I just took a look at the last few years of sports catch records from the state. It actually is unbelievable how bad it is.

For 2019 the entire Puget Sound region, along with the strait, show a reported catch of 80 winter steelhead

Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca River Systems and
Marine Catch Area Totals (All are Boldt Case Areas)

S 62 126 97 47 128 151 Total 611
W 4 15 28 9 15 9 Total 80

In comparision, the totals for the same area in 2012-2013 were 5007 summer fish and 5012 winter fish.


Perhaps it is best shown how bad it was in 2019 by pointing out that 98% of returned catch cards show no steelhead caught, and 99.8% caught less than 4.

It improved in 2020 -2021 with 98 % still showing no catch, but only 99.7% catching 4 or less.