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About 14,000 salmon are expected for this year’s run, which falls in line with historical trends, said Larry Phillips, district fish biologist for South Puget Sound.
Phillips expects more salmon to enter the area as temperatures drop and water levels rise in the lakes and river. The hatchery will continue to take in fish until about mid-October, so there’s still plenty of time to see the fish return through Budd Inlet.
“We’ll spawn what we need, and that would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 4.5 million eggs,” said Lee Pilon, hatchery specialist.
The eggs make several stops. The fish are reared and marked before being brought back to the Tumwater hatchery for a release in June.
As fish made their way through the fish ladder Thursday afternoon, several people stopped on the Fifth Avenue dam/bridge to catch a glimpse of the salmon and the lurking hungry harbor seals. When seals appeared to nab a salmon lunch, some onlookers couldn’t help but be jealous.
“Hey guys, can you save a couple for me?” one man shouted down to the seals.
Others saw the slow stream of salmon as good news for fishing.
“If they’re in here, they’re out there,” said Ken Yarnell, pointing out toward the Puget Sound where he fishes.
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476
nhulings@theolympian.com
www.theolympian.com/outsideoly
