Grandpa2 -
My main point is exactly as you point out: "Beware of simplifying this issue too much."

The commission does not have the authority to change the mandate to maintain a viable commerical fishing industry. Instead of beating them over the head with economic studies why not beat those the have the responsbility to change that mandate- our state legislators. While we all may wish that the WDFW commission was more agressive in supply a leadership role in issues such of this presenting then with additional studies really doesn't mean a thing, they aren't the decision makers in this case.

I'm aware that trollers play a large role in the fishing on feeding chinook. Believe that I listed them along with the sport and charter fleet.

While much of the Puget Sound blackmouth fishery is on hatchery fish there is a wild part of the catch. Many of those wild chinook that are caught in that fishery are those that are in the most trouble in Puget Sound - spring and summer chinook. Even the fishing on immature hatchery chinook results in a younger population. It was not always the case that a large hatchery chinook was 20#. That may or may not be important to an individual angler.

In topic such as these there are many complicate aspects to the discussion and i'm more than willing to discuss them in detail if that is your interest.

Tight lines
Smalma