Northwest Fishing Reports

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/oct1615a/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm heading out this morning...

Can we all agree to put an end to reporting encounters with wild chinook, especially shakers?

G-Man wrote:Can we all agree to put an end to reporting encounters with wild chinook, especially shakers?

Im torn on that issue.

On the one hand I see your point that reporting shakers/released fish can end a season early - and that sucks.

On the other hand, I cant help but think they have a good reason for doing that. Our salmon runs are endangered and going down hill in many if not most areas. Released salmon have a hi mortality rate - even if you're careful. Many people are not careful.

I do think we are getting screwed as far as recreational fishermen goes, but not following the conservation guidelines doesnt seem like the best way to go forward.

I always try to release the shakers with care. Problem is sometimes you tow them on your line for a long time and by the time you release them it's just to late .

I love the puget sound. But I think the gill nets used by the tribes needs to stop. ALL salmon fishing should be by trolling including tribal, commercial and recreational. But lets face it Tribal fisherman are nothing but commercial companies.

Larry3215 wrote:

G-Man wrote:Can we all agree to put an end to reporting encounters with wild chinook, especially shakers?

Im torn on that issue.

On the one hand I see your point that reporting shakers/released fish can end a season early - and that sucks.

On the other hand, I cant help but think they have a good reason for doing that. Our salmon runs are endangered and going down hill in many if not most areas. Released salmon have a hi mortality rate - even if you're careful. Many people are not careful.

I do think we are getting screwed as far as recreational fishermen goes, but not following the conservation guidelines doesnt seem like the best way to go forward.

G-Man wrote:Can we all agree to put an end to reporting encounters with wild chinook, especially shakers?

even if nobody reports encounters, wdfw uses a formula based on number fisherman and hours spent fishing to estimate the encounter. the creel checks ,imo, are a way for them to check their math.

The excuse that this was based on Chinook encounters is just smoke screen.

The tribes are pushing for closures due to much lower than forecasted Coho runs and the state doesn't have the science to say otherwise..... Their in season update modeling is a joke, to say the least.

We are being out and out lied to here....

Reading about the tribal gill netting gives me a headache. I hate to even think about all the convoluted issues involved.

Well the tribes are netting the runs to extinction

Ever since they started closing Elliot Bay back in the early 90's. EVERYTHING JUST WENT DOWN HILL from ZHIT to SCUM. The only ones who gets the blame and the zhit end of the zhit stick is US fisherman's.

Our WDFW is (you can fill in the blank here) can't think of anything good. Do get me wrong, there are hard working folks i know of.

Is just bad all around.

How MUCH you all wanna bet they are going to close AREA 9.


is disgusting and depressing at the same time. sigh!

Wait a minute! I am confused about this whole "encounters" thing.

If they closed area 10 because there were too many encounters with young wild black mouth while people were fishing for coho, then why open it for chum?

Are you not going to have "encounters" when fishing for chum?????

This makes no sense to me at all.

This makes no sense to anyone.

Just like their bad models, poor science regime, and inability to produce accurate in season updates.

Baker Lake Estimated Sockeye Return = 48,943 Actual Return = 31,928

Difference? : A mere 17,000 + .....

Lake Washington Estimated Sockeye Return: 164,595 Actual Return = 33,426

Difference? : 131,000+


Yeah, they obviously have a good handle of how to produce preseason forecasts and inseason updates.....


Based on what we know I am positive that: (a) The total Chinook population numbers are clearly accurate. (b) Our encounter rates with "Unmarked" Chinook are clearly accurate. (c) Their estimation of the post release mortality of CnRed salmon is spot on. (Sarcasm).

Lets give them a cookie.

Just returned from Seiku. These guys were out in force from Dawn till after dark! Saw seven of them working the Seiku area and was told there were more up and down the Straits!

Larry3215 wrote:Wait a minute! I am confused about this whole "encounters" thing.

If they closed area 10 because there were too many encounters with young wild black mouth while people were fishing for coho, then why open it for chum?

Are you not going to have "encounters" when fishing for chum?????

This makes no sense to me at all.

It makes plenty of sense, you're not going to be fishing in areas for chum where blackmouth hang out. People are going to be fishing mouths of rivers and creeks or close to them for chum. Not areas where fish sit and feed on herring/candlefish.

jbball50 wrote:

Larry3215 wrote:Wait a minute! I am confused about this whole "encounters" thing.

If they closed area 10 because there were too many encounters with young wild black mouth while people were fishing for coho, then why open it for chum?

Are you not going to have "encounters" when fishing for chum?????

This makes no sense to me at all.

It makes plenty of sense, you're not going to be fishing in areas for chum where blackmouth hang out. People are going to be fishing mouths of rivers and creeks or close to them for chum. Not areas where fish sit and feed on herring/candlefish.

Good to know as I was not sure how or where to fish for chum on the sound. Learn something new everyday.

jbball50 wrote:

Larry3215 wrote:Wait a minute! I am confused about this whole "encounters" thing.

If they closed area 10 because there were too many encounters with young wild black mouth while people were fishing for coho, then why open it for chum?

Are you not going to have "encounters" when fishing for chum?????

This makes no sense to me at all.

It makes plenty of sense, you're not going to be fishing in areas for chum where blackmouth hang out. People are going to be fishing mouths of rivers and creeks or close to them for chum. Not areas where fish sit and feed on herring/candlefish.

I suppose that might be true if you were an experienced chum fisherman. Ive never targeted chum specifically. I have heard of catching them at river mouths, but the few I have caught over the years were caught when I was fishing for coho and blackmouth. So I don't completely agree that. They are still migratory fish and can be caught anywhere.