I believe that the selective fishery for coho from charter boats and larger boats offshore includes too much handling mortality. I think it is a horrible waste to kill fish by netting them and then removing hooks. This seems to be the ongoing practice from larger boats that cannot reach the water. We have a smaller boat, so I can unhook them with the fish still partially in the water. Even with the changes in the regulations, I still think that handling mortality is high.

Many fishermen would defend the ability to release fish safely, but my experience is that the mortality on coho is probably high, judging by the number of floaters observed in fishing areas and watching the handling practices at places such as Neah Bay and Sekui. I rarely fish coho in those places anymore because I feel like catching 10 or 15 fish and hurting a great number of them to keep 2 isn't what my goal is.

I would support a shorter season allowing for keeping wild fish that would have been killed and then released. I think for saltwater salmon fishing, that such a a fishery makes more sense, is less wasteful, and is easier to manage.