Well...I think it's pretty well-accepted that punchcard data isn't exactly reliable. The question is how to make a more reliable system that:

1. Can be used to enforce a daily limit.
2. Can be used to enforce a yearly limit.
3. Can be used to generate reliable numbers of fish harvested, by river and by date, for the entire fishing season.

And, possibly,

4. Can be used to make in season assessments of fisherman effort and success.

To enforce a daily limit, you need to have something that must be physically marked on your person on the river. Same for a yearly limit.

For total season harvest numbers, you need something that must be marked in the field and returned at the end of the season, that has type of fish (hatchery or wild), river, and date on it.

For numbers 1 through 3, it sounds like the current punchcard system is ideal, with one exception.

That exception is that it is very difficult to enforce the proper use of the punchcard. Not only are many fishers very willing and able to not punch the card properly, or at all, but there are far too few enforcement officers, or officer hours, to check them to make sure they do.

My opinion, I guess, is that the penalty for being caught cheating must be so heavy that the knowledge that you are extremely likely to get caught is outweighed by the penalty.

What should the penalty be? Should it be financial? Should it be a reduction or elimination of fishing privileges? Should it be some combination of both?

What about not turning it in on time at the end of the year? Even if everyone could somehow be convinced (coerced?) to fill the cards out properly, it wouldn't do any good if they aren't all turned in.

Should the penalty for this be the same as for not filling it in properly while in the field? I guess the best way to get it done is to require that it be turned in at the time you purchase your next one...and if it's not, then I guess you're out of luck. Perhaps you could fill out and sign an affidavit that says you lost it and approximates the amount, time, and place for fish you did catch. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that the same people who are willing to cheat on their cards would also be willing to lie in a legal document.

In short, I think the punchcard system in place now is the best we have, if used properly. Enforcement needs to be vigilant, and heavy, for improperly using the cards, or they just won't be used properly.

Number 4 above, I think is something that a punchcard system wouldn't be able to help. In season assessments would be very helpful in opening/closing fisheries based on actual returns/succes rates, rather than on estimated returns and expected exploitations.

How can we get those? Sonar counts would be pretty accurate, but really expensive. However, it seems to be the only option that would be useful. Anything that involved voluntary reporting, i.e., online reporting or creel check surveys would not likely have many people reporting accurately. (See thread titled "Confused!!" for issues involving voluntary reporting of harvest success).

Fish on...

Todd.