Puget Sound Anglers – Gig Harbor & Tacoma

March 2025 message

Here it is, March already. Soon we will be able to get back on the water, in our local waters, doing what we enjoy the most.

We had an excellent turnout for the February meeting, celebrating the club’s 28th birthday. I would like to thank everyone for providing input on the questionnaire. Results will be shared at a future meetings.

Thank you to Todd Girtz of Extreme Fishing for providing a very informative presentation on halibut fishing. Todd shared some excellent tips, rigs, and setups for halibut and ling cod fishing. It is easy to see why he is highly regarded as a top halibut and ling cod angler and guide.

The presenters for March are Jeff Norwood and Dave Bergeron, and the topic is Columbia River Springer Fishing. They will be discussing, and sharing, their secrets on how to have success while fishing for springers on the Columbia River. A very timely presentation, as springer fishing comes into full swing in March. I will be taking lots of notes.

For the first time in many years, this month we will also have a pre-meeting tech tips open forum discussion. This is a great opportunity to share, and learn, on various topics from your fellow club members. This club has many outstanding and experienced anglers, many of whom are willing to help make us all better anglers. The presenter this month is Bill Macaras, and the topic will be hoochie rigging, tips and tricks. These sessions will begin at 6:30 for anyone interested in attending. This is a great opportunity to share, and learn.

Area 11 Blackmouth fishing is scheduled to open on Wednesday, April 2nd this year, and is open on Wednesdays through Saturdays until quotas are met. Thus, the club members only annual Dick Smyth fishing outing will be held on April 5th, from daylight to the weigh-in at 11:30 am. The cost is $10 per person and you must be a paid member to participate. Sign up before April 2nd. Contact Bill Macaras if you plan to participate. More details will be available at the March meeting

On March 8th, 9:00 am, club members will be pressure washing nets and scraping pontoons, getting them ready for the salmon pens. We will meet at the Point Defiance marina. Make sure to bring rain gear and boots, as it can get a bit wet.

The annual clam and spaghetti dinner is scheduled for April 9th, 6:00 pm. Remember to sign up for the dinner, and specify the number clam dinners. We have reduced the price of the dinner to $20.00. You must sign up ahead of time, either at the March club meeting, or online, by March 31st. The dinner will be held at the VFW hall, 4741 N Baltimore St, Tacoma, WA.

Remember, while we are at our March 12th meeting, the wives are having the first ever quarterly get together at Ben Dew’s Clubhouse restaurant, 6501 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA. This is an excellent opportunity for the wives to meet, socialize, and have fun. A special thank you to our events assistant, Alicia Sanchez, for proposing and coordinating this activity.

Mark your calendars: the board meeting is March 4th, 6 pm at Ben Dew’s Clubhouse, 6501 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA, and the general meeting on March 12th at 7 pm at Tower Lanes, 6323 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA. Everyone is welcome.

Thank you,

Bill Macaras

President, 2025

This is a busy time of the year for us. We have begun working on a number of short, and long term, projects and activities for the club. More information will be presented at the February club meeting and on our web page.

This month’s speaker will be Todd Girtz from Todd’s Extreme Fishing. Todd is known for his bottom fishing adventures and unparalleled success, and will have an engaging presentation on halibut fishing.

The annual Puyallup Sportsman Show is January 30th to February 2nd, and the Seattle Boat show begins on February 2nd. The Puget Sound Anglers will have a booth at both shows, and our club will be manning the Sportsman Show booth on Saturday, February 1st. If you make it to the show, make sure you stop by and say hi. We will also be manning a booth at the Seattle Boat Show on February 8th.

Reminder, annual dues is due by February 1st. If you have not yet renewed your dues, please do so at the next meeting. You must be an up-to-date registered member to be eligible for the membership drawing.

We have begun the process of planning for our annual August salmon derby. Please remember, that we depend on volunteers to make this club, and events such as this, to run smoothly. We will need your help to ensure this event is a success.

