing in the spring and throughout the summer. Best fishing is in the calm water along the shore- line, in the many small coves and inlets. Crappie anglers should target shaded areas with wood structure including submerged brush and trees, downed logs and docks. The fish are often found in schools at depths of 10-15 feet. A good set-up is light spinning tackle with 4-pound test line and a light-colored 1/32 ounce jig. Have an assortment of gar- land-style and curly tail jigs in a vari- ety of bright, neutral and dark colors and sizes. Use a tapered panfish bobber and change the depth of the jig until you find fish. Allow the jig to sink then retrieve slowly. Fishing is best early and late in the day, but a mid-day breeze can also trigger a bite. Crappie abundance can go through cycles every few years so check with ODFW for the latest information. • Yellow perch For yellow perch, you can fish the same areas of the lakes and use a similar set-up as for crappie, but try baiting the jig with a piece of worm. A size-8 hook baited with worm and rigged 1-2 feet above a sinker fished on the bottom will also work. Perch will most often be found in deeper water than crappie. Like crappie, perch fishing is best from spring through fall, but they can be caught year-round, even during winter. • Bluegill Bluegill fishing is best as the water warms during the summer. Bluegill will be found in shallow areas with less woody structure, but more vege- tation. During the late summer and early fall they can be caught in the canal between North and South Tenmile. As with crappie, light spinning gear works well, but smaller jigs and hooks are needed. A small hook bait- ed with a piece of worm or other pan- fish bait and suspended 10-18 inches below a bobber can be extremely effective. Bluegill are aggressive biters, but if you give them too much time they will steal the bait off your hook -- pay close attention to your bobber. They will feed throughout the day and are a great target for young and beginning anglers. • Brown bullhead Spinning tackle also works well for the brown bullhead catfish, which are abundant and can reach up to 13- inches long. Worms or baits with a strong odor are effective, particularly when fished near the shore in the evening or at night. Use 6-8 pound test line and a slid- ing egg sinker placed above a barrel swivel. Below the swivel, tie your hook to the end of an 18-inch leader. The sliding sinker allows the fish to take the bait without feeling the weight of the sinker. If you’re fishing in an area with weeds, a float can be used instead of a sinker to suspend the bait above the weeds. C LAMMING AND C RABBING • Dungeness crab: Daily limit of 12 (males only). Minimum size of 5 and 3/4 inches. Correct size is meas- ured as a straight line across the back (caliper measurement) in front of, but not including the points. Ocean waters are closed for Dungeness Crab Oct. 16 – Nov. 30. not under the health advisory. • All commercial bay crab- bing will be closed as of Dec. 1 along with the delayed sea- son for the commercial ocean fishery, according to existing ODFW rules. This year, the commercial ocean fishery is delayed from Dec. 1 until at least Dec. 16. Despite the closure, crab and shellfish products sold in retail markets and restaurants remain safe for consumers. For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety infor- mation hotline at 800-448- 2474 or visit the ODA shell- fish closures web page at: www. oregon.gov/ODA/pro- grams/FoodSafety/Shellfish/P ages/ShellfishClosures.aspx. May be taken using crab rings, baited lines, or pots (limited to 3 rings/lines/pots total, per person); by hand, dip net, or rake. Holding pots or devices, or live boxes are only allowed in bays and estuaries, and may not hold more than two daily limits. • Red rock crab Daily limit of 24 of any size or sex. May be taken using crab rings, baited lines, or pots (limited to 3 rings/lines/pots total, per person); by hand, dip net, or rake. Holding pots or devices, or live boxes are only allowed in bays and estuaries, and may not hold more than two daily limits. For the serious crabber, Dungeness and red rock crabs can be found in the open waters of the marine zone. Bays, beaches, estuaries, tide pools, piers and jetties are open for crabbing all year, 24 hours per day. • Razor clams Daily limit of first 15 dug (no sort- ing or releasing). Razor clams may be taken by hand, shovel, clam gun or tube with opening, no less than 4” (cylindrical) or 4” X 3” (elliptical). Razor clams are closed July 15 to Sept. 30 north of Tillamook Head (Clatsop County). • Bay clams (Butter, littleneck, gaper and cockle): Daily limit of 20 in aggregate, only 12 may be gapers. May be taken by hand or hand-pow- ered tools. • Purple varnish clams: Daily limit of 72. Other Clams (softshell, piddocks and others not listed) Daily limit of 36 in aggregate. PORT HOLE PUBLISHING 179 Laurel Street, Suite D FLORENCE LET US PUBLISH YOUR BOOK PORT HOLE BOOKS 77567 Hwy. 101 • GARDINER NEW-USED-RARE! WE HAVE IT ALL! 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