In the chatter some folks are having a bit of a struggle understanding why the last two weeks of Sept. drive fresh water rec to such a degree. Well the primary reason is that the month of Sept have few commercial days including tribal. So the rec is fishing on the run that has not been diminished by commercial harvest which means a far greater success rate for the rec angler. Come Oct you have nets three to four days a week which frankly means give or take 50 to 60% of the run going up the river is removed. Also tide water fishing tanks as the tribal nets go to almost South Monte and if you do fish your not only fishing on a smaller number of adults but there is a reason a tribal fisher fishes where they do, that is the best place to catch fish.

So when a season is modeled in a low return year the last two weeks of Sept are where impacts are greatest. Add to the mix the run can be early ( like last year ) which creates a far greater angler success ratio inland. Dumps the bay and tide water in the toilet at the same time. Dry years ( missing for a bit ) it works to the bay and tide waters favor and some years of no measurable rains until Nov. creates what could be called a prime fishery low in the river and really ugly ( not many fish ) inland. If the fish are late such as the year Steve shut things down ( after the commercial fisheries failed ) you have a variation of the same thing but in that situation it is the freshwater rec that will carry the heavy load of conservation.

So the Sept shut down time for recs is all about historical harvest and uses several years averages to find the number for projected impacts. To be honest yes the system used for setting Grays Harbor salmon seasons is not ideal to say the least. All that said minus a substantial increase in funding to use sonar or staff on the river seven days a week to assess fish movement and angler success I cannot see how you can do anything any differently in a meaningful way. Considering the state wide legislators we have presently and the real lack of knowledgeable individuals one should not hold their breath on this one.

In Grays Harbor staff has went out of their way to provide honest information such as models and options ( ideas ) which is not done other places with Willapa being the poster child for 100% pure GRADE
A WDFW BS. So guys we gotta go with Mike and Kim on the season thing. We may not like the outcome but I doubt if a viable alternative exist at the present or will in the foreseeable future.