Spawnout you have seen the the WDFW summer chum return numbers for the Quill? They have easily far exceeded the critical threshold of I believe somewhere around 1250 spawners in the past 5 years and from the looks of it the run will be near 10,000 fish. The run has been increasing even with the presence of the early returning silver run produced by the hatchery and the fishery that goes along with it. In fact the recent years numbers pretty much match those prior to the run collapse in the early to mid 1990's. If it wasn't for the several rivers and streams on the Canal that continue to have miserable returns a case could be made to consider that portion of the stock recovered and ready for delisting.

SalmoG you might want inquire about the documented Skokomish tribal harvest from last year in which at least 1000 summer chum were allowed to be taken as bycatch if they died incidentally in their beach seining for silvers. Interesting how only hens(=eggs) died incidently in their beach seines. This was all passed onto NOAA Fisheries. This has been going on for several years now.....but NOAA Fisheries seems to ignore it.

Much of what is seen at the Rodgers Street access is Jamestown S'klallam tribal subsistence harvest....those fish go to their elders and families. Most of the rest of it are socalled sporties who only know how to snag and alot of them get a $500 present from the wardens.

As to the snaggers being a bunch of rednecked Quillabillies...yah quite a few are but for the most part they are like the dad and 3 kids who showed up tonite to fish next to me. They were obviously middle income urban cowboy types who had not a clue...packing freshly purchased white deep sea gear and rigged for snagging...which they were miserable at. After I had quickly taken the one fish I wanted....hooked well inside the mouth with a small black and purple yarn fly the dad came over and asked how I did that. I nailed another again deep in the mouth and since it wasn't bleeding and I had what I wanted already I released it. Showed them how to advoid the chums pretty much. Tied them up some yarn fly leaders and told them what to do and left. It's all fine and well for some to come off as high and mighty regarding this fishery...but I choose to be present, harvest ethically what I want, and spend as much time as possible educating people that there is a better way. Sorry but closing a fishery is really a poor precedent.....as the same logic could be applied to nearly 100% of our fall salmon fisheries.