Parker -
Do you really expect anglers to apply consistent logic to fisheries management?

It has become quite clear that many on this site are more than willing to apply different management standards for steelhead and all other fish.

While it is clear that the ling cod populations have rebound to levels much higher than that of 10 or 20 years ago - areas were lings were only an occassional catch 15 or 20 years ago now produce multiple catches consistently. The current size limits seem to working quite well in Puget Sound. However it is true that the certainity of the "health" of the ling populations is not nearly as clear as that of say Quilleyute wild winter steelhead. The steelhead have clear escapement goals against which the impacts from fisheries can be evaluated annually. It is not possible evaluate the status of ling populations in the same way.

Tight lines
S malma