In conversation about the Coho fishery some questioned the Rec oportunity of one fish bag. I took a peak at the Chehalis Basin hatchery Coho returns as of Nov 22 for all Chehalis hatchery Coho. They totaled 29,222 adults and after harvest the modeled return was 40,563. There will still be more fish showing but not enough to drastically alter things. So we should end up near 10k (25%) short of what was anticipated. Keep in mind that both the QIN and NT commercials did poorly due to the early rain and low prices and inland Rec did rather well.

So the forecasted Coho return to the Chehalis Basin hatcheries is off about 25% & change, both commercial fisheries were a bust, inland Rec fsheries were outstanding and fishing is presently doing well from what I am told. After harvest the 2023 Wild Coho escapement was expected to be 15,595 above the escapement goal of 28,506. The math says if wild Coho perform as the hatchery Coho 25% short of modeled returns it is likely wild Coho make escapement.