Washington bass, walleye fishing limits liberalized in response to orca crisis

[Ridgeratt]

Washington bass, walleye fishing limits liberalized in response to orca crisis

Washington bass, walleye fishing limits liberalized in response to orca crisis
UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 18, 2019
 
Limits on bass and walleye fishing - alongside other warm water species - were liberalized by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, S

By Eli Francovich
elif@spokesman.com
(509) 459-5508
Limits on bass and walleye fishing – alongside other warmwater species – were liberalized by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission on Saturday.
The new rules, which will go into effect mid-February, remove size limits and daily limits on rivers and streams throughout the state. The rules also double the daily limits for most species on 77 lakes throughout Washington, said Steve Caromile, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s warmwater fish program manager.
The changes are in response to new legislation aimed at increasing chinook survival in hopes of helping struggling orca populations in the Puget Sound. Bass and walleye eat salmon smolts, although to what extent they impact the migrating fish is disputed.
Initially, WDFW officials proposed removing bag limits statewide, but the commission directed them to narrow their proposal.
The entire process has angered many bass and walleye anglers who prize the two non-native game fish species. Allowing anglers to keep the fish means there will be fewer large fish in Washington waterways, a blow to the catch-and-release ethic championed by many. Some anglers feel that a 2017 liberalization of bag limits for walleye and bass already fulfilled the Legislature’s mandate.
“We are disappointed in this result and this points out more strongly the need for us to move forward with legislation intended to protect and grow the warmwater fishery in Washington State for the positive social and economic future that it represents,” said Joel Nania, the former president of the Inland Empire Bass Club, in an email.
According to a WDFW presentation to the commission Saturday, 500 people supported liberalized bass and walleye limits. Those in favor were concerned that the non-native fish were killing salmon and hurting endangered native species, like orca. They also believed broadly that protecting native fish and wildlife is more important than protecting nonnative predators.

In all, 190 people opposed the liberalized limits. Those opposed questioned the science behind the change, pointed out the economic value of bass, walleye and other warmwater fisheries and believed that orca and salmon conservation efforts should focus on “bigger issues.”
Groups that called for liberalized rules for bass, walleye and other species praised the decision online.
“These species are tremendous predators of juvenile salmon and steelhead,” according to a statement from the Wild Steelhead Coalition on its Facebook page. “The Wild Steelhead Coalition has long advocated for such changes to protect threatened native salmonids.”
The commission also approved a proposal from commissioner Kim Thorburn to develop a non-native game fish policy.
“That will be a big piece of work for staff,” Thorburn said. “Most fishing policies are related to salmonids.”
For detailed rule information, see Alan Liere’s fishing-hunting report on Page 12 or visit the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s website at wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission.

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/dec/16/washington-bass-walleye-fishing-limits-liberalized/


I can honestly say I have never witnessed an Orca in Roosevelt. I have however seen a few whales and walruses, usually around the boat launches and lounging on the beaches. But that's another thread. 

[snowshoes22]

Bunch of bs. Warm water fisheries take another hit. How about no more netting for commercial and natives?

[bigskyhounds]

 I really have a hard time with the wdfw when they do stuff like this to protect something no one can use as a resource. but yet our deer elk and moose never get the help they need. How can an agency have an all out assault on one non native species but turn a blind eye to others. They even have a bounty on a native species (northern pike minnow) just don't understand how they can pick and choose how they manage. Seems to me they just do whatever they want. Turkeys weren't native to Washington and I would guess they have to have a negative impact on some native species.

[Ridgeratt]

They did  away with the Columbia salmon endorsement which paid partially for the fish checkers during the Springer seasons. Without that I haven't seen anything about springers. They did close down the summer chinook runs. Perhaps I might just have to buy more fish from Skillet when he is catching them off the coast

.

Bunch of bs. Warm water fisheries take another hit. How about no more netting for commercial and natives?

