Nick is right generally going to the first two coho landed does not result in and reduction in the number of wild coho killed. I have ran the number a number of times. It might be possible that the first coho might work but not sure how acceptable a one coho limit would be, especially if the first coho happen to be 10" juvenile or 15 inch jack.
But heck, have the State model such a season and see how it flies.
Curt
I do strongly believe there is a very big disconnect between what the state does on paper vs what actually happens in the real world. Of course it's impossible to measure this sort of thing since it includes human error, human motives etc etc. But I have released thousands of coho on my boats, and have fished next to many, many other charters who have done the same and there are just so many factors that can't be accounted for on paper.
I have watched plenty of coho that were hooked, landed, and released in less than a minute float away without ever being touched. I've watched how many "sports" anglers treat fish when they release them. I've sadly watched plenty of charters and how they treat them. I've also watched large charter boats who are netting these fish with 15' long nets so they can reach the water and have zero way to identify those fish prior to bringing them all the way up to the rail and seen the results of that first hand so many times.
Not trying to throw anyone under the bus, lord knows my job has been responsible for more than the average impact when it comes to wild fish not surviving. Just pointing out that there is math on paper, and then there is the real world, and the two don't always match up.
Naturally the state has no way to account for all that other stuff, so using numbers and best available data makes a lot of sense. I just wish there was a way to better blend the two concepts a bit better. I'm not proud of it, but I have zero doubt that on my boat on the ocean that fewer coho would die if we could keep the first two fish and be done.
This whole concept is something that has weighed heavily on me since I started doing this for a job. I hate killing fish that should not be killed. I hate doing everything I can think of to ensure a quick and easy release but still watching fish float off. I understand this is a blood sport, and I understand even more that with my job I am naturally going to have a larger impact. I can look myself in the mirror just by doing the absolute best I can, but sometimes it's not enough and that sucks.
On more than a few occasions I've called trips early when we are just catching nothing but wild fish, or have made moves to fish elsewhere in hopes of finding some that are clipped. I've upset customers here and there but most people are understandable. I've done the same thing early season when the limit is 2 Salmon, only one can be a chinook. We'll get our limit of chinook early and then customers naturally want to try for coho. There are typically a few around at that time but not in any real target able numbers. I have put a stop to fishing many times in those scenarios where we try for coho and just keep catching chinook because IMO it's kinda bullshit to just keep harassing chinook because technically you could potentially catch a hatchery coho. Again most people are understanding but on occasion someone takes issue with it. I just tell em they are free to take it up with the owners of the company but that it's my decision and basically tough shit lol.
On the realistic side, I do understand that the state can only use the information available to them to set seasons and regulations, and as much as I wish there was a way to include real world stuff, it likely could result in even more limiting regulations/seasons for sport anglers so its quite a catch 22. I don't envy the people who have to set our seasons and regulations. It seems like a no win situation much of the time.
