WESTPORT, Wash. -- The salmon charter boat captains are gearing up for the start of the salmon season on the Washington coast. It's a season that was almost canceled.

The folks at Westport believe the high gas prices will actually help them.

"Come fishing," said charter boat captain Rick Schmidt. "We've got a salmon season and it should be pretty good."

But gone are the glory days of past seasons when it seemed like the ocean was just brimming with salmon. Now a change in the environment has drastically cut into the salmon supply this season.

Fishing along the Oregon and California coasts has been canceled and fishing along the Washington coast has some strict limits.

Starting Sunday and running through June 28 the limit is one Chinook salmon per person per day. At Westport you can fish Sunday through Thursday. It is 7 days a week out of Ilwaco. At La Push and Neah Bay the season starts June 3.

Adding to their challenges is the high price of fuel for the fishing boats and for the people driving to get here.

"It's definitely hurting the guys and I think it probably affects our bookings because it cost somebody quite a bit just to drive down here," said Larry Giese of Deep Sea Charters.

But other folks say high cost of gas will actually help as people decide to stay in state rather than traveling to Oregon, California and Idaho.

"With the economy the way it is right now, people are staying closer to home and we're feeling it in Westport," said Joshua Wood with the Islander Motel & Coho Charters.

"I mean when you look at how many miles it is from Seattle, it's not that bad to come over here," said Marguerite Payne, Westport visitor.

So a lot of things are working against the charter boat captains with the high cost of fuel for boats and for people getting here and the limit on the number of salmon you can catch. But overall, they say it's going to be a good season.

"Fish on, yeah," said Schmidt.

On June 29 the limit goes up to two fish per person per day, including one Chinook.

More information:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife