This appeared in the regs for area 6 in the new pilot fishery for chinook, from what I hear if the observers see mishandling of too many fish the season will be shut down. Pay careful attention to the last sentence.


Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca): Closed May 1-June 30. Open July 1-July 4: Two fish limit. All chinook, unmarked coho and chum release. Open July 5-July 31: Two fish limit, 22-inch minimum size for chinook. Unmarked coho, chum and chinook release, except west of true north/south line through "2" buoy near tip of Ediz Hook retention of marked chinook allowed; Area 5 and 6 season quota of 3,500 landed chinook; afterwards, release chinook. Unlawful to bring into the boat salmon that are not going to be retained.

I have seen guys in the Salt use this hooky type thing that just pops the hook right out and the fish never has to come into the boat.

Don't know what it is called but it looked like an easy way to release fish.

I think that is a good reg.

Its called a fish "de-hooker" They work pretty well and are simple to use.
See this link:
web page

I have to agree, its a good reg.

Its probably the only effective way to get people to release their fish carefully. I've seen way to many salmon released after totally unnecessary abuse. I suspect most of this is out of ignorance. Salmon caught in salt water are much more fragile than those caught in the river.

I think if we're going to be able to have a CNR season in the salt or even selective fisheries, then people will have to handle the fish more carefully. Maybe this will force that to happen.

Looks like our own Sparkey is writing the regs!! I agree, a good reg that will go a long ways towards educating correct handling of fish. Hopefully, some of this increased awareness will find its way to the rivers

That is a good policy!

While I absolutely agree that fish shouldn't be brought in the boat if they are going to be retained, why do the regs get more and more complex every year (declining fisheries I guess?). I think I am a reasonably intelligent person but it takes a while to figure out where it is even legal to fish these days. Oh yeah, what day is it again. OK... it was closed yesterday, but open today, and then closed in 2 days. Jeez!

I read this reg a few days ago.....I think it is lousy. I just can't see how anyone who is fishing alone is a boat with a lot of free board is going to pull this off. A lot of older fisherman use pretty big boats, because of the stability, and I just don't see how they are going to handle this reg.

I think the whole approach is wrong, not the removal of fish that are to be released brought out of the water, but rather......if you have to throw fish back because they are not the right species, not the right size, not hatchery raised, not caught on the right day...something's awfully screwed up, don't you think?......

How about this......keep the first (you supply the number) fish you catch......then you are done......nothing gets released, and everything gets punched.....no more incidental take. I know, I know.....far to simple to work. Oh well, wake me up when things are reasonable. zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Fun5Acres-
Your proposal is flawed for a couple differnt reasons...it would certainly close many many fisheries...we would all be stuck dunking power bait for trout in Spanaway Lake.

Also...who is going to pay their way out to Sekiu in the late summer to catch one coho??...which for most people takes little more then 5 minutes.

If only I was...if only I was!!

...but that does give me an idea!!...maybe I shall add that one to Sparkey's Reg Proposals for 2004..."all salmon and steelhead shall not be fully removed from the water if they are to be released!"

Whatcha think????

Fun5Acres, if the older fisherman in your scenario can land a fish by themselves they should be able to release 1 by themselves, if nothing else, cut the leader. If they can't do this, maybe they shouldn't be out by themselves.
I'm all for this reg.

Sparky.....Well, I guess I've been around here too long and remember when fishing was simple and unbelieveably good.....To me the solution should be simple as well......I, and I suspect many others, am/are willing to suspend fishing altogether, if you figure a way to get the netters out of the equation as well, until the salmon and other commercialed fish return to numbers that require no special restrictions.

Tell me that you don't believe the incidental kill with be astronomical. I remember when the Springer protection first went into effect. The legal size slot was 22"-30". First hour fishing of the first day I killed two fish over 20 lbs (accidentally)...one with a broken gill raker, the other just died of lactic acid poison....I was using 20 lb test and a barbless homemade jig. BTW, far before its time, neither fish was removed from the water....believe it or not. I watched both fish sink to the bottem. Makes no sense to fish when killing unkept Kings is the price.

We are not far away from the fishing rules of England......rent a piece of water to fish for a day. Rich man's sport.....very sad

Regards

I think it's a great rule. Last Sept out at Sekiu we could tell right away if the fish was a Nate or Hatchery when it was within 5-10yds of the boat. All the Nates had net marks and scales missing and the hatchery fish were chrome bright, no marks.

The de-hooker is a great tool and with some practice, you can remove hooks in seconds. I made my own and always keep one handy for each side of the boat.

It's going to be a great summer, a lot of opportunities, get out there and have fun. Especially with the Pinks running, take a kid fishing, show them a good time!

C-ya on the water,

Kev

The area 5&6 C&R fishery is somewhat of an experiment to see if it can be expanded into other areas. The mass marking of Chinook is far enough along to allow this. WDFW has been giving away the releasing sticks for quite awhile and has been trying to provide training wherever and whenever possible on proper release techniques. All the releasing device amounts to is a 2' piece of 3/8" wooden dowel with a brass cup hook screwed into one end. It does take some practice but is a real effective tool for releasing fish in the water unharmed.

I don't think I buy the argument that fish in the river can be taken out of the water safely and saltwater fish cannot. Sounds like the steelheaders' slant on things but maybe it is correct. Anything that promotes better stewardship of the fish by sports fishers is worth a try.

I am no expert on releasing fish in the salt but I would think no matter how much free board one has, it would be easy with one of the de-hookers, no matter how old you are.

I should do an experiment, Beezer call your friend with the Osprey, it is our duty to test this theory for the fellow board anglers.

Kev is on the money, the dowels with the cup hook work really great, less work than netting a fish and the fish never has to leave the water. I also agree take a kid fishing this summer and teach them the values and the experience of going fishing.

Side note: I don't understand why these "de-hookers" are not used when steelhead fishing from a boat where wild steelhead are being released instead of a nylon knotted net. BTW, How come anglers carry nylon knotted net in their boat during wild steelhead release seasons?

With that kind of language it is a forgone conclusion that the fishery will be closed. WAKE UP YOU GUYS this fishery is just the carrot thrown at us to quiet the uproar that would come on total closure. Now it will be our fault that it will close! I've always maintained that if a fishery is that bad off than CLOSE THE WHOLE THING DOWN FOR HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES (4 - 5 YEARS MAYBE?) but then license revenue will be lost and thats what this fish crisis is all about anyway. You can't get
"Federal Monies" if you dont have a problem, can you? Do we have a problem? If not then "FISHON" if yes then Lets "CLOSE IT ALL DOWN" I think I'll go back to bed now, I promise to be in a much better mood later!

I think these rules are bogus. NOT! Right on my bearded friend.