Thanks Doc, but those really big Chinook salmon are gone forever. I presume you read my post on this thread. If not, here's my view:

"The folks that will get hurt by a closure of the fishery will be the Elwha Tribe, and the local recreational anglers. Those folks who harvest in SE AK, along the BC coast, and in places like Sieku and the Strait will continue to take fish that will return to the Elwha.

In fact, it's been my view that these offshore fisheries will be the reason that really big Chinook salmon will never return to the Elwha, regardless of the lack of dams. It's very likely the fishing pressure in the near shore areas (SE AK, BC, and WA) is high enough such that Chinook salmon will never live long enough to get to 80+lbs. Nobody C&R's a 50lb Chinook in the ocean hoping it will grow to 80lbs. Those 50lbers get bonked.

Indeed, that is what has really changed in the years since the Elwha dams were constructed. When those dams went in (100+ years ago), there was no high seas fishery. All fishing was done close to shore. Once those juvenile salmon cleared the near shore areas, they had all the forage and all the time they needed to grow to whatever size they wanted. Now, they have neither unlimited time nor forage. Millions of pounds of forage (herring, smelt, anchovy) is scooped up by purse sieners. And commercial and recreational anglers ply the waters of their feeding grounds 24/7, all summer long. The longer those fish stay on the feeding grounds, the more likely it is they will get bonked.

But don't get me wrong. I'm really glad to see the Elwha dams removed. Indeed it is a reason for hopeful optimisum and a sense of renewal. However, I don't believe we will ever see really large Chinook again. Not in the Elwha and not in the Columbia. And the reasons have nothing to do with dams."

I hope I'm wrong, but only time will tell.