I tend to agree with most of Neanderthal's comments. I am finding it difficult to jump on this new organizations bandwagon. Even with so many different ideas in the sportsfishing community, I find it hard to find one groups ideas that agree with, sportsfisherman unlike commercials or native groups can't seem to agree on anything. How can a catch a release philosophy join hands with a group such as the Wildats? When I talk to someone who tells me they killed a 18# wild hen for her eggs because they have another steelhead trip planned next week, that sportfisherman make me much more angry than any commercial or tribal fisherman. As far as the economic impact, the sportfisherman has a much larger impact. The sportsfisherman buys tackle, pays for a hotel/motel room at his or her destination, buys gasoline for the car and or boat, purchases food at the local grocery store or Macdonalds. The commercial/tribal fisherman kills the fish and sells it, impacting only themselves and the fishery. As far as a the Salmon fishery goes, I don't believe a catch and keep philosophy is feasible, not with the current population, not to mention the population growth in the entire Puget Sound area and the sad state that our hatcheries are in(not that an exceptional run or return can't be fished). I believe the heart of the problem is with the hatchery vs. wild fish debate. Problem being, the hatcheries have a adverse effect upon the wild fish, but without the hatheries there probabaly won't be a catch and keep fishery, let alone a commercial fishery. If the state could actually fin clip ALL of the hathery fish this problem might be reduced, but I understand that the tribes might have a problem with finclipping(hmm, I wonder why?)
Legal requirements? What is a legal requirement as far a fish numbers, sustainable harvest? How many fish a river can support, or the mininum #'s of fish a river can have and still sustain a viable population? Why not try to maximize these numbers instead of minimize them? For myself to agree with a club such as the wilcats will take a monumental effort by both parties. Writing is not one of my skills, I hope that I at least got one of my points across!
thanks for your time
--salmontackler