WDFW has robbed Grays Harbor recreational fishermen of two weeks of opportunity in 2007 to harvest surplus coho salmon returning to the bay and the lower Chehalis River. Before the final NOF meeting, a Sept 16 opener here was all but assured, but at the end of the day, the local Joe Fisherman got the shaft! The opener has now been delayed until Oct 1.

For many locals, the Morrison Park/Top Foods/WalMart fishery represents their only legitimate bank access to harvestable Chehalis coho. In years past, there has been a net-free window in the first 7-9 days of the month when this fishery peaks. This would give the bankies there a good solid week of productive fishing.

Not coincidentally, tribal gillnetting in the area this year begins on Sept 30, just in time to "low hole' the sport fishery. QIN gillnets will be deployed on Sep 30, Oct 1, and Oct 2 then return to the water Oct 7, 8, and 9. The non-tribal gillnetters will then deploy their drift gear October 11, 12, and 13. Then QIN will then return to the water with drift and setnet gear on Oct 14, 15 and 16. The drift gillnets are deployed from high-powered boats that plow repeatedly thru the main channel of the Chehalis generating wakes that render all the nearshore water within casting range to unfishable mud. Meanwhile set gillnets strip the north bank of the migrating nearshore salmon that this bank fishery is dependent upon. Catch rates in the Morrison fishery plummet to ZERO when a concurrent gillnet fishery is taking place.

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We will be gathering at Morrison Riverfront Park on the banks of the lower Chehalis on Sunday Sept 16 at about 3:15 PM to stage a low-key, non-violent, fishing protest/demonstration on what should be the opening day of salmon season in Grays Harbor. And yes, this protest includes fishing, so bring your favorite rod!

The target species is hatchery summer steelhead. The incidental by-catch of salmon, predominantly hatchery coho with the occasional chinook, MUST BE RELEASED BY REGULATION. I have cleared the intent of the fish-in with enforcement, and no citations can be issued as long as folks are using gear that is known to effectively catch steelhead and the salmon are released unharmed. Gear will be a standard steelhead spinning/casting outfit and the spinner of your choice.... single, barbless, baitless.

This is a great chance for your family to participate in the fishery as the fishing zone is wide open and uncluttered with no overhanging trees and few snags. Pretty brainless fishing... cast 'em out ... reel 'em in... set the hook when you get a bite. A bonus is that there is a very nice playground for the little ones, a lawn for throwing a frisbee or playing ball, and a paved trail for biking and rollerblading if the kids aren't fully invested in the fishing thing.

I will bring a video camera to document the event and the catch. The footage will be used in future testimony to make sure maximum harvest opportunity for predominantly hatchery coho is granted in this fishery for the purposes of future season-setting.

WAKE UP WDFW !!!(and I sure hope some of you are reading this) If we aren't going to be allowed to fish for them, what's the purpose of producing all those stinkin' hatchery coho?

maybe we should shot a whale also. will try and stop by as i plan to be in the area.

Sounds like a good plan but goes right along with the same BS that happenned on the Cowlitz this summer.......WDFW won't give a shiat one way or the other.

Everyone should bring their sleds and anchor in the middle of each hole. About 5 boats per hole should do it.

So there are fishies for the net boys to exploit. Remember, WDFW LIVES by the state mandate that they shall provide commercial fishery opportunities as well as sport.

I think their moniker should be "Come fish Washington.......where no water goes un-netted!"

What a f**king joke!

I remember the runs of 96' and 2000 as being stellar. Tons of fish, minimal netting and abundant opportunity for boaters and bankies. It was those years that molded the Walmart/top foods/Morrison Park fisheries into what it is today.

Think a certain co-manager group had something to say about that? It's clear to me no one in the department sportfishes, much less embraces it.

You just watch......Satsop will barely make program at their hatchery in a forecasted "abundant" coho year and the sporties will eak out the crumbs in the tribs.

I have a funeral service at noon, but I will do my best to make it. The park is one of my favorite lunch time fishing holes. Many a day I have gone back to work with blood on my slacks and two fish in my cooler.

Yet another example of how WDFW repeatedly makes decisions that benefit commercial fishermen. We need to get the focus of the commission away from commercial and onto sport. I realize that commercial fishing is a "way of life" in this state but come on! Maybe commercial fishing should turn into a Colonial Williamsburg kind of thing where re-enactors show what commercial fishing was like.

Good on ya FNP. I wish I was going to be able to make it it sounds like fun.

Merch

I may be able to make it down, Doc...I'll give you a ring this weekend if I'm going to get there.

Fish on...

Todd

We'll have to make you fish with your pink worm, T-Rip.

PW's are for winter runs, not summer runs...I'll get your salmon-fishin-arse trained one of these days!

Talked to Ike today, he's stoked to fish with you in a few weeks...you, me, Ike, and Superfly? Three tides? That has the makings of an long and interesting day, in a good way!

Here's to hoping it's 75 degrees and sunny!

Fish on...

Todd

I'm heading north Saturday or I'd join ya' FNP. Then I'd go fish sea run cutts in the Hump in protest of the all September closure of that river to all fishing. WDFW didn't do much for my fishing opportunity this year; fortunately there's B.C. and Alaska.

Sg

Hey, Salmo...at least you've got the Skokomish!



Fish on...

Todd

I'd love to be there,how ever the family & I will be down in Arizona for the "HAWKS" game.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

You care enough to list your concerns. You care enough to go to meetings. You are frustrated that what you think and believe and try to express to the officials at the meetings is not heeded. You do not believe the 'science' that justifies the actions taken by the managers.

You are just like me.

I'll be there.

Doc, we will be fishing Westport on Sunday and if chance has it, ( read as fishing is lousy) we will be there. I will pack up some river stuff to throw with you.

Is there parking for my truck and trailer near there?

Steve

I will be there if I'm not knuckle deep in getting my boat ready for the first. Still need to finish putting floor in, rewiring, and get motor functioning correctly(got rid of my center console and installed a tiller handle)

My kids used to enjoy going there after work and school. If fishing was slow, they would just play on the playground while I fished. A great family fishery gone. I will be there.

There is parking with a good turnaround that I can get my 22 ft sled and GMC short bed crewcab around... now that big a$$ Ford of yours could be another story.

There is a BIG parking lot at Top Foods.

Doc,
I will be there, will also try and rally some hoodrats as well.

Peace
Fly

Thanks for the support, folks. It sounds like we could have quite a turnout. The editor of the local paper saw it fit to give us some print space in the opinion section. Look for my piece in today's Aberdeen Daily World.

If any of you feel the urge, make up a big protest sign or two with a terse, pithy sound-byte to vent your frustration and bring it along.

This could be a good time to meet other board members, so beyond the political intent, let's make it a social event, too. Bring some refreshment and a bag of your favorite finger-food snacks and let's make a mid afternoon "snack-potluck" of it with any of the locals who might stumble by.

I know this is a rather last minute effort that's not terribly well organized, but again I do appreciate the support!