Hello, I am new to this board. I have enjoyed it for sometime and now I am ready to post my introduction story. Over the last year I have read several articles regarding commercial gillnets on the Columbia River and the devastation they cause. Recently, I was invited to assist on a Columbia River gillnet boat fishing in the Longview area. The following is a summary of my observations for 12 hours of fishing on this trip:

Steelhead – 9 caught with 9 released DEAD, 4 of them were wild
Sturgeon – 8 caught with 2 released DEAD
Coho - caught 113 of which 35% to 45% were unmarked 10 were close to 20 pounds
Chinook caught 6

1190 pounds of fish landed.

The statistics are appalling, but what was more disturbing was the general lack of knowledge among my fellow sportfisherman regarding the gillnet fishery. After this trip, I recounted the events with my fishing friends and found three very alarming misconceptions shared among them.

1. They believed that there was a low mortality rate for incidentally caught Steelhead.
2. They believed that ALL unmarked Coho were returned to the river.
3. They believed that all returned sturgeon would suffer zero mortality.

Unfortunately these beliefs are incorrect. As stated above, the mortality rate for steelhead was 100%, all Coho were thrown in the box, and 25% of the sturgeon floated away dead! I find it remarkable that this fishery is still in existence. What will it take to correct this insult on our salmon and Steelhead runs? How can I help so my son can be assured of the same opportunity to catch salmon that I have?

Thanks for you help,

Randy Bradshaw
Kalama, Washington

Thanks for the insight Randy! I think a lot of us are curious as to the reality of gill nets and your observation is helpful.

What's wrong with whitewalls on a Ferrari?

I think that misconception runs much deeper than your sportsfishing friends - based on the information we get from WDFW, I'm not sure they are aware of the real story, either.

So, we need you to communicate this to our leadership. Please send this mesage to WDFW, the governor, legislators, leaders of PSA, TU, RFA and so on.

Start with this link to PSA - you will find email addresses and other concerned (and aware) fisherman. Please take the time to share your story - we (sportsfisherman) have got to do more to protect our resources. Sharing your story will certainly help.

PSA

Kyle, it just ain't right!

Ban all nets.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

Welcome aboard!

Hearing tales like the one you describe makes me sick.

Did the commercial guys all wear dirty sweat pants with holes in them and no underwear? That appears to be the uniform for the industry.

Randy,
Thank You for having the Gonads to post An Honest report on the the Abuse and the damage done by the the Commercial net fisheries of our state. I have heard of reports like these for years having relatives who live in Cathlamet. I have never witnessed these things myself only heard of them from people who have seen them. I did talk to an ex commercial gillnetter one time who stated that "Steelhead are dumb they will swim right into a net where as silvers will avoid them.
I have heard of people who were given Native Steelhead and Illegal salmon that were hidden under boat seats ect. from the gill netters.
Maybe it's time for a change in this state How about a ban on gill nets?
Ramprat