WDFW regulations Questions

[G-Man]

Toni,

Great investigating! I don't think I'd ever have thought of the State would delay collecting a fee just to avoid confusion. I normally renew all my licenses in March so we will see if their explanation holds true.

[Gringo Pescador]

So THAT's why I didn't see the option when I bought my license online yesterday...

Thanks for the info Toni!

[Toni]

Now when we go back in March to buy it are we going to be charged another dealer fee?

[G-Man]

Looks like we were lied to again. The new regs are out and there is no set winter crab season for Puget Sound as was promised. Now we know why there was no winter crab catch record offered when we renewed our licenses this year.

[Amx]

The regs are out already? They usually don't show up until May. Anyone in the Maple Valley area that can pick up 2 copies for me? I can't afford the gas to go get them and still go fishing a couple times in May. I might not even be able to go to the lake in May. I like to have a copy in the house and 1 copy in the boat.

[G-Man]

AMX, I should have mentioned that I only saw them on-line at the WDFW site. I download the PDF file as soon as it comes out, it is much easier to search for what I'm interested in electronically. Don't know if they are out in public just yet. I did however see this years big game hunting regs out in the stores already, another shocker.

[Amx]

Ya, I just got off the phone, I called Mill Creek, she said they are on line and won't be in paper copies until the 28th. And that the hunting regs are out in the stores now. I was hoping they could send me a couple copies, she said they could, but they only send out 1 copy. But that's better than none. And I don't have the paper for the printer or the ink anyway to print out that.

[Rich McVey]

They didnt update the default page, still had the old regs. Had to hunt for the new ones.

Main Page - http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/pub.php?id=01185


Regs Document - http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01185/wdfw01185.pdf

[MarkFromSea]

Knotless Nets, when did the state include this in the selective gear rules? It's been a few years since I fished a selective gear lake.

Selective Gear Rules Only unscented artificial
flies or lures with one single-point, barbless hook
are allowed. Up to a total of three artificial flies or
lures, each containing one single-point, barbless
hook may be used. Bait is prohibited; fish may
be released until the daily limit is retained. Only
knotless nets may be used to land fish except
where specifically allowed under Special Rules
for individual waters. If any fish has swallowed
the hook or is hooked in the gill, eye, or tongue,
it should be kept if legal to do so.

[Stacie Kelsey]

Looks like we were lied to again. The new regs are out and there is no set winter crab season for Puget Sound as was promised. Now we know why there was no winter crab catch record offered when we renewed our licenses this year.

You could contact them and ask what happened that they came to that decision. It is likely they got additional data that warranted no season.

[G-Man]

Knotless Nets, when did the state include this in the selective gear rules? It's been a few years since I fished a selective gear lake.

It has been a couple of years now, which is one of the reasons I have converted my nets to the knotless variety. They really do cut down on the scale loss, I know the Lake Washington cutts I've released appreciate it! You'll also notice, if/when they open up Lake Wenatchee for Sockeye, they include a knotless net requirement.

[G-Man]

Looks like we were lied to again. The new regs are out and there is no set winter crab season for Puget Sound as was promised. Now we know why there was no winter crab catch record offered when we renewed our licenses this year.

You could contact them and ask what happened that they came to that decision. It is likely they got additional data that warranted no season.

I will bring it up at the next CCA meeting we have. They were the folks who pushed to get the seasons changed for us. I've about lost my patience with the way the State has handled the recreational fishing for Puget Sound crab.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to bring more fairness to the Puget Sound Dungeness fishery by adopting "Option A" for its new Puget Sound Crab policy. This long overdue policy change rightfully recognizes the importance of recreational crabbing in Puget Sound and provides a SIGNIFICANT increase in fishing opportunity for Puget Sound crabbers. The commission's decision increases equity in the crab allocation and is a victory for recreational crabbers.

This is a huge milestone for the recreational angling community and the citizens of Washington State. The new policy adopted by the Commission will provide a summer recreational season from July 1st to Labor Day open 5 days a week - including both weekend days. It will also provide a October - December winter recreational season open 7 days a week. Both seasons will employ a 5 crab daily bag limit. These changes are expected to increase the recreational share of Puget Sound crab harvests and will accommodate increases in recreational participation in the crab fishery in future years.

[Stacie Kelsey]

Actually, I was meaning contact the bio's in charge of the fishery to ask them if something occurred to make the change in seasons.

[G-Man]

Actually, I was meaning contact the bio's in charge of the fishery to ask them if something occurred to make the change in seasons.

Thanks, Stacie. I, and I'm sure others as well, would appreciate that.

[Amx]

Stacie, are you authorized to give out tickets/citations? For regulations infractions.

No piticular reason, just asking.

[Stacie Kelsey]

No, thankfully! I wouldn't want that headache. But I work very closely with our Officers on what is occurring in the areas I am working. If there is a problem, they are right on it.

Observation is the name of my game!

:batman:

[Amx]

Ok, thanks. Sounds like you are more of a biologist/scientist then. Keep up the good work.

[Stacie Kelsey]

Yep. For the past 21 years, 19 with WDFW. Though there are times I've wished I could carry some sort of weapon. Been in more than a couple scary situations.