I don't fish the Quinault (Why would I bother? see Kev's post) But if I did, as a matter of personal ethics ... I'd let it go. You ask why. I ask why not?? I killed my first fish over 20 pounds (out of the Sky) some years back, and now regret doing so. It remains to this day, the only wild fish that I have ever intentionally killed. Even on the most "trophy-class" watersheds, fish of this class are rare ... maybe 1 to 2% of the returning fish. Why not release it to allow this small percentage of the population's genetic make-up be passed on?

Parker, I disagree with your assessment of the genetics theroy. Studies of the largest WA coastal steelhead show that the largest members of the population are NOT repeat spawners. Most are three or four year salt fish that HAVE NOT spawned previously. The traits of these fish to spend such time at sea are genetic and are passed on. More proof on this: what's the state record steelhead in WA, a Snake River (presumably) bound summer fish from the Columbia - a population with virtually no repeat spawners. The world's largest steelhead come from the Skeena system with fish often having 3/4 life histories and NO repeat spawning. In both cases, these fish travel hundreds of miles inland before spawning. No "easy access" in either case. It simply a matter of life history.

You readily take away the fish that spend four years at sea, and you take away the big fish ... period. The Quinault is no exception.