Northwest Fishing Reports

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Come on guys we need to protect our rivers from "nets for profit" lets sign this petition and get the money out of our rivers!!

As distasteful as it is to see nets choking off a river for days at a time, I see the rivers are the most appropriate place for commercial netting to take place. When commercial harvest is performed at the terminal areas, there is a very slim chance that fish from other systems are incidentally caught. We were always left to wonder if the poor runs we saw in some years on a particular river/system was due to a heavy commercial harvest of these fish in Alaskan, Canadian or local waters. Even sportsfishing in the salt can have a big impact on returns to a particular system. The fact that sportfishers are now required to release most native fish we catch, the effect isn't as bad. But the gill netting in the salt still takes place and it they kill everything they catch.

I'd like to see a complete moratorium on gill netting period. If sportsmen can't keep natives, or a particular species of fish, then neither should the commercial/tribal fishermen. Get them to all fish in one small section of water so they can be closely monitored and hopefully the catch ratio disparity can be corrected as well. To be fair, this is what the tribes used to do and it worked well to keep the runs strong. White men introduced the concept of netting fish in areas of the salt were they could capitalize on feeding and migration routes and look where that has lead us.

Sorry for the hi-jack, but I can't support this petition as it would just push out the harvest to another area which will have a more detrimental effect on the overall population of fish. Feel free to bring on the hate, I'm used to it.

No hate from me. Not my style. But this is a first step in the right direction. I can agree that Alaska might take a bigger toll on washington salmon then we know. I can also agree that the tribes are not the problem. I believe the real problem lies in the fish's classification as food fish and not game fish. Steelhead are a species that are considered game fish but since we still have nets after salmon, steelhead still get caught and sold to the market. There needs to be an end to all netting for profit on all Washington waters, salt or fresh. "All commercial nets out of Washington waters, tribal or not" I am not oppose to traditional substinence netting of the tribes. Now addressing sporties I beleive we need to limit ourselves also on how much we can take home. I know guys that fill up 3 or 4 catch cards a year. That's a lot of fish for just one family but until we limit ourselves also we can't complain of others unlimited resources. The point that I am trying to get across is that I'm tired of seeing wild caught salmon at my local stores without wondering how many fish went to waste In order for some office geek to enjoy salmon while us anglers spent hours,money and energy to put the same species on our plate. I can guarantee that not all fish at the market gets sold and a large portion spoils and it's all thanks to commercial netting. And they do so because salmon is classified as food fish giving them the right to pay license fees and business fees in order to turn that into profits.So If you don't want to sign so be it. Doesn't bother me none just trying to get the word out for those who want a change.

If we want to create jobs and businesses let's stick to guide services. Sure they can also take a lot of fish out of the system but nothing compared to commercial nets and they will be doing so by specifically targeting systems that can support that kind of harvest and at the same time the office geek can pay and contribute to the local economy and wdfw by paying license fees and hiring a local guide for a chance at hooking a salmon or two for dinner

G-Man wrote:As distasteful as it is to see nets choking off a river for days at a time, I see the rivers are the most appropriate place for commercial netting to take place. When commercial harvest is performed at the terminal areas, there is a very slim chance that fish from other systems are incidentally caught. We were always left to wonder if the poor runs we saw in some years on a particular river/system was due to a heavy commercial harvest of these fish in Alaskan, Canadian or local waters. Even sportsfishing in the salt can have a big impact on returns to a particular system. The fact that sportfishers are now required to release most native fish we catch, the effect isn't as bad. But the gill netting in the salt still takes place and it they kill everything they catch.

I'd like to see a complete moratorium on gill netting period. If sportsmen can't keep natives, or a particular species of fish, then neither should the commercial/tribal fishermen. Get them to all fish in one small section of water so they can be closely monitored and hopefully the catch ratio disparity can be corrected as well. To be fair, this is what the tribes used to do and it worked well to keep the runs strong. White men introduced the concept of netting fish in areas of the salt were they could capitalize on feeding and migration routes and look where that has lead us.

