I believe Dave missed one rather significant highlight in his last post.

New chinook release mortalities have been assigned. Historic rates applied a 45% mortality for gillnets and 14% mortality for tangle nets. After independent scientific review of the available literature, the new rates are as follows:

65% for chinook mesh (9" gear)… a 44% increase
61% for coho/chum mesh (6" gear)… a 36% increase
30% for tooth/tangle mesh (4" gear)… a 114% increase

The increased rates translate directly to increased chinook impacts for each day on the water. Commercials will burn thru their available proportionately faster with each gear type, which means less fishing days for the season.

BTW it's my understanding the new rates will be applied equally to Willapa Bay.
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"Let every angler who loves to fish think what it would mean to him to find the fish were gone." (Zane Grey)

"If you don't kill them, they will spawn." (Carcassman)


The Keen Eye MD
Long Live the Kings!