Our board meetings are held at Ben Dew’s Clubhouse on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. The address is 6501 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA. All club members are invited, and encouraged to attend this meeting.

This month’s general meeting will be held on the second Wednesday of the month, February 12th, at 7 pm at Tower Lanes, located at 6323 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA.

Thank you,

Bill Macaras, 2025 president

President’s Message for January 2025

Welcome to the New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone. I, and the other officers, hope everyone had a great holiday with family and friends. I would like to thank the past officers (Chris, Donald, Derek, Larry, and Ron) for the great job they did this past year. They will be a hard act to follow. Also, a big thanks goes to everyone involved with the planning and execution of the annual Christmas party. It was a fun and enjoyable evening for all who attended.

Your new officers for 2025 are: Vice President: Patrick S., Secretary: Larry B., Treasurer: Ethan K., Membership: Marty R., and Raffle: Ron. On behalf of the new officers, I would like to thank the members of the club with entrusting us with running the club for the upcoming new year. Planning has already begun for meeting speakers and the many events this club participates in during the year. Soon, more information will be available on the Web page and at the meetings. In January, we will have a representative from Fish Northwest speak at our meeting.

Our monthly board meetings are held at Ben Dew’s Clubhouse on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. The address is 6501 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA. All club members are welcome to attend and participate in board meetings. Our general meetings are held at Tower Lanes on the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. The address is 6323 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA.

Remember, dues for 2025 are due by January 31st.

Thank you,
Bill Macaras, 2025 President

President’s Message for October

Welcome to October! This year is flying by quickly.

We had a great outing in Area 11 on September 7th. We were joined by 25 club members for a fishing trip. Donald Auman caught the biggest fish, a coho weighing 8.38 pounds. Thanks to everyone who joined us.

We are actively seeking dedicated volunteers to take on officer roles for the coming year. If you’re interested, please reach out for more information.

Our Christmas party is scheduled for December 6th at the VFW on 4741 N Baltimore St, Tacoma, WA. We could really use some help with the party, so please get in touch if you want to get involved.

Mark your calendars: the board meeting on October 1st at 6 pm at Ben Dew’s Clubhouse, 6501 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA, and the general meeting on October 9th at 7 pm at Tower Lanes, 6323 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA. Everyone is welcome.

Wishing you all a fantastic month

Chris Tremblay

GHPSA President 2024

Hello everyone! Get ready for our 28th annual derby on August 3rd. This year, fishing will take place in marine areas 11 and 13, with some amazing prizes up for grabs. The 1st place winner will receive $3000, 2nd place gets $2000, and 3rd place gets $1000. Participants placed 4th to 10th will have the option to choose from a selection of high-quality merchandise prizes. Tickets are priced at $40, and all paid tickets are eligible for raffle prizes. You can buy as many tickets as you like. Additionally, tickets for youth aged 14 and under are free. Youth prizes include $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd place, and $50 for 3rd place. To be eligible for general derby prizes, youth participants must have a paid $40 ticket. We also have a special prize for a Gig Harbor PSA member who catches the biggest fish, available exclusively to paid members. If you’re not a member or need to renew your membership, make sure to do so before August 3rd to be eligible for the club prize. Tickets can be purchased in person at various locations or online at www.gigharborpsa.org.

We have a couple of upcoming events: the board meeting on August 6th at 6 pm at Ben Dew’s Clubhouse, 6501 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA, and the general meeting on August 14th at 7 pm at Tower Lanes, 6323 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA. Both events are open to all, so we encourage everyone to attend and get involved.

A big thank you to all our derby sponsors! Make sure to express your gratitude if you meet any of them. Their support is invaluable, and the derby’s success depends on it. Special thanks also go to all the dedicated volunteers who play a crucial role in making the derby a success. It’s through everyone’s effort that we’re able to pull off this fantastic event for our club.

Have a great Month!

Chris Tremblay

Gig Harbor PSA President