Sorry for the hi-jack, but I can't support this petition as it would just push out the harvest to another area which will have a more detrimental effect on the overall population of fish. Feel free to bring on the hate, I'm used to it.

Not so much, the areas the commercial guys get to fish, limit the by catch pretty effectively. They fish specific web sizes and the places they are allowed fish are strictly controlled. They are not allowed to set nets where they may be catching anything protected. Gill netting in the Sound is not like high seas gill netting. They have specific time they can start fishing and 12 hours later they have to have their nets out of the water. Gill netting in the rivers on the other hand catches everything going up the river. They are allowed to span 2/3 of the river with each net, it only take a few to completely close off the river. Not to mention it's not controlled by the tribes in any way shape of form and the only way the fish get counted is if they happen to go to a commercial buying station and sell to a processor. Sometimes the nets get left in the rivers for days. Set the net, start a bender and come back a few days later with a raging headache, need more beer and or meth, pick the net and take the fish to sell if anyone will buy the rotting fish that have been dead for days... Sorry if anyone is offended I've seen it too many times.
Regardless, most of the petitions on that site are nothing but noise. Better to work through your elected officials in my opinion.

<Off soapbox>

riverhunter wrote:If we want to create jobs and businesses let's stick to guide services. Sure they can also take a lot of fish out of the system but nothing compared to commercial nets and they will be doing so by specifically targeting systems that can support that kind of harvest and at the same time the office geek can pay and contribute to the local economy and wdfw by paying license fees and hiring a local guide for a chance at hooking a salmon or two for dinner

For real ? lmao.

Yes for real. I've never used a guide and never needed to but their is others who would like to fish for salmon but don't know how and that's where a guide could help and if for some chance they happen to change salmon from food to game fish(doubt that will ever happen though just my thoughts) then the tribes and other local anglers could become guides as a source of income.When I said lets stick to guides I meant get rid of nets so the runs can build and still have a local economy based on salmon. I don't mean that we should all just give up fishing and use guides as a means of catching salmon. Once again if salmon were a game fish we would all have opportunities for harvest without guides just like the Midwest has its walleye. Never seen walleye at any local stores and that's because its a game fish and not a food fish but you can go ahead and harvest on your own or if you choose to hire a guide and target walleye which is really big in the midwest also. I know the quinnalt do guides trips on their reservation so why couldn't others tribes pick up the practice and give up commercial gillnettin. Not that the quinnalt gave up netting either but they wouldn't have a choice if it was outlawed

Tribes need to be regulated, someone who doesn't have their hand in their pockets and being paid off to milk or alter real numbers... Someone has to step up and be a voice to the fish......

I feel bad for you guys. I would be hating life if i was still down there at this time of year. I genuinly hope things get better down there.

jonb wrote:I feel bad for you guys. I would be hating life if i was still down there at this time of year. I genuinly hope things get better down there.

Unforunately you are right. Until the runs are priority nothing change. No words can describe what is happening and what needs to happen. I feel as if it is to late for a fix any time in the near future! Almost giving up on a sport that I dearly enjoy and helps me put a few fish for the table. Greed is the biggest problem with everyone wanting more then their fare share.

Im not going to elaborate anymore on washingtons fisheries. BUT you dont have to just give up on fishing. Theres, idaho and oregon still to fish aswell as bc. Ive given up on the notion of fishing with the intent to keep fish. Bc retention is rare, the systems that do allow it are not favourable in my opinion, BUT the fishing in the non retention rivers are nothing less than amazing, and well worth visiting even from afar. I really feel you would enjoy it up here man. Dont give up on washington yet either, it may turn around.

dj2loud wrote:Tribes need to be regulated, someone who doesn't have their hand in their pockets and being paid off to milk or alter real numbers... Someone has to step up and be a voice to the fish......

Agreed and signed