Among the goals of rec management is to maximize time on the water and spread the catch over the most folks. For example, way back, WDG used to very closely enforce the rule that EACH steelhead be punched (released or not) and the daily limit was 2. C&R 2 and you're done so that somebody else will have access to those fish.

Same with hunting. ML and archery are both considered less effective (at least in a kill/day) so they get more days.

This has to be balanced by what is the minimum kill to attract an angler. A salmon limit of 1 or a razor clam limit of 5 may theoretically allow a longer season but fewer would participate.

This will get complicated by the business aspect of, say, the Westport Charter fleet. They need days, rather guaranteed, to book folks in. In recent decades the number of charter boats seems too have declined while private craft have boomed. Different drivers of who fishes and what they need.

WDFW needs (boy does it get old to say this) to take a long and deep public look as to how rec hunting and fishing seasons are structured; what the concepts are, what the benefits and costs are.

Just reading through threads here it is obvious that one size does not come close to fitting all. Which means that that we all won't get everything we want all the time.