I think Smalma hit the nail on the head. The legislature does not care.
The idea that sportsfishermen can motivate our lawmakers is laughable, either for pro or anti-WDFW legislation. I doubt we could collectively lobby as a group for budget cuts and be effective. Unless there is someone willing to pony up lots of lobbying $$$. Generally sportsfishermen don't have that kind of dough.

I also agree with Salmo that very little besides its budget motivates WDFW. Avoiding lawsuits is another apparent motivating factor for WDFW.

Certainly bang for the buck in hatchery production is not a consideration.
Returning back to Willapa bay rather than generic WDFW bashing, it was clear from the outset of the WB policy discussions that the only chinook hatchery producing significant returns for willapa bay marine anglers was forks creek (based on CWT data). Despite this they plowed ahead with the policy we now have that gutted forks creek and said it would not matter due to increased production from the naselle (never mind that Naselle origin CWT contribute almost nothing for the marine catch). Obviously the policy has failed recreational anglers.

The exact scenario Salmo alluded to above is at play in WB right now. The WB hatcheries benefit the Canadian chinook fisheries, Alaska chinook fisheries, private access only in-river chinook fisheries on the Nemah River, and WB gillnet fisheries (in that order). It makes very little sense to pay the freight on these hatcheries for the rank and file recreational marine angler given they have no meaningful access to the fish produced.

Given WDFWs systemic unwillingness to listen to rank and file anglers, I think drastic actions will likely be required to get their attention. I am certainly about done attending advisory groups, NOF meetings, etc. Also, writing letters gets one nothing but platitudes if you are lucky.

I agree that something significantly disruptive will likely be required for WDFW to consider changing the status quo and end the fisheries management malpractice we've been experiencing for the past decade or so. I had hoped that a new director would shake up the agency to address these issues, but his approach appears to be doubling down on status quo. Disappointing.

I think there are two approaches that might yield change, but at high cost:
1. A license purchase boycott
2. Lawsuits

While personally I find both approach # 1 and #2 distasteful, I don't see another path forward that will get WDFW to recognize they are failing us and we pay their bills.

I think either of the above have significant downsides and may have very deleterious unintended consequences. The lobbying approach mentioned above, will almost certainly fail, but even if successful has the same scattershot risk of unintended consequence. Are there other options that might motivate change in the agency without risking its destruction? I have not heard or thought of others that seem workable. Maybe some creative thinking is in order.

thoughts?