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 was encouraged by what he saw on the first day of September when a handful of fish were caught in the early morning.

“It’s a very good sign,” he said. “Yesterday, there were seven or eight caught in the morning.

“It sounds like it’s kind of been an off season.”

It was heading that way for Talicurn until Monday.

He said he caught nothing in August.

Talicurn said he likes to cast his green Buzz Bomb with a pink tail when the current is moving and especially when he sees a fish jump.

“That’s when you have a chance,” he said.

Fish or no fish, it was a beautiful morning to be standing near the water on Labor Day.

“A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of working,” Cecil Fifer said.