Quote:
Originally posted by Smalma:
Clearly under the fishery model being advocated by WSC there should be no spring fishing of steelhead (of any type) in the state Washington due to the federal listed status of the majority of the ESUs. No exceptions allowed meaning no CnR where wild steelhead are being targeted!. I can only assume that this will be the next agenda item for WSC in their efforts to protect the wild steelhead resource.
Smalma-
Nowhere in your quote from the WSC fact sheet do I see anything that would lead me to believe that an agenda for the WSC would be to eliminate catch and release fisheries that target wild steelhead.

I think putting those types of words in the group's mouth is a tad irresponsible as there are a few dead set on believing some sort of conspiracy theory that the WSC is in it just to create botique fisheries/close all steelhead fisheries etc. etc. AND that is not true!

You would be hard pressed to find someone within the WSC that would be opposed to a closure of a fishery/fisheries that target wild steelhead populations that are not expected to meet escapement or populations that are listed as threatened/endangered under the ESA.

However, I believe you will find many that do not have an issue with a catch and release fishery that targets wild steelhead as long as the population is going to meet escapement. And in fact, I would not support a catch and release fishery fishery for wild steelhead if the run is not going to hit a certain level over escapement.

The level that I would propose would be a given number that estimates the potential hooking mortality. Estimate the number of fish going to be caught by estimating angler activity, multiplying that activity by the success rate and then factoring in a hooking mortality percentage. You can now estimate the number of fish that are going to perish due to the catch and release fishery. I would be all for not allowing a fishery to take place unless the estimated number of fish returning exceeds the escapement goal plus the estimated mortality due to a catch and release fishery.

Also keep in mind, along with many others, I believe that prohibiting the kill of wild steelhead is the best way to maximize angler oppurtunity while minimizing the impact on the fish. And if enough wild fish are coming back to a river to allow a fishery for them, all the better, but the dollar value of those fish is much higher if you have to release them then if they you can kill them....in my honest opinion.
_________________________
Ryan S. Petzold
aka Sparkey and/or Special