Free: Contests & Raffles.
They could just look at AK, sure they have some issues like anywhere else but they only let fish into boats after the run materializes and have absolutely no qualms about shutting recs or commercials down in a heartbeat.The Columbia was once the most prolific salmon river in the world and now we argue if we need barbless hooks and a 1 fish limit.WDFW/ODFW play a huge part as do the groups suing to keep hatcheries shut.
It really is a sad day when there aren't enough pinks to have a sport fishery. It has nothing to do with habitat or ocean conditions either, it's pure greed and over harvest. Not enough fish for a sport fishery, but there will be 15 seine boats in front of Mukilteo and Skagit Bay working them over I guarantee it. Let the damn things hit the gravel, why is that such a hard concept to handle?
The shear numbers of these fish that we had while other salmon runs declined and struggled is a key indicator that the primary reason for their success was lack of commercial interest. As soon as chum and pink roe became a commodity, their numbers were crushed in less than a decade. Coincidence? No.
There really does need to be a huge management shift in Olympia. Get away from this ridiculous and scientifically defunct practice of maximum sustained yield, and start monitoring our fisheries and only let commercials hit them once enough fish have past. A few seasons of putting the fish first and my guess is they come back with gusto.
Quote from: Stein on July 31, 2019, 09:41:45 AMThey could just look at AK, sure they have some issues like anywhere else but they only let fish into boats after the run materializes and have absolutely no qualms about shutting recs or commercials down in a heartbeat.The Columbia was once the most prolific salmon river in the world and now we argue if we need barbless hooks and a 1 fish limit.WDFW/ODFW play a huge part as do the groups suing to keep hatcheries shut.AK is has a ton of problems of its own. I don't think it's some shining example of how things ought to be done.
It really is a sad day when there aren't enough pinks to have a sport fishery. It has nothing to do with habitat or ocean conditions either, it's pure greed and over harvest. Not enough fish for a sport fishery, but there will be 15 seine boats in front of Mukilteo and Skagit Bay working them over I guarantee it. Let the damn things hit the gravel, why is that such a hard concept to handle?The writing was on the wall though when Chums suffered the same fate a decade or so ago. I can remember fishing from Ben Howard to Lewis Street and catching 50 chums a day no problem. Hardly see one roll in there in November anymore. The Skagit was even better, and you got the bonus Dolly and Rainbow fishing behind spawning chums up there. Easy to catch 100 trout a day fishing beads below chum redds. The Chums are gone now and with them went the trout and Dollies. When the Indians are struggling to catch enough Chums for their CHUM HATCHERY (something that should never have to exist), there's a problem. Hell last year they were catching more Atlantics in their nets in the lower Skagit than Chums! Makes me want to slam my head through a plate glass window. Chums and Pinks are two of the most prolific spawners in the salmon world. Literally just let a few make it to gravel and you'll have all you ever need. But letting anything spawn and decompose in the river is an enormous waste I guess. Rant over, carry on.
