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Sports Preview Page 6 Thursday, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
VOL. 20, NO. 4
Silver lining for anglers Festival nets $105K in revenue By Megan Hansen Co-Editor
This year the Coupeville Festival Association netted more than $105,000 in gross revenue, more than any previous year. “For the size of our organization and what we bring in, I think it’s remarkable,” said festival president Mike Dessert. The increase in revenue, Dessert said, may be due to a few things, including the recent upturn in the economy. Vendor booth sales increase more than $10,000 from $291,000 to $307,000. “I think, with the economy, this is phenomenal,” Dessert said. “People were spending more money. We sell things you don’t have to have. We’re basically targeting disposable income.” One of the reasons Dessert suggested people might have spent more money is the type of items offered. “We are working very hard to maintain the quality and variety of our vendors,” he said. “That’s a priority for us.” With more than 250 volunteers, the as-
See REVENUE, page 3
COER seeks delay on OLF operations By Janis Reid Staff Reporter
Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve are asking the Navy to delay touch-and-go operations at Outlying Field Coupeville until the completion of the ongoing Environmental Impact Statement. The request comes via press release in response to the Navy’s decision to delay the activation of a new Growler squadron until the EIS is complete. The request was sent via news release to state and federal lawmakers, as well as the Navy’s top brass, according to COER President Michael Monson. The Navy postponed the “stand-up” of an expeditionary electronic attack squadron, VAQ-143, in early August, saying it
See OLF, page 3
Ron Newberry phot
Joel Talicurn starts off the month of September Monday by catching his second coho salmon of the morning from the beach at Keystone in Coupeville. September is expected to be an excellent month for coho fishing in Admiralty Inlet.
Early signs show coho should pick up By Ron Newberry Staff Reporter
A new month gave reason for new hope for Joel Talicurn. In less than three hours Monday, he beached two coho salmon on the shores of Keystone spit in Coupeville. This came after many long days of no nibbles. “Lucky day,” he said. Talicurn was one of about three dozen anglers casting from the beach at Driftwood Park on Labor Day morning. By 9:30 a.m., at least six fish had been caught, marking the second morning in a row of heightened activity during this portion of shoreline at Admiralty Inlet. In even-numbered years, coho salmon, or silvers, represent the best opportunity for shore fishers to catch a salmon off Whidbey Island. The fishery typically heats up in September and continues through October.
The prime place to fish for coho is on the west side of the island in Marine Area 9, from Admiralty Inlet to Possession Point. Coho fishing is expected to be excellent in September, according to projections from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. If Sept. 1 was any indication at Driftwood Park, signs were pointing in that direction. Anglers may retain two coho per day but must release any chinook caught. “There’s been a lot more jumping out here. I just haven’t been able to catch them,” said Robert Grabiak, from Atlanta, Ga., who’s stationed at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. Mike Crowell of Coupeville landed a coho
Sunday but said so far the season has been lousy. Crowell said he likes to arrive on the shore at Keystone a couple hours before high tide and toss out a Buzz Bomb, the popular lure choice for most anglers. Anglers must replace the treble hooks or any other barbed hook with a single barbless hook. “I got a nice hit last night and lost it,” said Anthony Johnson of Coupeville. Johnson said he fished nearly every day in August and wasn’t able to reel in a salmon but
See FISHING, page 3