WDFW is proposing on Eastside Salmon regulation #101-103 a new catch limit "Anglers Choice" on page 34 of the fishing proposal. This same thing as been pushed at their public meetings with a slight twist. The issue they are trying to address and push is a selective fishery for Salmon. This will happen as it is being pushed hard by the Feds.. I had Congressman Norm Dicks tell me flat out selective fishing for salmon to allow wild spawning was the future, he was going to push it, and that it will be happening on the Columbia River. The answer to what about the gill netting in the lower Columbia and it's tributaries was that it will more then likely happen with the commercial fishery. In regards to the tribal there was not an answer other then they hoped the lower river tribes would follow what the Colvilles were doing. Now they are proposing new catch limits for sportfisherman that would cut allowed kept Salmon potentially in half.
Here is how I see the issue:
They are trying to reduce the number of adult hatchery Salmon on the spawning beds and the best way to do this is with fishermen.
WDFW Solution:
Entice fishermen to release the wild Salmon in hopes of being able to keep more adult salmon by turning all wild fish loose to keep hatchery fish (3 instead of 2 total).
Reality:
Most Salmon fishermen are not going to release a wild fish especially not a adult because they don't catch a lot of Salmon. Salmon fishing is deffinately a 90% and 10% fishery. I believe the "Majority" of fishermen will keep the first Salmon they catch even if it is wild. We are not talking about all fishermen just the majority. So,..... the Salmon fishermen WDFW is depending on to reduce the hatchery fish is now eliminated from continueing to fish for the hatchery fish if they keep the first wild fish. I base this on being involved with and talking to lots of different salmon fishermen, guides, and others.
Different Option:
Allow sport fishermen to keep only one (1) adult wild, and in addition up to two (2) adult hatchery fish or any combination of that. What was caught first, middle, or last is irrelevant as long as the adult ratio is only one (1) wild the rest hatchery. Or a total of three adult hatchery fish with no wild fish kept. This is only a small adjustment, but I think it will acheive the end goal of hatchery fish being caught and kept much better.
Benefit:
More hatchery fish will be caught, and the current ratio of wild fish kept will stay the same with a higher probability it will actually decrease by the 10% turning them loose.
If you agree then please send this type of suggestion on to WDFW on the new fishing proposal. If not then send in your option, but I think sport fishermen continually take the first wack when it comes to selective fishing.
