Snagging Coho

[GWP]

Fished Coho off of the Westport Boardwalk and docks for two days. Caught none.
EVERY fish I saw caught was foul hooked. IE snagged. Belly, side, top, tail. NONE inside the mouth. Is that one of those things where it is 'Don't ask, don't tell', and everybody does it? Saw multiple limits taken that way.
Talked to a guy and he said he has not seen enforcement patrol 'The Boardwalk, so I guess it is whatever you can get away with?

[HillHound]

We see this lots of places. Usually we try to talk as loud as we can about them snagging fish and wondering if the game warden is still up in the parking lot. They usually pack up or change their fishing tactics pretty quick.

[Stein]

It happens all the time in many places. 

[CP]

Is it illegal to retain foul hooked salmon in saltwater?

[Blacklab]

Washougal has a couple snagging holes. When you say you fish the river. Your automatically one of those snaggers Defiantly need some accountability

[MADMAX]

Im betting you’ll have company with radios and binocs now

[Platensek-po]

Is it illegal to retain foul hooked salmon in saltwater?

Yes

[CP]

Is it illegal to retain foul hooked salmon in saltwater?

Yes

Can you point me to where that would be written in the regs?  All I can find is this:

"It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate."

[metlhead]

Snagging can turn off a bite with coho. Also, they are notorious for lockjaw when water temps are warm. Once temps get into the 40s, they seem more aggressive. I am kind of thinking that since the basin is a terminal fishery, snag away and allow the resource to be utilized.

[duckmen1]

These two pictures are taken from online regs. First pic is the top of page saying statewide but the paragraph below says things listed below are for freshwater only and to click on the saltwater pages for saltwater only rules. But scrolling down on the original page shows the snagging outlawed rule. But the saltwater rules show nothing about snagging. The way the state writes their rules is contradictory. And that is why the state goes to court and gets fought so often on regulations.  But even though it said see below on freshwater specific it's still showing saltwater details down below.


Now in my eyes there is no snagging period for me no matter what.

[MADMAX]

Is it illegal to retain foul hooked salmon in saltwater?

Yes

Can you point me to where that would be written in the regs?  All I can find is this:

"It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate."

Statewide general rules
Subcategory
Gear

You May Not:

• Snag or attempt to snag a fish.

I dont think Id sweat it if its incidental
But if it’s multiples
Your snagging
 

[GWP]

Is it illegal to retain foul hooked salmon in saltwater?

Yes

Can you point me to where that would be written in the regs?  All I can find is this:

"It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate."

Statewide general rules
Subcategory
Gear

You May Not:

• Snag or attempt to snag a fish.

I dont think Id sweat it if its incidental
But if it’s multiples
Your snagging

I am guessing if WDFW showed up, the people snagging would say they were ALL incidental.
I am also guessing WDFW would not buy into that. Particularly if they were watching 'from afar'.

[Stein]

Is it illegal to retain foul hooked salmon in saltwater?

Yes

Can you point me to where that would be written in the regs?  All I can find is this:

"It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate."

Statewide general rules
Subcategory
Gear

You May Not:

• Snag or attempt to snag a fish.

I dont think Id sweat it if its incidental
But if it’s multiples
Your snagging

It specifically says those are the freshwater rules and points you to the saltwater section for salt rules.  Why it says statewide is a bit confusing, but it seems to be pretty clear those are statewide freshwater rules.

[MADMAX]

Is it illegal to retain foul hooked salmon in saltwater?

Yes

Can you point me to where that would be written in the regs?  All I can find is this:

"It is unlawful to possess a fish taken from freshwater that was not hooked inside the mouth or on the head. The head is defined as any portion forward of the rear margin of the gill plate."

Statewide general rules
Subcategory
Gear

You May Not:

• Snag or attempt to snag a fish.

I dont think Id sweat it if its incidental
But if it’s multiples
Your snagging

I am guessing if WDFW showed up, the people snagging would say they were ALL incidental.
I am also guessing WDFW would not buy into that. Particularly if they were watching 'from afar'.

I wouldn’t keep it
Thank you

[jmscon]

Freshwater rules start on page 23 of the pamphlet. Page 8 in the statewide general rules are noted above and in the pic.
There used to be a lot of snagging that went on at the bridge over the east waterway on the Duwamish. I believe they made it illegal to fish from the bridge because they couldn’t keep up with enforcing the snagging laws.