Salmon seasons rivers

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Fishin'Daze
Petty Officer
Posts: 56
Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2015 6:27 pm

Salmon seasons rivers

Post by Fishin'Daze » Sat Jul 23, 2016 11:05 am

Hey everyone. First time post. Gotta say have enjoyed reading all the great post in this site. Just wanted to share my feelings on the upcoming salmon season particularly for the Skokomish and Nisqually rivers. I understand and support efforts to ensure future generations of salmon but at the same time I'm very disappointed with the logic regarding some of the regs this season. For example the Nisqually river season is from 7-1 to 8-31 and 11-16 to 1-31 up to 3 adults may be retained release Coho and wild Chinook. I've fish this river for many years and know that most of the fish (Kings) arrive during September. Instead of not letting us fish during prime time let us fish then and reduce the daily limit to 1 adult hatchery King (the King runs have been consistently good). DISAPPOINTING. I do however support the release of Cohos as the numbers have really decreased in the past few years.
Now as for the Skokomish: Catch and release only. WOW. I do enjoy releasing fish if not harmed but really catch and release only. Hmmmm gotta wonder how much more pressure will be on other rivers because of salmon seasons and regs that work against sportsman.
I'm usually a happy go lucky type of guy (fisherman) but gotta say was really disappointed with the regs for some of my favorite rivers this year. Of course I'll explore and fish other rivers this year but wonder if soon the same thing will happen.
Rather than season/regs that don't make much sense shut down certain rivers completely (including tribal) for x amount of years and have better seasons/regs for future generations. This I could support rather than giving me senseless seasons and regs.
Thanks for hearing me out I feel much better now. :fish:

Shad_Eating_Grin
Captain
Posts: 757
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:20 pm
Location: Renton, WA

Re: Salmon seasons rivers

Post by Shad_Eating_Grin » Sat Jul 23, 2016 12:09 pm

just for clarification, the catch and release season on the Skoke is only for "gamefish".

Salmon are not classified as "gamefish" but are instead classified as "foodfish". As such and per the regs (e.g., "salmon fishing is closed unless listed specifically as being open"), there is NO salmon season this year on the Skoke, whether its catch-and-release or catch-and-keep.

That being said, I am sure the Skoke will have plenty of people catching and releasing (or keeping) kings anyways during this salmon run. It is the Skoke after all.

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