Fished the Elwha this weekend. Lots of fish.My Brother-in-law caught a questionable fish. Half the adipose fin was cut off, From the back of the base back. Instead of all the way across the base. I said it was wild & it should have been released. Another fella that he knew said it was a hatchery fish. How do the Elwha tribal fisherys mark their fish?

Seems to me, if your'e even having a debate, you should release it.

Actually a fairly common occurance, I see it a lot with the Hoh fish as opposed to Quillayute system fish. If you're in doubt, always check the dorsal as well ... and if you can't tell from that, let it go

If I understand you correctly, it sounds like the adipose was cut partially through, but not off, and was healed. If that is the case, sounds to me like an imperfectly cut adipose. We had a discussion on that earlier this year.

A cut and healed adipose is a cut and healed adipose. That's a hatchery fish. It may not be a hatchery fish that is legal to keep, depending on the interpretation of the regulations that day. But adiposes just don't get cut in the wild. If I wanted to keep a fish, I'd bonk that one. But I have a temperment that is willing to argue in court.

An adipose cut in half, for me, means hatchery fish. I've caught at least half a dozen of these over the years, and the few checked by the gamey has been verified as that. But.....if you and your fishing partner start arguing over it, then like 3/0 mentioned release it and catch another. Aint worth the hassle.

The WDFW definition of a wild fish is an "intact" adipose. So an adipose missing a piece is not "intact" therefore it is legal to keep.

Whoa there!

I've personally witnessed 2 citations given to people regarding 'intact' adipose fins. In both cases, the adipose fins looked cut and healed, but they were indeed a bad clip job. A lot of the fin was there. On one fish, the dorsal was beat up, obviously a hatchery fish; in the other case, the best that could be said was inconclusive--sorta beat up, but pretty straight. Both of these incidences also occurred at Reiter during the winter where about 90+ percent of fish are hatch brats.

Made no difference to Mr. Gamey; Mr. Citation was handed out in both cases. If there's any doubt, let it go!

The rules state "intact". So, if "In both cases, the adipose fins looked cut and healed, but they were indeed a bad clip job" then Mr. Gamey was in error writing tickets that should be easily overturned in court with pictures. If you think there's even a remote chance of it being wild then of course you should let it go regardless of the adipose.

stlhead is 100% right...

Thanks for all the input. My appreciation to all that replied. Hope To fish with all. Maybe even learn something.