HB 1229 Would Prioritize Recreational Fishing Over Commercial Fishing

[dreamunelk]

If you're really interested in seeing how this whole system works, go sit thru a North of Falcon fisheries get together.  I sat thru several and left every time with my head spinning.  Havent been in a long time now, but used to leave thinking that it was 3 days of arguing about who got to catch the last salmon.

 

[Tinmaniac]

Bigtex,if I rob a bank it's a federal crime if I get caught or not.If I keep ESA listed stocks,like unclipped kings in a area that does not allow retaining of these fish I am guilty of a federal crime.I do realize that common sence is not a requirement to do your job.Why is it impossible for you to see my point.If it is against the law to keep the fish and I keep them I have broken the law.Do you write tickets in crayon?

[RB]

Bigtex,if I rob a bank it's a federal crime if I get caught or not.If I keep ESA listed stocks,like unclipped kings in a area that does not allow retaining of these fish I am guilty of a federal crime.I do realize that common sence is not a requirement to do your job.Why is it impossible for you to see my point.If it is against the law to keep the fish and I keep them I have broken the law.Do you write tickets in crayon?

Yes and you will be prosecuted in the state and the feds won't touch it because they can't prove you knowingly knew it was an ESA fish because the area was open to fishing in the first place. When the down rigger goes off can anybody tell if it is a ESA fish? When the fish gets to the boat we all look for the "fin" and either bonk it or shake it loose easy peasy if not Stop Trolling then. 

[Tinmaniac]

Last time and I'm done.My original post stated that we as sport fishermen are punished with quotas and early closures due to encounters with ESA listed stocks,while others are allowed to kill the same fish that sportsmen are required to release unharmed.This is why there is a fish checker asking if you caught any shakers or released any wild fish.An area can be closed early even if the quota has not been reached due to these encounters with wild fish.ESA is federal law.A law that requires me to release ESA listed fish.If I keep those fish I have broken federal law.I follow the rules and bonk the clipped ones and release the ones with an extra fin.Wheather or not I am prosecuted federaly is irrelevant.The regs state clearly what fish I can keep and where I fish there is a sign at the launch telling fishermen the same thing.HB 1229 may increase my allowable encounters and that is good for sportsmen.Done

[jmscon]

So I guess this will be the end. Wdfw, the tribes and big companies like bass pro and cabelas will be stuffing their coffers from all of the fishing licenses, commercial harvest and tackle, boats etc. being sold. All the non tribal urchin and cucumber divers, salmon, crab, prawn, dogfish, halibut and cod commercial fisherman will get squeezed out and move on to another state or area to fish. The salmon and halibut quota allotted to the state will still get caught, still leaving depleted runs. The average sports fisherman will still spend $1,000 a year to go out and try to catch something.

I guess I'm in denial and don't want to see one of the industries that helped build the towns in puget sound, on the Columbia river and the coastal communities get pushed out of the way so that other people can have fun.

But don't worry folks, the tribes will be the only one you'll have to share your quota with.