A blackmouth, by definition, is an immature Chinook. The blackmouth is not necessarily a fish that does not migrate to the ocean. The local blackmouth that WDFW raises are "fooled" into staying within the boundaries of Puget Sound by a late release time from the rearing ponds. This program has been in effect for several years and the new $10 punch card fee will ensure that money is available for this program to continue.

A native blackmouth is simply not ready to spawn in this years cycle. That is why there can be 4 year old blackmouth that weigh 30-+#. So being 22" is not a definitive trait of a blackmouth. Most of the blackmouth migrate with the food source which also moves out of the sound in spring time. A fair number of our chinook migrate to Alaska where many of them are caught. Fin clipping is not done to all hatchery fish yet and thanks to the tribes it may never happen. So having an adipose fin does not automatically mean the fish is wild.