Yep ... you read it right!

Squid costs about a $1.70 a pound right now ... steelhead from the broker at a $1.00.

So guess what at least one Quillayute tribal fisherman is going to use for bait for the upcoming halibut opener, yep, Qullayute system wild steelhead. In fact 1000 pounds of this "new" (was used last year too I guess) halibut bait was just purchased ... with orders in for 2000 pounds more.

SICK, SICK, SICK ... when is it ever going to stop???

Makes me sick! Thats all I can say.

I'm crying! What a waste! I wonder if they would let the steelhead go if we all pitched in and bought them 1000 or 2000 lbs of frozen alaskan chum? Frozen chums could probably be bought for 50 cents a pound and I don't think the halibut would know the difference. Oh well, the Quillayutes would probably consider that selling their treaty rights. Just wishfull thinking.

Well keep on weepin' a friend of mine yesterday said he saw the utes weigh in a 28# and a 30# fresh out of the nets at the mouth. We should put more effort and money into stopping this than taking out the elwha dams at a cost of 29 million of public $$$$$$

Of all the millions if not billions of tax dollars wasted in the federal government, your going to gripe about 29mill to remove illegal dams to restore a run of the largest chinook in the region, not to mention the steelhead. It's estimated the Elwha can support a run of 350,000 fish. I don't get it.

anyone know who this halibut caught with steelhead is being sold to? Can you say boycott?

Steelhead Addict, that's a great idea. With all of the sources on this page we should be able to come up with the buyer. We could combine the boycott with a letter writing campaign. Being pro-active like this is probably the best way for us John Q. Citizens to do something about wild fish.

Steelhead Addict &Stinkfoot.
Yes there are ways to boycot but it will take a lot of work, lots of education and a slick well funded campain. Been working on some ideas and talking with super market managers. On the most part they would love to go along with enviro friendly fish and they could advertise it that way. The big problem is the middle man or the fish buyers.
They are the sportsmans, the Indians and the commercial fisherman problem. The middle man is the only major source of selling fish and because of this they give a lousy price for it and then turn around and make a few hundred % profit on it selling to the supermarkets and restraunts. We need a way to by-pass the Middle man so the indians can get top dollar for fish that are only caught in a selective way,(hatchery fish). "NO GILLNETS" If supermarkets would buy only fish caught in such a maner and direct from some type of co-op of fishermen at the same price the supermarkets buy fish from the middle men it might help save wild Steelhead. The supermarkets sell fish advertised as enviro friendly, the Indians will fish selective because they are getting $2.50/lb instead of $0.50/lb. Remember No Wild fish and no gillnetting allowed. There is a lot of work here to work out loads of snags but it has worked in other states with local Commercial fisherman. ANYONE ANY IDEAS?

Land Tuna,

I like yer idea. I think yer idea is in the right direction. It would be like going to the supermarket and buying "Organically grown produce". it sounds like allot of work but I think it would work in time. It would need a BIG advertisement to get it going.

dcrzfitter

Another option is to boycott casinos. Get some of the gambling Idians goin against some of the fishin indians. Divide and conquer, i think you call it. A method that has been used on sporties in the past-remember the CnR debate? C

If you have ever been to the Hood Canal, then you know waste is wide spread. I think the News channels should come out and film a story about the endangered fish runs, then show all the waste.

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Just because I look big, dumb, and ugly, doesn't mean I am. It means I can stomp you for calling me it!

I always wanted to send the Tacoma News Tribune a editorial, Looks like I found myself a worthy subject. Lets see if they print it.

Hey Mac, I tried three times and they would not print mine. Good luck, but they are a very left swinging newspaper. I had mine done in F&H.

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Just because I look big, dumb, and ugly, doesn't mean I am. It means I can stomp you for calling me it!

With whom do they sell their eggs? What price do the eggs get? Who's really profitting from this slaughter?

I usually keep quiet on this topic but a person always has their limit. I had no idea until I started reading this board that people were allowed to gillnet native fish. What can be done? petitions, contact of state reps?

unfortunatly treaty rights will be hard to change. People can however educate themselves as well as family and friends what is going on. ( i.e. stay away from any fish , halibut etc. caught by native americans until their practices and management change). Until recently ( by reading the board) I didn't realize that wild steelhead are being sold at the Pike street market. This is no small market either. people come from many areas to buy fish here. I think places like this are also a great place to boycott.
It is very irritating that the majority of the crowd that would purchase indian caught, wild steelhead or salmon for that matter, have no clue about fish and their current populations. Most people think that all of the fish at fred meyer or winco is from some pristine river in Alaska. They dont even know what farm raised means. However irritating this may be, we have to start somewhere. Grass roots activism. tell a friend pass it on! this stuff works.

