Originally Posted By: NW Steel

You can't not prove that open seas by-catch in alaska or other parts of the world is not at all from oregon, all of these fish all follow the same migratory patterns, and like it or not other countries and states end up intentionally or accidently harvesting our fish. Fish runs are very close together its ignorant to think that steelhead are no where near the salmon fishing grounds or for that matter anywhere near the terminal fisheries up north, they also run very close to beaches and in fairly shallow waters. You will never find exact numbers as to how many end up in the nets inside or outside of oregon but to not think that a large percentage of these fish end up as by-catch is crazy its just reported as by-catch, just too many nets in the water to not intercept our fish salmon and steelhead. Im not blaming alaska or any of asia for our fish declines i think that they are part of the problem just as we are in the lower 48.


I, nor anyone I ever met in fisheries could tell you the exact routes, there's too many unknowns. But I will say you're spot on with some ammount of by-catch in AK commercial fishing nets. One of my best fishing buddies worked on a boat in the 90s and the only steelhead he has ever gotten to hold in his life was about a 30lb two tone salt fish they pursained (sp?) up and he tried to get it back in the water.
I have a highschool firend who spends his summers netting out of SE and he's told me of quite a few steelehad finding their way into the nets frown
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