Dear Fellow Anglers,

I am a member of the WDFW's Anadromous and Marine Resources Sportfishing Advisory Group. The group includes anglers such as myself (you've probably seen my reports on washingtonlakes.com before) along with some charter captains, resort operators and club or group representatives. The Department uses us as a method to gain additional "customer" input and provide another vehicle for communicating info as well.

In a recent meeting, several of the coastal charter folks asked about the possibility of having non-selective fisheries on the coast and Columbia. They claim that mark rates are going down and their customers don't like having to throw lots of nice fish back in hopes of getting a keeper. In this day-and-age of ESA and depressed runs, the Department must manage the fisheries to minimize impacts on threatened runs. Therefore, a non-selective (keep any coho) fishery would have to be shorter than a selective fishery to keep the impacts the same. I'm sorry that I can't give more details on how much shorter the season would be. That would come out of modelling by the Department.

The question for us sport-fishing types is: Would you prefer a shorter season on the coast and Columbia where you could keep any coho or would you prefer a selective coho fishery (clipped only) that was more like last year in season length. Please provide feedback here in the forum. I will sum up the general opinion and take that back to the Group. I'm kind of a newbie to the forums, but I will try to interact as needed. Thanks!

Tom Drews

Tom.... I like the longer seasons so I'd go for selective, just like last year.

Hi Tom,

I appreciate the opportunity to have some input. Thanks for taking the time to post the question.

>>The question for us sport-fishing types is: Would you prefer a shorter season on the coast and Columbia where you could keep any coho or would you prefer a selective coho fishery (clipped only) that was more like last year in season length.<<

I love to fish, Tom. If that means tossing back a few that is not an issue...it is the time fishing that is most important.

For many of us fishing is more than just a "bag limit", it is an entire experience made up of a multitude of factors....only one of which would be taking something home for the broiler.

So, I would prefer the longer season with the release of non-qualifying fish. I'm more than happy to send a wild fish back to the waters once I've hooked and met him face-to-face...and if by chance a hatchery fish gets bonked that's Ok too.

My 2 cents.

Mike B

I have no problem with, and prefer, the selective fisheries.

Selective fishery and longer season.

Does this suggestion have anything thing to do with the new rule that you can't take a wild salmon or steelhead out of the water?

I don't know all the rules about ocean fishing, so I am not sure if that rule applies to the area that these charter boats fish. It would appear to me that the charter boats people are worried about how they must deal with this new rule. I may be wrong, so can you answer this question?

Since descaling occurs more in salt then in fresh, it would appear to me that people are concerned that they will be required to do the same in salt as they are in fresh to protect endanger wild fish.

It seems to me, that most saltwater commercial and ocean going boats are very high sided because of how they are made to deal with the conditions they are used in. I would think that it would also mean that you would have cut off everyone's leader to release a wild fish when your 4 or 5 feet above the water surface. That could mean that you would have lots of wild fish swimming around with 4 or 5 feet of mono hang behind them.


Got any answer?


Cowlitzfisherman

Selective.

Longer season, selective. From what I've heard some of the charters aren't interested in getting you a nice fish, they will bonk all keepers, including small fish, until the boat limits are met. Just seems to be a way to keep fuel costs down and get back to the dock sooner. As far as releasing the wild fish, they should use a long handled dehooking device, or if the bait is taken deep, a long handled stick with a knife on the end to cut the leader. Everybody (including charters) needs to take an approach that is best for the fish, not what is easiest.

Longer season. I have no issue with having to properly release fish.

longer season for me too.

Selective fishery with a longer season. I think its a blast to C&R 7 or 8 fish to get to the keepers. If you went non-selective your day could be over before your breakfast settles!!
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

No doubt about it, longer season, and a selective fishery, isn't this why we pushed for mass markings anyway. If the high sided charters and others can't take the fish out of the water make em invent a dehooking device that can reach or cut the line.

Steve

Longer Selective Fishery.

CFM;
You can not bring the fish inboard in Marine areas 5 - 13, not over the side of the boat.

Tom D.,

This one seems like a no-brainer to me...keep the hatchery fish, release the wild ones, longer seasons, fish to take home, more wild ones on the spawning beds.

It's exactly the same as the wild steelhead release regulation...and I'd support the longer seasons and more opportunity for sportfishers all the way.

Fish on...

Todd

Definately selective for me too... We've got to do our best to protect the runs of wild fish...

If you want wild fish just buy it from the commercial netters in the columbia...

I think that the limit is the first two coho caught regardless of wild or hatchery. No throw-backs, no upgrades to larger fish. When you catch 20-30 coho a day and have to release most of them to get a fin-clipped, there is going to be some mortality. I would be willing to bet that mortality is greater than just keeping the first two fish caught.

The longer the better (isn't that what they all say) ! My wife and I had no problems the last 3 years getting limits on BIG hatchery silvers the last 3 seasons at Astoria. We fished on average 10 days a year there (last weekend in August through the 2nd or 3rd weekend of Sept), and our wild % is maybe 15% of landed Coho. No problems for us, we love to catch lots of fish!!!!

imo, any charter operator or resort owner would be cutting off their own hand by pushing for shorter seasons. selective fishing has increased fishing opportunity in the saltwater. we have seen long seasons become the rule since selective fisheries have been implemented and that is a positive.

instead of pushing for non-selective fisheries, let's push for more marking. when wild stocks make a comeback and can take higher harvest levels, then this issue can be dealt with... but i think we've got a good thing going right now.

longer seasons are better for the economy of coastal areas.... my position is the same regardless of whether we are talking salmon, halibut, bottomfish, etc.

btw, my understanding is "sparkey's law" is not in effect in marine areas 1-4.

chris

No question, Selective!!!

Gotta go with longer seasons and selective fishery. It's the way to go, it also allowed us to fish for Chinook in Area 5 last year.

Kev