well..in regards to stealhead bein used for bait and wild at that..*shakes head* anyways chum is much better cuz it has more oils in it..why dont the indians save all those chums they waste there in hoodport for these halibut? if anyone would comes up with a fli..id be willin to go to pikes place market and hand them out..ya know, informing them of what the wild stealhead opposed to the hatchery or farm fish is all about..welps..anyone got anything to add to this idea? and was wondering if anyone fishes out in the sound, and needs a bud to go along sumtime..cuz i got a bunch of saltwater tackle i never used and is willing to trade, and pay some gas and stuff..welps..email me if your game..i jus want to fish the sound for a nice fresh king..*blowin this popsickle stand*

oooops..that fli was supposed to be flier..to inform the public of how we need the wild fish..and to buy farm raised..and all that..email addy is narnia75@aol.com

We should all write to our local papers and news stations and encourage them to cover this story. Tell them to cover it as a factual story, as the facts will speak for themselves. If anyone has the e-mail for 60 minutes this would be a great story for them to cover. It is time that the waste is brought before the public so that all can see.

Boycott 'em all. Just say "No" to Mrs. Booth, skip the Skipper, and pass on the casino's seafood buffet. Don't stop at the seafood market on the way home from your next "skunk" fishing trip. Tell your wife the truth...the fish were too stupid to bite.

[This message has been edited by CedarR (edited 03-05-2000).]

Until rec fishers organize with a common platform and learn to negotiate with the tribes, we will hear these stories over and over. What are we willing to give up (to the Tribes) to get them to layoff netting wild steelhead? We have been so disrespectful to the tribes that much of their actions are done with an "in your face attitude" . I don't believe the solution lies in court action or petitions. Show some respect and greenbacks and we might just get what we all want....more wild nates at the end of our line!

I love the concept idea presented by Land Tuna! This kind of thing can work with a lot co-operation by many.- LT, let me know by post or thru Bob (has my e-mail address) if you get things organized and rolling in an affective manner. I have some influence with fishing websites in Oregon that could help get a boycott movement going down in our region as well- & I could talk to Bill Monroe, outdoor writer for the Oregonian newspaper, who is usually willing to publisize matters that are a good cause for sportfishmen. Keep up the fight! - Steve Hanson

Yes I saw the nets in at the mouth of the Bogie for the first time yesterday. My god there is some thing wrong. why do we not hear about this when everyone is getting all upset about the depleted runs. The state just looks the other way? Lets only eat fish caught the right way. To tell the truth I have not paid for a fish in years. Share your fish with your friends and ask them not to buy. Every little bit helps.

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dank

It is shocking that anyone would use Wild Steelhead for bait. It seems as sportsmen we look at Steelhead as some type of mystical creature or a Holy Grail to chase after and from our point of view and our culture this should be true and we should be shocked and angry. But I think if we try and look at it with the eyes of a culture that has used these fish forever as part of thier lifes blood then we could see that it doesn't matter how they are used as long as it helps towards an end in the the process of that cultures survial. Catching Steelhead for bait is now the easiest part and cheapest way of the work of catching Halibut which puts food on the table and more money in the pocket, (Halibut is way high $$$/lb). When the Steelhead are gone they will use something else to catch Halibut with.
The Native Americans know all too well what is happening to the Steelhead and salmon and yet they will not change not even for lots of money in a federal buy out. Fishing is part of thier way of life they do not want it taken away under our terms. Does anyone know of what terms the indians would change the way they would fish or better yet? What do the Tribes really think of Wild fish compared to Hatchery fish? It seems that I can never find anywhere a reason from a Native American why they are willing to let Wild fish be netted into non-existance. Sure would like to know but please no hostile answers just maybe some that you have come upon from the Tribes themselves.

Hi all . wow !! alot of concern that has been vented . my two cents . i work with indians . there attitude is not justified . i dont think that they have really been informed of what is happening . there blaming the comercial fisheries . which i can relate to , but it all comes down to the many posts that ive read in the last few hrs , and some very good ones at that. and some that well one person i work with is on the fish committee of the tribe . they patroll alot but not enough . and yes , i see the pickup loads of chum , and silvers and steelehead that are left over from spawning, and a majority that havent been spawned out . very sad . there into this whole thing for a dallor . just waite in a few yrs . the goey duck will be next , see truck loads taken out every day from these diving crews . weird part , white guy owns the boat and gives the indians a % dont know where im goin with this -- but have read dang near every message since i signed up as of tonight . and i like the one idea of gettin video - pictures anything substantiating that can be sent to the bigger networks get there attention . and wow -- well aint done with my 2 cents but gettin long winded happy fishen folks and may i see ya on the water Willis

[This message has been edited by Raptorwill (edited 03-09-2000).]

I'm new to the site and just wanted to say that it is really sad to hear that one of washingtons prize species of gamefish ,and the subject of much concern and fascination amongst us anglers, has been reduced to BAIT!!! How depressing!!! Is there anything we as avid SPORTSMAN can do to prevent such waste of a dwindling species?????

practice C&R

Well I took my own advice and went on line to my local newspaper sent a letter to the editor concerning this topic they informed me today that they are printing my letterin the next week or so ,for what it's worth it's a start.

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Tight Lines
FISH ON ------<*)>><
Men are like fish we get into trouble when we open our mouths to much!!