For sure, it was recreational anglers that destroyed the springer run on the Hoh. This is a prime example of fish managers working together to get to the root of a problem and addressing it as effectively as possible... or not.

The worst part is that they open the mouth up in September, when all those summer Chinook are still milling around the tidal reaches. If there is a significant recreational impact on those fish, that's when it happens.

What the Hoh needs is a year-round, no bait, C&R regulation, with the possible exception of October-November, where it should be safe to bonk a couple coho.

It's really frustrating to be one of quite a few sportsmen who have been writing legislators, park managers, and tribal leaders, urging them to implement protective rule changes on those fish, for years now. Do it now, before the only option is closure was the mantra we repeated every spring. Seems closure is the easiest option for the Park, the Tribe, and WDFW, so that's what we ended up with.

They might as well close the Queets now, too. There aren't a ton of people fishing the Hoh in the summer, but those looking for a similar experience will likely default to the Queets, where in recent years, the Chinook runs have been in terrible shape (even in the fall). Better close it before the horde of bloodthirsty sport fishermen descend on it and start killing fish with reckless abandon....