Bushbear -
Regarding MSF coho fisheries for central sound - for those that like to harvest coho the issue to be dealt with is what to do with those wild stocks that are doing well? While I have no problem with wild coho release I can see where others might not be as supportive.

For the stocks to MA 8-1 and 8-2 (Skagit, Stillaguamish, and Snohomish) the PFMC 2010 forecasts are an aggregate wild return to those basins of 211,000 and a hatchery return 39,000. Not a very high marked to unmarked ratio. In one of the last 2009 "model" runs the projected total eploitation rate on all 3 of those wild stocks was expected to be less than 35%; the low abundance target ceiling.

Regarding smot survival rates - As I mentioned current survivals are well below that averages seen 25 years ago. While there has been some encouraging signs that things might be turning around still have not seen that expressed in fish returns. Unfortuantely I have yet to see much to indicate that things have turned around to any degree.

Note: If the survival was what was seen 25 to 30 years ago the Snohomish wild forecast would be 300,000 instead of the current 100,000.

OncyT -
While some of the basins have done a better job of emphasising natural Chinook production than others I don't expect much of a overall change (especially in areas like south Sound) unless NOAA fisheries and its Puget Sound TRT takes a more aggressive stand on the issue.

Rivrguy -
More specifically the issue is the number of MARKED hatchery fish. I agree that if it is much below 50% the benefits of selective fishing is more iffy. Do you think that a better alternative would be no fishing?

SBD -
As indicate in my reply to Bushbear generally coho wild expliotation rates in Puget Sound is lower than what you are citing for the Columbia. Last year the expected total wild rates on the north Sound "S" rivers was less than 35%, for Hood Canal it was expected to be 45.9%, for south Sound 49%. The Nooksack situation is the obvious exception were the expected rate was 68%.

Tight lines
Curt