Will we be Fishing For Salmon in Ten Years?

[N. Metz]

I've been seriously fishing for salmon for almost 20 years now. The last eight years, I've lived in Minnesota and come back one or two weeks a summer and fish hard while I'm here. My dad lives here and fishes hard. When I compare the regs to what I remember from ten or fifteen years ago, we have lost a lot of opportunity. Runs of fish I used to fish for are now closed. River seasons have been slashed. Seasons in the salt seem to slim down periodically. I also remember encountering more wild fish in the past.

Do you think recreational fishing for salmon in Washington will be around in ten years?

 

[Blackdogfishing]

Though private fisherman pay all the licensing fees let’s face it - our fishing interferes with the native Americans rights to catch and sell the fish for a profit, the commercial fisherman’s rights to make money off the limited number of fish and because our fishing creates hassles and oversight and enforcement issues and occupies WDFW time, I think in ten to fifteen years salmon regs will read something like this:

For the entire puget sound, hood canal, and admiralty inlet private fishing from boats and shore is restricted to within 100 yards of the boundaries of Lincoln park on only the first and third week of august and September except in September fishing is only allowed within 100 yards of a line drawn from the west end of Lincoln park to the first seal seen each morning from shore as long as the seal is a female and is within 75 yards of shore.

Fishing even years only and on odd days of the week only excluding weekends. Can keep up to two fish per season. Must release all fish that do not or do have an adipose fin.

There will be a WDFW lottery for private citizen angling. Only those winners will be allowed to fish. Lottery ticket winning tags must be worn around neck and be visible at all times while angling.

Anyone who upsets a WDFW employee or complains about the regulations could be subject to a temporary or permanent ban from obtaining a fishing License in Washington.

 

[albula]

Though private fisherman pay all the licensing fees let’s face it - our fishing interferes with the native Americans rights to catch and sell the fish for a profit, the commercial fisherman’s rights to make money off the limited number of fish and because our fishing creates hassles and oversight and enforcement issues and occupies WDFW time, I think in ten to fifteen years salmon regs will read something like this:

For the entire puget sound, hood canal, and admiralty inlet private fishing from boats and shore is restricted to within 100 yards of the boundaries of Lincoln park on only the first and third week of august and September except in September fishing is only allowed within 100 yards of a line drawn from the west end of Lincoln park to the first seal seen each morning from shore as long as the seal is a female and is within 75 yards of shore.

Fishing even years only and on odd days of the week only excluding weekends. Can keep up to two fish per season. Must release all fish that do not or do have an adipose fin.

Anyone who upsets a WDFW employee or complains about the regulations could be subject to a temporary or permanent ban from obtaining a fishing License in Washington.

Thank God, I was afraid it would be closed.

 

[N. Metz]

Though private fisherman pay all the licensing fees let’s face it - our fishing interferes with the native Americans rights to catch and sell the fish for a profit, the commercial fisherman’s rights to make money off the limited number of fish and because our fishing creates hassles and oversight and enforcement issues and occupies WDFW time, I think in ten to fifteen years salmon regs will read something like this:

For the entire puget sound, hood canal, and admiralty inlet private fishing from boats and shore is restricted to within 100 yards of the boundaries of Lincoln park on only the first and third week of august and September except in September fishing is only allowed within 100 yards of a line drawn from the west end of Lincoln park to the first seal seen each morning from shore as long as the seal is a female and is within 75 yards of shore.

Fishing even years only and on odd days of the week only excluding weekends. Can keep up to two fish per season. Must release all fish that do not or do have an adipose fin.

Anyone who upsets a WDFW employee or complains about the regulations could be subject to a temporary or permanent ban from obtaining a fishing License in Washington.

What are you talking about? The Natives fish from 28 foot boats with twin 300 horse power motors, with all the latest electronics, as part of a tradition stretching back thousands of years.

 

[Irafly]

What are you talking about? The Natives fish from 28 foot boats with twin 300 horse power motors, with all the latest electronics, as part of a tradition stretching back thousands of years.

Let me clarify first, that I do not believe all of the tribes are the best stewards of the fisheries, but the idea that natives would not have evolved their fishing practices from when they first encountered European/Asian immigrants rubs me just a bit the wrong way. The historian in me knows full well, that left to their own devices, they would catch more salmon now than they ever did before.

Native Americans pre forced/coerced treaties were highly, highly effective at catching salmon with their “traditional” methods that they had developed over thousands of years. Some of those methods employed today including fish traps, weirs and poisons would work better than modern techniques, so we might want to be careful with what we ask for.

With all that said, I do believe the state should work to get out from under the thumb of the tribes license to negotiate fisheries with NOAA.

 

[fatbillybob]

All I can say is I picked a really bad time to develop a love a swinging flies with a speyrod.

 

[Salmo_g]

It is far more likely than not that there will still be salmon fishing in 10 years. But the obvious trend is that salmon abundance will be even less than it is today. So opportunities and seasons will likely be reduced even more. There will be sport seasons as long as there are a few harvestable fish on paper and anglers are willing to buy licenses. I'm confident in this because it is consistent with WDFW's highest priority, which is to preserve FTEs (full time equivalent employees). There might only be one salmon per biologist and technician, but that's OK with WDFW as long as the Legislature will approve and allocate the Department's budget, which along with FTEs is the over-riding consideration factor. WDFW is seldom pro-active; being reactionary is embedded in the Department DNA.

