South Puget Sound area fishing report for Aug. 30

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has resumed the sale of fishing and hunting licenses following its investigation of vulnerabilities in a license vendor’s sales system. Also, all anglers who qualify must have a license beginning Wednesday.

The vulnerability exposed personal information for customers in several states, according to a statement released by the agency. The state allowed license-free fishing through Tuesday as it conducted the investigation.

SALT WATER

South Sound: The Point Defiance Boathouse Marina staff reports salmon fishing is best in areas such as the Nisqually Delta, Devil’s Head, Point Fosdick and Chambers Bay. Trolling with flasher and spoon or hoochie is recommended. This area south of the Narrows bridges, Marine Area 13, closes Thursday. Marine Area 11 (Tacoma and Vashon Island) is closed to salmon fishing but some anglers are catching flounder.

Ilwaco: Saturday was the final day for salmon fishing in this area. Marine Area 1 closed early because state officials estimated meeting the coho quota of 18,900.

Westport: Tuna fishing picked up last week, according to the Westport Charter Boat Association. It’s a 60-mile trip to reach the fish, however. Rockfish are biting, though ling cod seem uninterested — action is expected to improve according to the association’s report. The area is closed to salmon fishing.

LAKES

American: David Anderson of Bill’s Boathouse said fishing is slow in general, but perch fishing is pretty good for anglers in boats. Trout fishing off the dock might a yield a limit on a good day if you’re willing to put in the time. Green Power Bait is recommended.

Mayfield: Tacoma Power recently deposited 4,000 rainbow trout and plans to soon add another 4,000.

Mineral: Last week anglers were catching trout by trolling with Wedding Rings and still fishing with Power Eggs.

Offut: Trout, perch and bass have been biting on worms.

Scanewa: Not much success reported here, but starting Thursday, anglers can keep up to 10 hatchery rainbows.

Spanaway: Bud Herlitzka of the Spanaway Lake Boathouse says still fishing is a good method for catching rainbow trout. He suggests using worm and marshmallows. Trolling has been unproductive. Rock bass and perch are being caught from the shoreline.

Ward: Anglers have caught trout and kokanee here, according to northwestfishingreports.com.

RIVERS

Cispus: Last week, Tacoma Power released 44 chinook upstream from Yellow Jacket Creek.

Columbia: Catch rates improved between Longview and Vancouver but dropped off at Tongue Point, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The agency survey of anglers Aug. 15-21 showed that in 13,300 trips the fisherman caught 1,340 adult chinook and 331 summer steelhead.

Cowlitz: Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 213 spring chinook adults, 26 jacks, 11 mini-jacks, 87 fall chinook adults, seven jacks, one coho adult, 349 summer-run steelhead adults and five cutthroat trout at the hatchery separator. The agency released 159 spring chinook adults and 22 spring chinook jacks at Packwood’s Franklin Bridge.

Nisqually: Slow.

Samish: Good fishing, but expect crowds, according to tedssportscenter.com.

Tilton: Tacoma Power released 84 fall chinook adults, seven jacks, a coho adult, a coho jack and a cutthroat trout at Morton’s Gust Backstrom Park.

This story was originally published August 30, 2016 at 12:21 PM with the headline "South Puget Sound area fishing report for Aug. 30."