You and me both. I finally got a boat after a few years without. Got it all rigged and ready over the summer for the fall fishery. I'm reminded every day as it sits on the trailer. Having crab with blackmouth would have been great. With coho season catch data intruding on the blackmouth rules and quota, maybe they have to make adjustments to have a fishery at all.
I've damaged friendships for blasting guys for keeping natives or fishing over limits. I hate to see "SPORTSMEN" not using common sense and harvesting just because (misguided WDFW) rules say they can, like filling boats with sea bass, or tuna, or having 200 pounds of fish in the freezer. ALL our fisheries will be shut down someday for a variety of man-made causes. Its disturbing that we have to see it fade away right before our eyes, right in our back yard of Puget Sound, where now even the test-tube, produced-to-harvest blackmouth fishery is in the tank because of the overall health of Puget Sound fisheries. I wonder if we're past the point of restoring anything at all. I recall the Agate Pass true cod/ sabel fishery, rock cod are gone, and I'll bet Lings will be on the permanent no-fish list before long.
Rant over---for now.
I agree that this year sucked in many ways for fishing, it rattled us all and was far from the norm. Puget Sound season was short, rivers were bone dry... there were a lot of closures that threw us all off. But it was still a great year for many.
I often realize that the best virtue that a fisherman can have is optimism, it's how we all can spent countless hours on the water staring at a fishing rod, waiting and hoping for the best. I truly missed being able to fish like I had even last year. But I look back at those fun times at Camano for crabbing, Willapa Kings, Buoy 10, Humptulips & Queets Kings & Coho, Snohomish Coho, Sky Steel for the days that I did get out this year when the opportunity was there and had alot of great memories and fun times with friends. Whatever next year brings I will be ready.
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