OK goinfishin....you are right on target...I recently attended what we called the "Crab Summit" . I really don't want to get into specifics right now but let's say we discussed the whole range of issues concerning the poor allocation or our shellfish between sport and commercial. One thing I learned right off is that the tribes tell WDFW what they are going to do without notice.

Here's one example: In area 8-2 in Everett sport crabbing is really popular. Problem is that the tribes up that way find it real popular too. WDFW has tried to manage the resource in the past by annoouncing openings for sports crabbing once the molt is declared over and soft shell crab are few and far between. Then they tried to set exact seasons so we could plan better. Well on opening day of sport crabbing in 8-2 in 2004 the keeper crab were all but gone. We discussed a proposal to delay the opener to late June for 2005. What we were told by WDFW biologists was that the tribes would simply fish the whole month of June and clean out the area like they did in 2004. I was there on opening day and did not take one keeper crab. In the past I could limit on the first pull.

Then the first thing on the "what can we do" agenda was the statement that we could not approach anyone in the legislature or WDFW if we included the tribes in any way in our discussions. No one wants to touch the indian issues with a 20' pole. WHY? Well as much as I hate to admit it...there isn't a damn thing we can do locally about it. So some decide to try to get along and talk reason and fairness....Then, like Aunty points out, the tribes let us give up something more only to have them step in and add what we sacrifice to their take. That is why I insist they are beset with greed.

With all that said I would say that the only thing the masses can do to make a difference is to get involved. HOW?

1.) Join a PSA chapter or another major fishing club.

2.) Join the RFA (Recreational Fishing Alliance)

3.) Donate as much money as you can to the Washington Sportsfishing PAC.

The ultimate fight for sportsmen's rights will be in our legislature and in the congress of the United States. It won't be from WDFW meetings or certainly not from the WDFW commission as it sits now. Not from sitting on the WDFW assorted advisory committees. Not from giving up more opportunity to show good faith. The tribes are spending millions of dollars from the gambling monopoly Gary Locke gave them to influence the legislature. to change the laws to suit them and to influence fisheries policies in their favor. The non-tribal commercials already outspend and outwork us sportsmen and now we have the tribes against us too. Sure we will try to work with both of those user groups but the legislature and the new governor are the two targets I would be aiming at. We need a show of force..For heaven's sake we make up the majority. What is sad though is that if there was an important meeting about crabbing most of the 240 commercial crabbers would be there while we have in the past been unable to get a handful of sports fishers to show up.

That is changing rapidly. RFA Washington is formed and so is the Sportsfishing PAC. We now have a lobbyist in Olympia. Oh you didn't realize that we have never had one? Well the commercials sure do and so do the tribes. Now is your chance to help us compete. Walk the talk.