WDFW has robbed Grays Harbor recreational fishermen of two weeks of opportunity in 2007 to harvest surplus coho salmon returning to the bay and the lower Chehalis River. Before the final NOF meeting, a Sept 16 opener here was all but assured, but at the end of the day, the local Joe Fisherman got the shaft! The opener has now been delayed until Oct 1.

For many locals, the Morrison Park/Top Foods/WalMart fishery represents their only legitimate bank access to harvestable Chehalis coho. In years past, there has been a net-free window in the first 7-9 days of the month when this fishery peaks. This would give the bankies there a good solid week of productive fishing.

Not coincidentally, tribal gillnetting in the area this year begins on Sept 30, just in time to "low hole' the sport fishery. QIN gillnets will be deployed on Sep 30, Oct 1, and Oct 2 then return to the water Oct 7, 8, and 9. The non-tribal gillnetters will then deploy their drift gear October 11, 12, and 13. Then QIN will then return to the water with drift and setnet gear on Oct 14, 15 and 16. The drift gillnets are deployed from high-powered boats that plow repeatedly thru the main channel of the Chehalis generating wakes that render all the nearshore water within casting range to unfishable mud. Meanwhile set gillnets strip the north bank of the migrating nearshore salmon that this bank fishery is dependent upon. Catch rates in the Morrison fishery plummet to ZERO when a concurrent gillnet fishery is taking place.

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We will be gathering at Morrison Riverfront Park on the banks of the lower Chehalis on Sunday Sept 16 at about 3:15 PM to stage a low-key, non-violent, fishing protest/demonstration on what should be the opening day of salmon season in Grays Harbor. And yes, this protest includes fishing, so bring your favorite rod!

The target species is hatchery summer steelhead. The incidental by-catch of salmon, predominantly hatchery coho with the occasional chinook, MUST BE RELEASED BY REGULATION. I have cleared the intent of the fish-in with enforcement, and no citations can be issued as long as folks are using gear that is known to effectively catch steelhead and the salmon are released unharmed. Gear will be a standard steelhead spinning/casting outfit and the spinner of your choice.... single, barbless, baitless.

This is a great chance for your family to participate in the fishery as the fishing zone is wide open and uncluttered with no overhanging trees and few snags. Pretty brainless fishing... cast 'em out ... reel 'em in... set the hook when you get a bite. A bonus is that there is a very nice playground for the little ones, a lawn for throwing a frisbee or playing ball, and a paved trail for biking and rollerblading if the kids aren't fully invested in the fishing thing.

I will bring a video camera to document the event and the catch. The footage will be used in future testimony to make sure maximum harvest opportunity for predominantly hatchery coho is granted in this fishery for the purposes of future season-setting.

WAKE UP WDFW !!!(and I sure hope some of you are reading this) If we aren't going to be allowed to fish for them, what's the purpose of producing all those stinkin' hatchery coho?