I have fished the North sound for close to thirty years and the blackmouth were very abundant until about eight years ago. They also used to be large on average than what they're today. I believe the decrease in numbers can be directly attributed to a several factors: 1) The number of seals and sea lions has increased twenty fold in the last 6 to 8 years; 2) The increase in the number of anglers fishing for them. Ten to fifteen years ago the number of people fishing for winter blackmouth was probably one/fifth what it is today. I saw this increase start after the Boldt decision and the ensuing decrease in other sound chinook fishing in the summer and fall. I also think this pressure is why the fish are smaller as they are fished much harder; 3) The numbers of blackmouth raised in pens and released is way below what it was ten years ago. The bummer to all of this is that we have paid an enhancement fee for years to raise more blackmouth for harvest in the sound. However, the bulk of these fish still aren't being clipped and thus the numbers raised and released get caught up in the federal regs regarding Puget Sound wild stocks. I'm not totally sure about all the political crap involved but I do know that the funds were paying aren't all being used to raise and release more blackmouth. There's nothing I love more than a cold winter morning on the Sound catching nice fat tasty blackmouth.