i have a couple problems with some of what is being discussed.

first, does it matter if courts throw it out? does that justify breaking the law? if you could get away with killing wild steelhead, would you? the rules are the rules, and the courts don't tend to take fish and game violations as seriously as i (and i presume many of you) do.

secondly, i would disagree that this law is "meaningless". canadian caught salmon landed in closed u.s. ports is and enforcement nightmare. how would you suggest paying for increased enforcement? enforcement is already stretched too thin without having to deal with trying to figure out if fish were caught in sooke or freshwater bay, sekiu, mushroom rock, etc.

plus, with the new pacific salmon treaty... the country of origin has to make the most cuts in harvest... which is why we can fish coho (canadian stocks such as the thompson are in the toilet and constrain their fisheries in the strait) and why they can harvest more u.s. origin chinook (puget sound stocks are e.s.a. listed). ask yourself what effect increasing the harvest by u.s. anglers landing fish in u.s. ports (even if it is in canadian waters) would have on the small legal king fisheries that currently exist on the north coast (neah bay), strait (sekiu) and fisheries inside puget sound. would the increased harvest cause quotas to drop in these fisheries, causing economic harm to these communities?

don't get me wrong, i fished canadian kings last summer when the u.s. side was open and found some amazing drifts and i plan on returning to these waters on my own this spring/summer to reaquaint myself with them even if i have to release a few fish. i understand the questioning of the regs. my intention was not to attack, but to bring up a few points for people to consider on this issue. another thing to consider is that we have a pretty sweet deal going with being allowed to bring back canadian halibut while the u.s side is closed. halibut is the king of fisheries when it comes to bringing people to neah bay (both private boats and charters) so i think we might want to tread lightly so we all (private and charters) can enjoy great canadian halibut fishing.

would i love to bang canadian kings from the moment i arrive at neah bay this spring... damn straight... but i think there are some other issues that take precedence over my wants.

hopefully, the kings will be thick like last year... and the coho's will be in a little closer.... like in the close rips (right elkrun?)

chris