Slabquest,

33% is the shaker mortality rate for coastal troll salmon fishing that I recall WDFW as providing from research they did in the 1970s. There might be more current information, but I’m not aware of it. Come to think of it, I don’t think there was any winter trolling involved when that estimate was made, since the old troll season was from late April into October or thereabouts. No winter trolling, so if more and smaller fish are encountered during winter trolling, then perhaps the mortality rate is higher. Unfortunately, the people who could tell us seem to be the very ones who are involved in less-than-transparent public disclosure lately.

Kjackson,

The number of fish represented by each CWT varies according to its corresponding mark group. The range can be fairly wide, so it serves no purpose to speculate about 10 to 1.

It is absolutely ridiculous that anyone should have to use FOIA or the state Public Disclosure Act to obtain public information, which is why it’s essential to have these federal and state laws.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.