Puget Sound Anglers – Gig Harbor & Tacoma

GIG HARBOR PUGET SOUND ANGLERS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE   January 2023

Our next scheduled meeting will be on Wednesday, 11 January 2023 at Tower Lanes located at 6323 6^th Ave., Tacoma, telephone 253-564-8853. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM but feel free to come early and swap fish stories or grab something to eat from the grill.

With the early closure of the winter Chinook fishery in MA 11 and no General Meeting in December this report is all about our Christmas party held 2 December at the Masonic hall in SW Tacoma.  I feel it safe to write that everyone had a great time to include kids and Jerry H. posing with Santa.  My thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Zuniga for their work in obtaining a large selection of gifts for kids and ladies plus set up and also for the kitchen crew consisting of Steve Ng, Dave Bergeron, Mark Abetz and Jacob Abetz.  Not to be forgotten is the great job done by Santa and young Daniel who helped me with reading winning ticket numbers and all of the folks who cooked turkey and ham and/or brought a side dish to share!

Each year we recognize Chapter members who volunteer for Chapter activities with a drawing and award of a nice prize during the Christmas party.  Each activity’s participants are included so the more a member participates the greater the opportunity to win the prize.  This year’s winner was Pete Pitman.  My thanks to all of the members who contribute their time and energy to make our activities successful.    

Our Lucky Fish competition was open to Chapter members who could submit one application for each of the following five species:  Chinook, Coho, steelhead, trout and halibut.  The 2022 winner of the Lucky Fish award was Scott Douglas.

Finally, my thanks for a great 2022!!!

GIG HARBOR PUGET SOUND ANGLERS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE   December 2022

Our next scheduled meeting will tentatively be on Wednesday, 11 January 2023 at Tower Lanes located at 6323 6^th Ave., Tacoma, telephone 253-564-8853. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM but feel free to come early and swap fish stories or grab something to eat from the grill. 

Please note that there will NOT be a General Meeting in December insofar as we will be having a seasonal party on 2 December.  Hopefully everyone has been informed and if interested have notified Jeff Zuniga.  I expect lots of good food and friendship as well as awarding of the Lucky Fish award and the Volunteer’s award to one of the chapter volunteers who have helped make our events activities very successful.

The November meeting was well attended but no winner of the membership drawing sponsored by John Hager’s Southworth Marine of Port Orchard.  The drawing was won last month so was worth $150 this month.  Fred Barnes’ number 220 was drawn but Fred was not in attendance.  The next membership drawing will be in January 2023 and will be worth $260.  Again, thank you Southworth Marine for your continued support.

Our speaker for November was a tag team consisting of Kathy Karnino and Hal Boyton from the Auburn Save our Salmon chapter.  Kathy and Hal gave us a Power Point presentation on do-it-yourself (self-guided) fishing out of Sitka primarily targeting Coho.  In addition to the usual where to fish and what to use information they gave some great recommendations on boat rental and accommodations.  Personally I like Sitka and doing a self-guided trip stretches out the money meaning maybe a few additional days enjoy the fishing, scenery and uniqueness of Sitka.

Our speaker for January is a mystery – to both the speaker and myself.  As I have previously mentioned locating speakers is an ongoing challenge so if you would like to make a presentation or know someone who might be available please let me know. We will be having elections at the January meeting so please attend and if interested in serving the Chapter be sure to get yourself nominated.

When:  Friday, December 2^nd, 2022.  Social hour at 5:30PM – Dinner served at 6:30PM

Where:  Scottish Rite in Tacoma – 817 South Vassault Street

What to expect:  Last PSA gathering of 2022 so come join us for food, fun and festivities.  Largest raffle drawing of the year, special ladies raffle (need to rsvp so we know how many ladies raffle prizes to purchase), award for “Volunteer of the Year” and a visit from Santa.

What to bring (Last Name Begins with):

A – I = Side Dish

J – R = Salad

S – Z = Desert

Bring a new fishing lure for the “Oh Fishing Tree”

Please RSVP to jeff@zuniga-family.com or call 253-255-8168 (if no answer, please leave a message with the requested information). We need to know your name, the total number in your party, including the number of adult females so we know how to prepare for the “Ladies Raffle.”   

