AkKings
In 1954 we fished for butts close to the spit and did as well as they do today 20 to 40 miles away.
Most of the locals don't bother as you can simply wait for the butts to show up in shallow water at the mouths of rivers when they wash spawned fish back. To the best of my knowledge Bob does not skipper a salt boat but will book you with several of the best producers if you want to fish for butts. The post here is about how someone with a science background finally comes to the same conclusion fishermen have known for decades. Its' the gene pool. If and when they say every butt over X length is a throw-back it will probably evolve the same way our sturgeon oversize rule came into being. In the meantime that derby will attract fishermen from more than 60 nations each year as it has for decades. You can choose how you wish to participate or not. One thing for sure is that salmon in Alaska have a lot more going against them than the halibut.