I got an e-mail, about a week ago, authored by an ocean salmon troller suggesting that some commercial fishermen chose not to fish a chinook salmon opener off the northern Washington coast last week because the coho salmon were so thick. Allegedly, they could not get their gear through them to fish for chinook. Hate it when that happens.

As many readers of this column know, the ocean off the Washington coast is now open to salmon fishing. Swarms of coho salmon, from Neah Bay to the mouth of the Columbia River are manifesting the prediction for a banner year. Charter boats out of Westport, like hounds on a fox hunt, are running to the salmon grounds on a Sunday through Thursday schedule whacking and stacking these hatchery produced coho salmon bound for the Columbia River. Remember, that’s the assignment of hatchery produced salmon: go get whacked.

I can’t help but remember only 12 years ago, when the legislature ordered the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to begin adipose fin-clipping coho salmon followed by chinook salmon in 1998. The chickens have come home to roost as this particular ocean fishery has come full circle, harvesting hatchery salmon and requiring release of wild salmon. Yes, there is a fish god.

July is a month that many anglers wait for… so many fish, so little time. As you read this column, I am drowning a plug-cut herring off the northwest corner of Prince of Wales Island, in search of 50-pound class king salmon. Tomorrow, I touch down at SeaTac, ready to join the fleet at Westport as the big dance is on.

Salmon fishing is in my blood, from the first time my dad took me out on a charter fishing boat out of Westport, as a 6-year old boy in 1953. Yep, that was a few moons ago. I didn’t know the front from the back of a herring back then, but I certainly learned. Today, sport salmon fishing is big business in Washington. I said business, not just a sport. The estimated value of Washington’s sport fishing business is somewhere over two billion dollars today, a very respectable contributor to our state’s economy and revenue source to help run state government. Ironically, and historically, the legislature has not recognized the sport fishing industry as a business or a significant generator of state dollars. While the industry continues to grow, along with our state population, people continue to come to Washington to enjoy our environment and natural resources. Statistically, one out of every nine Washington residents owns a fishing license.

Yes, we are in a recession. No, the sport fishing industry will not be closing its doors. Yes, some businesses related to boating, sporting goods and fishing tackle have gone away. No, anglers will not stay home to miss many of the salmon seasons opening today and this month. I believe people will continue to live their passion, fishing the salt and freshwater regions of our state even in these times. That includes this dude.

July, 2009, is the time to fish for king salmon in the ocean, along with this year’s bumper crop of coho salmon. July is the time to trailer a fishing boat up to the Strait of Juan de Fuca to legendary fishing communities like Sekiu, Pillar Point, Freshwater Bay and Ediz Hook at Port Angeles. July is the time to turn a fast spinning bait at a slow speed for king salmon in the San Juan Islands. I am beginning to tremble.

And mid-July is the time to enjoy the new hatchery-produced-only king salmon run from Port Townsend to the northern tip of Vashon Island, beginning Thursday, July 16. The main event, baby, mid-July in central Puget Sound for king salmon. Close to home, seven days a week through the end of August. I’ll sleep sometime this winter.

I like the new Elliott Bay Salmon Derby, out of beautiful Elliott Bay Marina, on July 18. Every angler who fishes in Puget Sound, for hatchery chinook salmon should participate in this event. Congressman Norm Dicks will fish this derby and I can’t think of a better way to thank the man who paved the way for this fishery. Proceeds from the event will go to the North Seattle Boys and Girls Club and Fish Northwest. Fish Northwest is an organization working in the trenches of Olympia, attempting to put a business face on the sport fishing industry. Fish Northwest, along with Congressman Dicks are key reasons why so many of these new fishing opportunities have unfolded for anglers this year. Thanks, Norm, and thanks to Fish Northwest. If you are interested in Fish Northwest and its purpose, visit the website at FishNorthwest.org. You’ll also find the home office address on the website, if you are interested in helping the cause by making a donation to keep this organization alive, which clearly benefits all of our salmon and shellfish fishing addictions.

So, show time it is. Time to stop talking about fishing and time to GO fishing. Make room for me, as my 24 Osprey is laying down the saltwater foam, delivering me to the summer fishing grounds. Good luck, go fishing and I’ll see you on the water. Yes, it’s show time baby!