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

GIG HARBOR PUGET SOUND ANGLERS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE   November 2022

Our next scheduled meeting will be on Wednesday, November 9 at Tower Lanes located at 6323 6^th Ave., Tacoma, telephone 253-564-8853. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM but feel free to come early and swap fish stories or grab something to eat from the grill. 

Our October meeting was well attended and we had a winner of the membership drawing sponsored by John Hager’s Southworth Marine of Port Orchard.  The drawing was not won last month so was worth $370 this month.  Tom Sullivan’s name was drawn and Tom was present.  Next month’s drawing will be worth $150.  Again, thank you Southworth Marine for your continued support.

Our speaker for October was chapter member Gabe Miller.  Gabe is the buyer at Sportco and is also very involved in local fisheries issues as an advisor on two of WDFW’s advisory groups; the Puget Sound Sport Fishing Advisory Group and the Puget Sound Recreational Fisheries Enhancement Fund Oversight Committee.  Gabe did a great job in explaining the functions of those two advisory groups.  I must make a special thank you for the efforts of those groups on our behalf to include having seasons extend to allow for our Derby to be able to fish MA 11.  Thanks Gabe and also Chapter member and WDFW advisor Art Tachell.

Our speakers for November will be Kathy Kornino and Hal Boyton of the PSA Save our Salmon chapter.  Kathy and Hal will be discussing their recreational fishing experiences in Sitka.  As I understand they regularly do self-guided trips with an emphasis on big Coho.  This should be a bit different presentation and I look forward to their insights and recommendations.

We will not be having a meeting in December due to our having a Holiday party on Friday, 2 December, at the Scottish Rite facility in Tacoma.  Jeff Zuniga is doing the planning so be sure to get on the list and consider offering to prepare one of the entrees (turkey or ham) the cost of which will be reimburseable.

Details are currently being worked out for another Fall nutrient enhancement project where salmon carcasses are transported to the upper Puyallup watershed and returned to the river.

Finally, chapter elections for 2023 will be occurring.  Time to step up!

GIG HARBOR PUGET SOUND ANGLERS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE   September 2022

Our next scheduled meeting will be on Wednesday, September 14 at Tower Lanes located at 6323 6^th Ave., Tacoma, telephone 253-564-8853. The meeting will start at 7:00 PM but feel free to come early and swap fish stories or grab something to eat from the grill.  Obtaining speakers is still a challenge.  Hopefully we will be able to schedule someone of interest to the group for the September meeting.  Volunteers?  Suggestions?? 

Our August meeting was a full house with one new member who became eligible for the membership drawing sponsored by John Hager’s Southworth Marine of Port Orchard.  The drawing was won last month so we were starting over at $150.  Rick Schubert’s name was drawn but he was not present.  Next month’s drawing will be worth $260.  Again, thank you Southworth Marine.

Our speaker for August was member Art Tachell who put forth a great tutorial for those planning on fishing our Derby.  Art covered the usual locations, gear and tactics and interjected up to date information gleaned from his presence at Pt. Defiance Marina.  

The big news is that the Gig Harbor Chapter’s 26^th annual salmon derby is now history.  Just enough of the quota was left for Saturday’s event.  Fishing was really good in early July and the short closure in late July helped stretch out the season.  It may well be that Saturday was our last day for Chinook in MA 11 this year.  Top prize was won by Dalin Kors with a fish weighing in at 18.09 pounds followed closely by Conner Fregeau at 17.65# and Steve Ulsberger at 16.18#.  This event wouldn’t have been the success it was without ticket purchasers, our volunteers and the many very generous donors.  I wish I could name them all but column space is at a premium.  On a side note I encourage everyone who took a membership form to join our organization.

We will be having a members’ only picnic on Sunday, 11 September.  We are providing burgers, hot dogs, chips and water/soft drinks.  Bring your own adult beverages.  This is being hosted by member Patrick Sanchez in Gig Harbor.  If you haven’t signed up and want to attend contact Patrick or one of the current officers for details.

Details are currently being worked out for another Fall nutrient enhancement project where salmon carcasses are transported to the upper Puyallup watershed and returned to the river.

Finally……..COHO!!  And be sure to check out the two upcoming Coho derbies; Sno-King Chapter (10 Sept) and the Everett Steelhead & Salmon Club chapter (24 & 25 Sept).