 

[speedbird]

This years derby fishery for Chinook makes me dubious that we will be targeting Chinook in ten years. I fear all fishing in anadramous zones of major Puget Sound rivers is also under threat. But I am sure we will have some opportunity of some kind. I am confident I will be able to take my kids out to the beach at least during part of the year to strip flies for coho at the least.

 

[N. Metz]

Let me clarify first, that I do not believe all of the tribes are the best stewards of the fisheries, but the idea that natives would not have evolved their fishing practices from when they first encountered European/Asian immigrants rubs me just a bit the wrong way. The historian in me knows full well, that left to their own devices, they would catch more salmon now than they ever did before.

Native Americans pre forced/coerced treaties were highly, highly effective at catching salmon with their “traditional” methods that they had developed over thousands of years. Some of those methods employed today including fish traps, weirs and poisons would work better than modern techniques, so we might want to be careful with what we ask for.

With all that said, I do believe the state should work to get out from under the thumb of the tribes license to negotiate fisheries with NOAA.

Nobody said they wouldn't have evolved their methods and techniques. I'm pointing out that what is going on today has nothing to do with tradition; it has to do with money.

 

[fatbillybob]

Seems salmon numbers down world wide. Every article I read is negative.

 

[Josh]

Bass fishing is the future.

This is the way.

 

[Paige]

Nobody said they wouldn't have evolved their methods and techniques. I'm pointing out that what is going on today has nothing to do with tradition; it has to do with money.

And what do know about their tradition?

They bartered and traded Salmon all over the PNW and was their form of currency and used for centuries.
Just because you dont approve of their actions doesn't give you the right to criticize their treaty rights, that has been upheld in court half a dozen of times.

I dont agree with everything the tribes do nor how the state deals with them. But, having grown up with family friends that are tribal members and spent time on reservations doing community projects, I have always respected and supported their rights.

Dont like it, move to another state!

 

[Flymph]

No! The few Salmon runs that remain will head north until those rivers are too warm. And yes, Josh is correct; maybe shad and/or stripped bass until it is too warm for them.

 

[N. Metz]

And what do know about their tradition?

They bartered and traded Salmon all over the PNW and was their form of currency and used for centuries.
Just because you dont approve of their actions doesn't give you the right to criticize their treaty rights, that has been upheld in court half a dozen of times.

I dont agree with everything the tribes do nor how the state deals with them. But, having grown up with family friends that are tribal members and spent time on reservations doing community projects, I have always respected and supported their rights.

Dont like it, move to another state!

I live in another state; I grew up here and am back frequently. I can criticize whatever I want; it's a free country. I have the right to do that and so do you.

As far as courts upholding their treaty rights, that doesn't mean squat. Something is either right or wrong, good or bad, regardless of what a court has to say about it. Citing the courts is utilizing an "argument from authority" and its a logical fallacy. Its like citing the Bible. You may believe in that books authority but I may not. It's a poor argument.

 

[N. Metz]

Bass fishing is the future.

This is the way.

Until those start getting netted and sold commercially! For now, bucket mouths are safe.

 

[Paige]

I live in another state; I grew up here and am back frequently. I can criticize whatever I want; it's a free country. I have the right to do that and so do you.

As far as courts upholding their treaty rights, that doesn't mean squat. Something is either right or wrong, good or bad, regardless of what a court has to say about it. Citing the courts is utilizing an "argument from authority" and its a logical fallacy. Its like citing the Bible. You may believe in that books authority but I may not. It's a poor argument.

Well, if you are that delusional that you think courts decisions dont mean squat, you better get used to disappointmen, as your ignorance is appalling, and whats wrong with people these days!

 

[N. Metz]

Well, if you are that delusional that you think courts decisions dont mean squat, you better get used to disappointmen, as your ignorance is appalling, and whats wrong with people these days!

They have no bearing on what's actually right or wrong. History shows as much, ad nauseam.

 

[Pink Nighty]

They have no bearing on what's actually right or wrong. History shows as much, ad nauseam.

I'll bite! What's wrong with tribes using the technology of today to fish the runs of today? If youd like them to use traditional techniques with aboriginal materials, then you might first look to provide them with aboriginal runs.

The state you claim to be from was ceded to you for the right to fish.

 

[Rob Allen]

No, but not because of a lack of fish. Of we aren't salmon fishing in 10 years it's because of the managers who push their religion on people and call it the will of the people.

 

[Irafly]

Nobody said they wouldn't have evolved their methods and techniques. I'm pointing out that what is going on today has nothing to do with tradition; it has to do with money.

It absolutely has to do with tradition. But “Tradition” is a very tricky word to thresh out. It is well documented that salmon in all the northwest tribes and many interior tribes were used as “money” and as such tribes harvested surplus to sell. My favorite such story deals with Lewis and Clark and the Clatsop, but not just with salmon. After trading with different tribes including the Clatsop for salmon and other things for quite awhile, the expedition members kind of got sick of eating salmon (I’m guessing they were given chum and pink ), so they started trading for other “meat”. Dog meat became a preference for the group for quite awhile.