#1021885 - 02/10/20 11:50 PM
One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
|
River Nutrients
Registered: 04/25/00
Posts: 5077
Loc: East of Aberdeen, West of Mont...
|
WDFW News Release
OLYMPIA – Fishery managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved a limited-opening recreational smelt fishery for Friday, Feb. 14.
A portion of the Cowlitz River will be open to recreational dip netting along the shore from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for one day only.
The portion of the river open to dip netting extends from the Highway 432 Bridge upstream to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp, located approximately 1,300 feet upstream from the Highway 411/A Street Bridge in Castle Rock.
This is the first year since 2017 that a recreational smelt fishery has opened on the Cowlitz. Columbia River smelt – also known as Eulachon – were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2010.
Each dip-netter may retain 10 pounds of smelt per day, with no more than one day's limit in possession. Ten pounds is about a quarter of a 5-gallon bucket. No fishing license is required to dip net for smelt in this limited fishery.
_________________________
"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"
"I thought growing older, would take longer"
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1021886 - 02/10/20 11:54 PM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
River Nutrients
Registered: 04/25/00
Posts: 5077
Loc: East of Aberdeen, West of Mont...
|
The actual memo must have been written by a English major.....it went on and on and on.
I shortened it......
_________________________
"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"
"I thought growing older, would take longer"
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1021900 - 02/11/20 08:27 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
My Area code makes me cooler than you
Registered: 01/27/15
Posts: 4549
|
I hope Russia got the message so they can line the river bank with the usual cast of characters.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022057 - 02/12/20 07:07 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
Shooting Instructor for hire
Registered: 10/26/10
Posts: 7260
Loc: Snohomish, WA
|
IMO - if a "run" of any type of wildlife will only support a 1/2 day opening every couple of years, then it should just be shut down entirely. Maybe I'm wrong here, but that doesn't sound like sustainable conservation to me.
But hey...thanks for the "opportunity" WDFW!
_________________________
“If the military were fighting for our freedom, they would be storming Capitol Hill”. – FleaFlickr02
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022067 - 02/12/20 07:54 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
Dick Nipples
Registered: 03/08/99
Posts: 28170
Loc: Seattle, Washington USA
|
I suspect this opening has more to do with the fact that they are having a commercial opener for this same destroyed run.
Fish on...
Todd
_________________________
Team Flying Super Ditch Pickle
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022069 - 02/12/20 07:57 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: NickD90]
|
River Nutrients
Registered: 10/28/09
Posts: 3314
|
IMO - if a "run" of any type of wildlife will only support a 1/2 day opening every couple of years, then it should just be shut down entirely. Maybe I'm wrong here, but that doesn't sound like sustainable conservation to me.
But hey...thanks for the "opportunity" WDFW! Agreed. Gotta get that "threatened" designation downgraded ASAP apparently....
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022070 - 02/12/20 08:38 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
My Area code makes me cooler than you
Registered: 01/27/15
Posts: 4549
|
Rape the resource until it's quit kicking that's our motto..
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022080 - 02/12/20 09:17 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
Three Time Spawner
Registered: 12/29/99
Posts: 1611
Loc: Vancouver, Washington
|
I fail to see how WDFW can open this fishery for anyone. These are ESA-listed fish. This is NOT incidental take. It’s direct take. And there are no hatchery smelt that might compete with wild smelt on the spawning grounds. These are all wild fish. NMFS can exempt ‘incidental take’ but I’m not sure how they can allow ‘direct take’ of a listed species.
Plus, there is no requirement to possess a fishing license! This galls me more than anything. Given their budget situation, why does WDFW allow participation in this fishery without a license?! Anyone from anywhere can dip 10lbs of an ESA listed species without so much as a $15 fishing license. So an unlimited number of people can harvest a State-owned resource without providing any support to the State. I know of no other fishery anywhere in the State that allows the harvest of a State-owned resource without a license. How hard is it to require one?
And given the precarious situation in the ocean, principally the lack of forage fish, why are we harvesting the spawning adults?
