I have heard many reports over the years that I cannot substantiate which point to a real bycatch disaster during the commercial Chum netting. I kind of surmise that the smallish size of blackmouth in mid to South Sound has something to do with those being the ones that escape the gill nets in the fall. Being basically residents of Puget Sound, this makes some sense.

Smalma..thanks for the clarification on the SE Alaska Chinook catch...the troll fishery up there has a long early spring season for Chinook of Washington /Oregon fish in a large degree. I know some commercial fishermen who have reported on this years catch...I think their season is around 45,000 fish..Is that what you hear? I have been up in Homer and several locals refer to the fish as YOUR fish..meaning from Washington.