Hey, check out this book if you can get a hold of it, The Rockfishes of the Northeast Pacific. Three authors, one is Milton Love, Cal rockfish biologist. This book is chock full of info useful to both scientists and sportsmen.

It is true that rockfish populations have been decimated in Puget Sound and that is why I'm disappointed that people think they can still limit out and not have an effect on the resource. Rockfish take a heck of a lot longer to reach sexual maturity than salmon do. Not to mention the lingcod likes to chomp on rockfish as much as us humans do.

I advocate the practice of catch and relase in waters from area 9-13. Same goes for area 7. Two of our most common rockfish, the black and the quillback are the ones most frequently caught by shore bound fishermen.

I can remember back when I used to fish S.F. bay people would even catch jubenile rockfish the size of your thumb!!! I really hope it doesn't come down to that here in Puget Sound.

Also, using lighter lines will help with the swim bladder inflation issue. Just use 12lb or less for mainline and use as heavy a leader as you like.