Todd -
I was at the WDFW commission meeting in 2008 where they decided to increase the recreational share of the allowable impacts on the Columbia River spring Chinook - in effect transferring allocation towards the sport fishery. I clearly recall the debate that lead up to that decision and it was clear to all that were there that the deciding factor was the due to the sport selective fishery and the lower release mortality on the wild associated that fishery which removed more hatchery fish from the system per dead wild fish (per ESA impact).

There is little doubt in my mind that the decision would have favored the commercial fishery if it had been selective and had a lower release mortality than that associated with the recreational fishery. Given the mortality that might been seen in some of the commercial selective methods being pushed I would not be surprised to see that sharring percentages of the allowed impacts reversed and potentially a doubling or more of the commercial share of the hatchery catch. Such a move would only be consistent with Commission actions the last two years that has been so popular with the recreational community.

As you alluded to the devil is always in the details.

Tight lines
Curt