Vince, I took a little time to look at the king returns over the last ten years on the Skok. and also the coho returns. A little off topic, but it shows a very marked improvment in the numbers of kings returning to the hatchery. In 1998-1999 return was 5584 kings/2793 coho. As the years progress from there the 2002-2003 return was 9394 kings/25595 coho. The 2004-2005 return was 16026 kings/ 19824 coho. The following year was 12358 kings/1726 coho.This past fall the return was 13270 kings/6370 coho.
I guess my question is why the more liberal (4 fish) limit on coho with the numbers down so drastically? It looks like the coho should also be a concern.
In answer to your question, maybe they could implement and enforce a fishery like on Rufus Woods lake. You catch a king,you MUST keep it and you are done for the day.This in addition to opening the river the 15th of July and closing it for all fishing on the 15th of August. It would remain closed on a weekly basis until escapement had been met and then reopened. They should set up a weekly meeting between the hatchery,WDFW,and the tribes to set a reopening. This would give the best chance to reach escapment and still allow the surplus to be utilized if any is possible.This might still be used in conjunction with a 4 day week for fishing.
I'm not sure how they know the return is going to be dismal, but better to plan for it and try to avert a disaster now.