The invasive turkey species will have an impact on any of the small bird populations they eat everything. Insects, small nesting birds.
Buddy from Oklahoma has watched the local nesting ducks disappear from the turkeys eating the little ducks. Could this have an impact on the local grouse populations around here. 

I really have a hard time with the wdfw when they do stuff like this to protect something no one can use as a resource. but yet our deer elk and moose never get the help they need. How can an agency have an all out assault on one non native species but turn a blind eye to others. They even have a bounty on a native species (northern pike minnow) just don't understand how they can pick and choose how they manage. Seems to me they just do whatever they want. Turkeys weren't native to Washington and I would guess they have to have a negative impact on some native species.

They bring more pressure on another fishery to support the idea they are working for the publics best interest.

[Bullkllr]

It's just another example of management by virtue-signaling for the liberal masses.

Further deplete the warm-water fisheries and ban plastic straws- that'll really fix the Orca situation 

No one is willing or able to make the decisions that will matter. With what has happened the last 20 or so years and continued decisions like this, it is getting harder and harder to be optimistic about ANY fish or wildlife management in this state.

[Bango skank]

If they really are worried about salmon, they should work on killing off some sea lions.

[Axle]

If they really are worried about salmon, they should work on killing off some sea lions.

I totally agree. Along with the birds that eat salmon fry.
I have never been a fan of limits on bass in salmon waters though.

[snake]

1. increase hatchery chinook production. (giving the orcas something to eat)
2. kill the sea lions
3. regulate tribal

pretty easy solution on paper, but none of these will happen.

[full choke]

If they really are worried about salmon, they should work on killing off some sea lions.

I totally agree. Along with the birds that eat salmon fry.
I have never been a fan of limits on bass in salmon waters though.

Seperate limit for mergansers from other waterfowl.
Put a bounty on cormorants.

[E-10]

You’re on the right track. Don’t kill the sea lions, turn large barges in the ports and harbors in to large live-traps. Trap the sea lions, tow the barges out to where the orcas are and release them. Let nature do the rest. There won’t be as many sea lions to devistate the salmon and steelhead populations, the orcas get fat on sea lions, and we don’t have to rewrite any laws to make it legal to shoot select sea lions.

1. increase hatchery chinook production. (giving the orcas something to eat)
2. kill the sea lions
3. regulate tribal

pretty easy solution on paper, but none of these will happen.

[ne kid]

I wish they would put a bounty on the walleye and on Smallmouth 1$ a fish for there fileted out carcasses.

[Ridgeratt]

You’re on the right track. Don’t kill the sea lions, turn large barges in the ports and harbors in to large live-traps. Trap the sea lions, tow the barges out to where the orcas are and release them. Let nature do the rest. There won’t be as many sea lions to devistate the salmon and steelhead populations, the orcas get fat on sea lions, and we don’t have to rewrite any laws to make it legal to shoot select sea lions.

1. increase hatchery chinook production. (giving the orcas something to eat)
2. kill the sea lions
3. regulate tribal

pretty easy solution on paper, but none of these will happen.

This should be a no-brainer they transport smolts down the river so they have the technology in place. Just need to supersize the side walls.
Watching the pair of them on the sailboat they could feed a few orcas with each one.

[bassquatch]

From now on every smolt eating TROUT I catch gets its gills cut! Some I'll eat, the rest will sink.
Probably do the same with every salmon and steelhead as well.
It will look like I'm just removing the hooks through WDFW binos though, eff these idiots. 

[bigtex]

1. increase hatchery chinook production. (giving the orcas something to eat)
2. kill the sea lions
3. regulate tribal

pretty easy solution on paper, but none of these will happen.

Increasing hatchery chinook production is actually now being funded because of the orca issue.

[Bango skank]

1. increase hatchery chinook production. (giving the orcas something to eat)
2. kill the sea lions
3. regulate tribal

pretty easy solution on paper, but none of these will happen.

Increasing hatchery chinook production is actually now being funded because of the orca issue.

Alright, so on to step two when?