"Kind of hard to have a creel census program, get good data and make in season management adjustments for saltwater when all coho fishing in the sound is closed."
Absolutely correct. In this case, WDFW would have zero information on which make in-season adjustments, and no possible way to obtain any information. All they have is anecdotal reports of good fishing.
So under these circumstances, there is no way to open a fishery if the pre-season forecast is for a poor adult return, but the number of adults may be quite high. It reiterates the importance of a good pre-season forecast.
But that's sorta obvious......
My point would be why not leave it open regardless of the pre-season forecast and close it immediately should the in season management dictate it.
Why does have to take so long to run the creel numbers?
They closed both the salt and rivers last year with in season management. They could do it last year but not this year?
We've all seen fisheries get closed. It is easy to close them, not so easy to get them opened back up again.
I for one don't want to see coho fishing opportunities in MA 9 and 10 go down the shitter like we've seen others.
In my opinion, this was a major overreaction based on last years returns. Unless coho have become a one year fish, 2018 should have been the year everyone was concerned about and preached conservation.
We got that sermon this year and now you can retain wild coho on the Skagit and Snohomish systems...WTF????
I think when all is said and done, the numbers will show there were enough coho around this year for us to be fishing even if it was hatchery only retention.
It looks like one user group enjoyed it anyway.
SF
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