2022 Salmon Forecast is Out

[Stein]

The Stilly and the skok will kill the 6-12 seasons... negative return numbers never equate to high quota's.
The coastal season should be good but not everyone can run the big water....sad.

Those will impact 6, 9 and 12 for sure.  But shouldn't have an effect on 10 or 11.  Suspect 7 will still be limited by the orca mess again.

7 seems to be the new whipping boy for multiple species now.

If I catch one good chinook in 9 during whatever short season there is I consider that a bonus.  I don't see the Stilly ever recovering, we've given it room for several years, now good improving ocean conditions and absolutely zero recover of the wilds - actually they are down further.  So, my non-biologist mind reasons that whatever is holding them back is still there and unlikely to be addressed.

The bright spot is you can make a lot of hay with coho and although not looking stellar, it should be solid and seems to be headed in the right direction.

[CP]

I’m not seeing any good news in these numbers.  I expect areas 8-1 & 8-2 will be closed all year.  Area 9 will have a short chinook season July 16 - ? (small quota) then it will close for all salmon. 

That leaves a long run to area 10 for those of us that live up North.  Will it be worth the gas to make the run? 

[Stein]

You think 9 will be closed in September?  Sure hope not, my guess was selective again.

[CP]

I hope I'm wrong, but I expect it to close after the king quota is caught.

[Stein]

Wouldn't surprise me, neither would no chinook in 9 at all.  I think the catch rate last year could end up working against us, fewer legals caught = longer season = more shaker encounters.

As bad an idea as it is, I would probably trade encounters by closing 9 to chinook and getting more there in September.  I would rather run to 10 a couple times in July than a 10+ times in September.

It would be grim come mid September with nothing north of 10 open.  Hopefully there will be enough room between boats to slip a net in the water.  Ferry captains will have fun.

[NRA4LIFE]

I’m not seeing any good news in these numbers.  I expect areas 8-1 & 8-2 will be closed all year.  Area 9 will have a short chinook season July 16 - ? (small quota) then it will close for all salmon. 

That leaves a long run to area 10 for those of us that live up North.  Will it be worth the gas to make the run?

Ugh  A run down to 10 for me would be a $150 day this summer.

[Kola16]

As bad an idea as it is, I would probably trade encounters by closing 9 to chinook and getting more there in September.  I would rather run to 10 a couple times in July than a 10+ times in September.

That would be a good trade off, I would take that. I hate playing bumper boats. Keeping more areas open has always been my preference, but a little birdy told me that WDFW likes crowding fisherman in to one spot so the game wardens can sit in one spot and watch over everyone.

[Bareback]

The numbers do look better, actually good for some systems. But the elephant in the room will keep seasons very limiting. I imagine area 9, which I used to fish exclusively, will be a low quota for chinook which will last six days. Coho will be open through September and close October 1 (when it starts to get real good), hatchery only.

Area 7 should return to 2 adult coho (hatchery or wild) but I think it will still be restrictive. My confidence for kings is not good. I could possibly see a short period to target Samish fish but I think the days of going after Frazier kings may be over.

Area 10 will be as it always has, kings close when quota met and two coho.

They might throw some bones to the dogs and up limits on some rivers. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Skagit went to a four fish limit.