Good question Krijack.

It seems rather disingenuous to acknowledge that the winter fishery sees minimal fishing effort and then say that the closure will preserve fishing opportunity months when there is significant participation. How does that pencil out?

"Better to look good than be good" comes to mind but WDFW does clearly indicate this is driven by Federal actions.
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Remember to immediately record your catch or you may become the catch!

It's the person who has done nothing who is sure nothing can be done. (Ewing)