comercial fishing

[Fesup]

I believe all nets should be banned on the Columbia river. Salmon .stealhead, sturgeon should be a sport fish. and will improve the runs and benefit all with commercial sport fishing and recreation fishing. how do y'all feel?

[bowhuntin]

It would probably help, but I bet the indians wouldn't stop using nets and that would mean more fish for them to net instead of the commercial guys. If they really wanted to improve the runs of salmon they would take out the dams but that isn't going to happen. I am all for those species being game fish, and I always throw my fish back so there are more fish that are able to spawn. It isn't like you need these fish for sustenance, you can buy fish in the grocery store or if you catch a monster take a picture and throw it back

[hogsniper]

Even tho it is unrealistic i would like to see all the nets out of the river...i hate seeing where the indians have the nets blocking the whole river....really funny when it is only open for netting and not for sportfishing.....just my 2 cents......Justin

[Fesup]

I lived in Mississippi in the early 80s they had a fish called the red fish they commercially fished. the ole timers told stories how these fish were huge at one time, before commercial fishing.  well the fight was on and they lost the nets and it was a fight . but by the time I left in 89 the red fish was coming back strong. and the sport side was blooming. Now take a good look at these fish .commercial fisherman are taking out sport fisherman to fish these great fish in the 30 lbs or bigger range. it was a win win for all . Isn't it time we did the same on the Columbia? and yall are right when it comes to the Indians.They would not want to give up there tribal fishing . and the only way I can see  this changing is too show that it would be a benefit to the tribe to bring in tourist to fish and they can share the heritage and bring in income for the tribe. 

[Houndhunter]

2 things need to be done, get the nets outa the river and kill every damn sealion in the columbia

[sisu]

2 things need to be done, get the nets outa the river and kill every damn sealion in the columbia

Now, now have you seen their pelt? I say have a limited entry season to cull the numbers down. While I am at it we shold have the same on sea otter also. Again a BEAUTIFUL pelt!

[Houndhunter]

i dont care so much how them sealions do on salmon, the main thing to me is there eating the sturgeon. realitives of mine that live in washugal say that they seen them with upto 5' sturgeons in there mouth. the columbia is one of the few places in the world with that level of sturgeon fishing and i think here soon that'll change if somethin aint done bout them sealions

i wouldnt mind shootin a few myself, wonder what they taste like

[jackelope]

chicken
maybe salmon.

[Dman]

2 things need to be done, get the nets outa the river and kill every damn sealion in the columbia

Now, now have you seen their pelt? I say have a limited entry season to cull the numbers down. While I am at it we shold have the same on sea otter also. Again a BEAUTIFUL pelt!

 

[huntnphool]

Perhaps we could persuade some natives to take a boat up river and harvest all the sealions. After all, didnt their ancestors hunt sealions We all know it would end in a hand slap, but it might take care of the probelm too.

[Dman]

 It's true it would not matter unless the tribes pulled their own nets, local commercial's only take around 5% of our salmon. Canadian trawler's and even international trawler's take much more than the local commercial fleet, as do the tribes.

  Here's an idea, call me crazy. Let's make a deal with the tribe's on an annual basis. We let them harvest a couple hundred seals and sea lions in exchange for letting a few more salmon spawn......  

[jackelope]

sure...just wait till the salmon are in the ladders along with the sea lions(thats totally natural). makes for easy pickins.

[huntnphool]

I sturgeon fish a lot down there and have been seeing more and more sealions floating by my anchored boat with what appears to be lead poisoning. Not enough IMO but its a start

[bearhunter59]

I've suggested for years that we should allow the Indians to harvest the seals and sealions, and in return they give up their special fishing rights.  Sounds like a win-win for everyone...It would take care of the seal and sealion problem, and without the Indian Commercial (that's what it is IMO) fishing and the seals and sealions, and the non-native commercials out of the river, the runs would probably recover pretty darn quick.

[Intruder]

I would luv to see a ban on the nets in the Columbia.