I beg your pardon but the thousands of boats fishing the Columbia River below the Astoria bridge are predominantly sports fishers in private boats. There are lots of guides and a few big charter boats but they are there providing a service too. Believe it or not there are tons of people including tourists who don't have a boat to fish out of and need a guide or a charter to enjoy fishing in our state. I have two boats and a canoe and yet I spend a bunch each year on guided fishing trips. Going with a competant guide can be a good way to learn a river and the techniques that work. As long as they are licensed and checked out to be safe I say more power to them. Unlicensed and unsafe and breaking the laws ??? You deserve what you get. Don't like the laws? Stop electing morons! Like the morons you vote in? Quit beaching.

Whenever fish concentrate or "stack up" as in rivers and especially at the mouth of the Columbia or tributaries of the Columbia there will be tons of boats because that is where the best chance at catching a fish will be. duh?? Short seasons and quotas exascerbate this problem because everyone wants to get in on it before it is too late.