Sportfishing Rule Proposals
Wild Steelhead Proposals
Wild Steelhead Harvest
BACKGROUND: There has been considerable interest from the public to reduce or eliminate sport
harvest of wild steelhead. Currently, the statewide rule is wild steelhead release. Exceptions are
only allowed on known healthy runs that are above their escapement requirement. There were 16
exceptions on the coast and Puget Sound during the 2000-2001 season (Dickey, Quillayute, Sol
Duc, Bogachiel, Calawah, Hoh, Hoko, Upper Quinault, Clearwater, Pysht, Green Rivers,
Goodman Creek and 4 minor coastal streams). There are no exceptions in the Columbia or Snake
River basins.
On the coast, wild fish limits vary considerable from 1 per day and 2 per year on the Hoh to 1 per
day and 10 per year on the Quillayute River System and 1 per day and 30 per year on Goodman
Creek. On Puget Sound streams, up to 2 wild fish per day and 30 per year may be kept when
legal to harvest wild fish.
Run sizes are estimated annually in conjunction with coastal and Puget Sound treaty tribes to
determine if there will be a harvestable surplus. The harvestable surplus must be shared equally
with the tribes. The department then provides harvest and catch-and-release opportunities,
appropriate to the predicted run size, taking into account any uncertainty related to recent trends,
etc.
The department strives to provide a balance of harvest and catch-and-release seasons based on
stock abundance and angler desires. Angler preference surveys indicate that there has been a shift
in preference toward catch-and-release seasons for wild fish. In 1986 approximately 14% of
anglers preferred this type of opportunity. This increased to 42% in the 1996 survey and to 61%
in the latest survey (2001).
Though the majority of anglers surveyed in 2001 preferred catch-and-release, a significant
number, 34%, (5% had no opinion or preferred closure) still preferred having the option to
harvest wild fish when run sizes allow. It is important to note that in the past when catch-andrelease
was not the most preferred opportunity the department provided a number of areas
targeted on catch-and-release of wild fish. Thus, under current guidelines, both harvest and
catch-and-release opportunities would be provided, but with more emphasis on catch-and-release.
If harvest is allowed, anglers in the 2001 survey preferred a 1 wild fish per day limit by a slight
margin over 2 fish per day (40% vs. 33%). The most preferred range for a wild fish annual limit
was 6 to 10 (33%).
2002-2003 Sportfishing Rule Proposals October 2001
Another important subject related to this issue is that by federal court order the State and Treaty
Tribes on the coast and in Puget Sound may claim “foregone opportunity” if the other party does
not have the opportunity to take it’s share. In other words, if one side can not catch it’s share,
the other party can harvest it. There have been some claims filed by the Tribes for foregone
opportunity related to sport fishing for steelhead and salmon. So far the courts have not allowed
the Tribes to take the sport share, but these cases have all involved sport harvest fisheries, not
catch-and-release fisheries. The Tribes to date have not challenged any of our established catchand-
release seasons. However, the potential for a tribal challenge exists and adopting a “no
harvest rule” for wild fish may give a higher profile to this issue.
PROPOSALS: The department is considering the following two proposals on this issue:
1. No exceptions to the current statewide wild steelhead release rule. The non-tribal
share of any harvestable surplus will be allocated to targeted catch-and-release
fisheries. This option would drop wild fish harvest on the existing 16 exceptions and
allow no exceptions in the future.
OR
2. In areas where exceptions are allowed, standardize the bag limit for wild fish to l per
day and no more than 10 per year. The 10 per year is the total that could be taken
from all rivers combined. The combined annual limit for wild and hatchery would
remain 30 fish.

I believe that what you have re-printed here are the 2001 regulation proposals which were to govern the 2002-2003 seasons. After the public hearings, the option allowing a ten wild fish limit was adopted, though modified to allow only five fish annualy. Very old news.

Well, if the native tribes of the area ever make a case of the "Foregone Conclusion" rules and the court sides with them --and they take advantage of the harvest opportunity, then maybe catch & release fishermen should report a "catch" when neccessary and able even though they released their wild fish! O.K. it's not right to lie, just an idea..... Defense that is. Hopefully they will never be able to take advantage of such instances. There are too many variables.
Good Fishing, Darin

OK, well I was looking for any news on rule changes for the next season. I did hear the Olimpic National Park might go total C&R for wild fish

I would have to be pertty hard up for fish to keep a native from any river legal or not, although if the Indians are going to try for my share I'm going to say I kept every one I hooked let alone caught.

Help me out here guys......

Tribes on the coast and in Puget Sound may claim “foregone opportunity”

Does this mean that no matter what the sportsmen do with their share, if they choose not to kill it, the Indians can?

If that is so, then.....how the Hell are runs to ever be healthy again? This is very disturbing news....first I have heard of it.

F5A-
It is my understanding that they are supposed to "apply" for the remaining quota under Forgone Opportunity.

Can anyone give us some insight?

Another reason why I get fired up over more regulations on sportfishermen and people pushing for barbless hooks closures and catch and release. These things a in vain untill we get rid of the frickin nets. The rivers used to turn milky with spawn! there was so many fish. What they are now is the aftermath of total desimation soon there wont be any fish left in the rivers. I am not for frivilous regulation. I am for bringing back the damn fish.