I've occasionally expressed to friends/fellow sporties that I think we may be pointing our fingers at the wrong institution/individuals when we blast WDFW as being biased toward the commercials. I've also expressed that I'm glad I don't have their job at NOF time.

As I said earlier, the Director is appointed by the Commission. But who appoints members of the Commission? The Legislature. To whom does the Legislature answer? The tide may eventually turn, but for now, the loudest voices on fisheries management issues are those whose campaigns benefit from the status quo.

I also think we (sporties) have made it easy for the status quo to continue by continuing to purchase fishing licenses, despite the fact most of us are frustrated with the lack of fish available when we get opportunities to fish. As long as there's hope, we'll keep buying in (I know I will). In the world of revenue, all that matters is that the revenue comes. If we really want to put the heat on, we'll have to stop providing that revenue. That's our only real power play in this game at present.