This is an outrage, on a number of levels.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022081 - 02/12/20 09:31 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
Shooting Instructor for hire
Registered: 10/26/10
Posts: 7260
Loc: Snohomish, WA
|
To add, how much will be spent on enforcement? You know there will be a couple of field officers in there checking limits. Wouldn't those dollars be better suited for something else that is more viable? LIKE A SEASON FOR A CERTAIN RIVER SYSTEM UP NORTH!!!
_________________________
“If the military were fighting for our freedom, they would be storming Capitol Hill”. – FleaFlickr02
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022082 - 02/12/20 09:42 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
My Area code makes me cooler than you
Registered: 01/27/15
Posts: 4549
|
You guys are soooo nearsighted.
Obviously WDFW needs to get some filming done on their reality TV series.
Some camera time and 15 seconds of fame far outweigh the needs of the WA State sportsmen.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022084 - 02/12/20 09:46 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
Shooting Instructor for hire
Registered: 10/26/10
Posts: 7260
Loc: Snohomish, WA
|
Break out your best track suits fellas...we gettin' on TV!
Dosvedanya little river smelt!
_________________________
“If the military were fighting for our freedom, they would be storming Capitol Hill”. – FleaFlickr02
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022085 - 02/12/20 09:47 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: cohoangler]
|
Three Time Spawner
Registered: 01/29/19
Posts: 1519
|
Great observation cohoangler. You are 100% right.
Especially without the CR endorsement not in effect anymore.
What a circus.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022087 - 02/12/20 09:52 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: NickD90]
|
Three Time Spawner
Registered: 01/29/19
Posts: 1519
|
Break out your best track suits fellas...we gettin' on TV!
Dosvedanya little river smelt!
"So, no good eh, full buket." I jus move here. what is regulation?" I see it too often...Especially on that river.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022089 - 02/12/20 09:57 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
My Area code makes me cooler than you
Registered: 01/27/15
Posts: 4549
|
Why doesn't someone send that bit of info to the Daily Olympian????
"I fail to see how WDFW can open this fishery for anyone. These are ESA-listed fish. This is NOT incidental take. It’s direct take. And there are no hatchery smelt that might compete with wild smelt on the spawning grounds. These are all wild fish. NMFS can exempt ‘incidental take’ but I’m not sure how they can allow ‘direct take’ of a listed species.
Plus, there is no requirement to possess a fishing license! This galls me more than anything. Given their budget situation, why does WDFW allow participation in this fishery without a license?! Anyone from anywhere can dip 10lbs of an ESA listed species without so much as a $15 fishing license. So an unlimited number of people can harvest a State-owned resource without providing any support to the State. I know of no other fishery anywhere in the State that allows the harvest of a State-owned resource without a license. How hard is it to require one?
And given the precarious situation in the ocean, principally the lack of forage fish, why are we harvesting the spawning adults?
This is an outrage, on a number of levels."
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022090 - 02/12/20 09:57 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
My Area code makes me cooler than you
Registered: 01/27/15
Posts: 4549
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022109 - 02/12/20 11:36 AM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7428
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
|
I believe that the license requirement comes from the Leg. They decide what requires a license and fees.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022125 - 02/12/20 02:09 PM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: DrifterWA]
|
River Nutrients
Registered: 11/21/07
Posts: 7428
Loc: Olema,California,Planet Earth
|
No Tribes to piss off on the Cowlitz, perhaps?
|
Top
|
|
|
|
#1022127 - 02/12/20 02:18 PM
Re: One-day smelt opening announced for Cowlitz River
[Re: Carcassman]
|
River Nutrients
Registered: 03/08/99
Posts: 13523
|
No Tribes to piss off on the Cowlitz, perhaps? The petition to list the smelt under the ESA was filed by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, but they are non-treaty and don't have treaty fishing rights.
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
3 registered (steely slammer, 2 invisible),
1076
Guests and
3
Spiders online. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
11498 Members
16 Forums
63778 Topics
645361 Posts
Max Online: 3001 @ 01/28/20 02:48 PM
|
|
|