Even in the 80s, and probably before, the economic value of the rec fishery was given high weight. That was one of the reasons for the pushing marine mixed stock fisheries; anglers spent more money to catch a fish. Interestingly, the commercial fisheries tend to run the other way; spend a little as possible to catch the most.

We have known since I was in school (history teacher was Noah) that marine mixed stock fisheries were not the way to go for salmon if conservation was your goal. Maximizing economic return is a different ballgame.