Green River Fish Counter

[Phil K]

Today I rode my bike from West Seattle down to Tukwila to visit the evil empire (AKA REI) looking for some socks. Along the way I noticed several structures anchored mid-channel and was curious. On the my return leg, there was a worker on one of the platforms clearing algae and debris, so I stopped to chat with him. It turns out he is a fishery guy working for King County, and they are monitoring Chinook moving up and down river via radio chip readings. He stated that there were “a surprising amount” of fish passing through. I believe he meant surprising more to the average schmoe like me than to him. This was on the Green River Bike Trail, just where it crosses under I-405. I thought it was kind’a cool.

 

[Tom Butler]

That is really cool. I've run into several of my graduated students on the river doing monitoring or smolt trap work. Good people doing good work, and a source of intel.

 

[dep]

this is pretty cool. I'm a bit surprised they are that far into the river system as it is still July.
I figured they would be staying ( hoping actually) in the salt longer with this warm weather and low flows.

 

[Phil K]

OK, riddle me this. I have no particular interest in fishing the Green, but looked at the Regs out of general interest. For the Tukwila Blvd. to S 212th Bridge section the Salmon rules states:

“Min. Size 12”. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 Chinook total may be retained; up to 3 chum may be retained; up to 3 adult coho may be retained. A combination of no more than 3 total of adult coho, chum, and Chinook may be retained. Anglers must retain the first 2 Chinook caught.”

My language skills are pretty good, but I still can’t figure out how to interpret this.

 

[Tom Butler]

OK, riddle me this. I have no particular interest in fishing the Green, but looked at the Regs out of general interest. For the Tukwila Blvd. to S 212th Bridge section the Salmon rules states:

“Min. Size 12”. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 Chinook total may be retained; up to 3 chum may be retained; up to 3 adult coho may be retained. A combination of no more than 3 total of adult coho, chum, and Chinook may be retained. Anglers must retain the first 2 Chinook caught.”

My language skills are pretty good, but I still can’t figure out how to interpret this.

Maybe you're supposed to keep 3 "jacks" over 12" but less than the legal adult size?

 

[FinLuver]

OK, riddle me this. I have no particular interest in fishing the Green, but looked at the Regs out of general interest. For the Tukwila Blvd. to S 212th Bridge section the Salmon rules states:

“Min. Size 12”. Daily limit 6. Up to 2 Chinook total may be retained; up to 3 chum may be retained; up to 3 adult coho may be retained. A combination of no more than 3 total of adult coho, chum, and Chinook may be retained. Anglers must retain the first 2 Chinook caught.”

My language skills are pretty good, but I still can’t figure out how to interpret this.

Yep…that’s the same gibberish I read when I picked the WA Regs over 25 years ago.

 

[Phil K]

Yep…that’s the same gibberish I read when I picked the WA Regs over 25 years ago.

I think Tom, who not coincidentally happens to be a fishery guy, got it right. You have to refer back to the Definitions page of the pamphlet which describes adult salmon as Chinook > 24", coho as >20", and others as >12". Small wonder Joe Sixpack sometimes falls outside the letter of the law.

 

[Tom Butler]

I think Tom, who not coincidentally happens to be a fishery guy, got it right. You have to refer back to the Definitions page of the pamphlet which describes adult salmon as Chinook > 24", coho as >20", and others as >12". Small wonder Joe Sixpack sometimes falls outside the letter of the law.

I wanted to do fisheries at one point but I struggled with certain aspects of the curriculum. I was a land surveyor however, and sorting through the regulations is somewhat like reading legal descriptions, sometimes straight forward but more often not.

 

[JudyM]

Not everyone can read legalese...nothing to be ashamed of.