MA10 Blackmouth anyone?

[throttlejocky20]

We hit 3 in area 11 Saturday.

[3nails]

I wasn't aware this early fishery was quota based. Anyone have that number?

It's "encounter" based, here's the link.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/creel/seasonal#ps-winter-chinook

Looks like 4491 total encounters, 967 unmarked encounters, and 3713 sublegal encounters.

How do they know about sublegal encounters?

Creel check's, combine with the DFW test fishing boat results.
If every boat fishing admits to a fish checker they released 3 subs. The DFW boats release 5 subs. They'll average it out , count boats, add that average to each boat and bam....the season is over.

So people are telling the checkers about the sublegals they caught? 

[highside74]

Learned years ago that they count every caught and released fish against the quota. From that point on if we didn't keep it we didn't report it. Every caught and released fish is counted as a mortality even if they weren't hurt in any way.

[Crunchy]

Learned years ago that they count every caught and released fish against the quota. From that point on if we didn't keep it we didn't report it. Every caught and released fish is counted as a mortality even if they weren't hurt in any way.

We brought in three the other day and when the fish checker asked us, we say those were the only bites we had, just lucky I guess.

[Elk_Guapo]

MA10 is now closed:


https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules/salmon-fishing-close-marine-area-10-seattle-and-bremerton-2026-04

[fishngamereaper]

MA10 is now closed:


https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules/salmon-fishing-close-marine-area-10-seattle-and-bremerton-2026-04

Technically one more day
But ya...

Loose lips ......once again kill a salmon season.

[Alchase]

MA10 is now closed:


https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/emergency-rules/salmon-fishing-close-marine-area-10-seattle-and-bremerton-2026-04

Technically one more day
But ya...

Loose lips ......once again kill a salmon season.

It's like they were reading this thread in reel-time 

[WAcoueshunter]

It would have closed regardless with the test boats out there. But yes, people publicly talking about how they lie to the fish checker probably doesn’t help. I imagine stuff like that just makes them even more conservative if they feel like their data is undermined.

[pickardjw]

How does blackmouth cut?

More hype around them than I thought there would be considering it's also springer season.

[3nails]

It would have closed regardless with the test boats out there. But yes, people publicly talking about how they lie to the fish checker probably doesn’t help. I imagine stuff like that just makes them even more conservative if they feel like their data is undermined.

For every 1 that lies there are 20 with bucket mouths.

[3nails]

How does blackmouth cut?

More hype around them than I thought there would be considering it's also springer season.

Personally not a fan. Too soft for me. I prefer a mature fish.

[hookr88]

Learned years ago that they count every caught and released fish against the quota. From that point on if we didn't keep it we didn't report it. Every caught and released fish is counted as a mortality even if they weren't hurt in any way.

Then what’s the point of barbless hooks? If they’re not going to give us credit for clean releases with barbless hooks, then why do it? I know realistically a clean release with a barbless hook the fish has a high likelihood of survival, but dang that’s just frustrating if they count every caught fish as a mortality.

[jackelope]

Learned years ago that they count every caught and released fish against the quota. From that point on if we didn't keep it we didn't report it. Every caught and released fish is counted as a mortality even if they weren't hurt in any way.

Then what’s the point of barbless hooks? If they’re not going to give us credit for clean releases with barbless hooks, then why do it? I know realistically a clean release with a barbless hook the fish has a high likelihood of survival, but dang that’s just frustrating if they count every caught fish as a mortality.

They're not counting mortalities. They're counting "encounters".
The biggest point of barbless hooks is probably to protect wild fish.

[hookr88]

Learned years ago that they count every caught and released fish against the quota. From that point on if we didn't keep it we didn't report it. Every caught and released fish is counted as a mortality even if they weren't hurt in any way.

Then what’s the point of barbless hooks? If they’re not going to give us credit for clean releases with barbless hooks, then why do it? I know realistically a clean release with a barbless hook the fish has a high likelihood of survival, but dang that’s just frustrating if they count every caught fish as a mortality.

They're not counting mortalities. They're counting "encounters".
The biggest point of barbless hooks is probably to protect wild fish.

This appears to be an informed video of how hook mortality is done and implemented.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1901119907438857

[30.06]

The sad part is we sportsmen trade shaker encounters with the Tribes for their mature, returning fish. If we were smart and crafty, we would not have a dang Winter Blackmouth season at all, let alone in April. Probably negotiated so that we have Maximum encounters with 7'' fish. Happens in July as well, but not as bad of a ratio.