What I had heard all along is that once we finally were able to get a shot at our share of those Tulalip hatchery fish (June) that the tribes started mucking with them to get them to return earlier (May) and mostly ended up screwing up the return numbers.
Now we finally were going to get our shot at those earlier returning kings (May 4) when, a week before the opener, WDFW lost it's spine and caved to the whining of the tribe. We now get our shot beginning May 18 which I'm sure follows many weeks of nets and the bubble will be chock full of commercial crab pots.

Anyone know the true facts behind this fiasco?

When it comes to fisheries, the state is run by the tribe.

The undisputed facts are these:

When the North of Falcon process ended, the May 4th Tulalip Bay fishery opener was in ink.

After the "public" season setting process, a member of the Tulalip Tribes objected to the early sport opener.

The State of Washington then capitulated to the Tulalip Tribes request without consulting the Puget Sound Recreational Salmon Fishery Advisors.

When the Press Release was issued last Friday afternoon, only seven days before the scheduled, announced opening of the fishery, I called Pat Patillo requesting an interview. I have since emailed him and have not heard back on either attempt to contact him.

As of this afternoon, the fishery still appears on the WDFW website as opening on May 4.

Let be realistic: Two weeks in May is not going to make or break anyone's salmon season.

However, the precident it sets is one that is troubling.
Are we now to expect that anytime a tribe objects to a sport fishery that the State will shut us down?

Wow just one person objected? Imagine if one person or one small group had so much power? You don't have to imagine. That is how our fisheries are run.

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

April 27, 2012
Contacts: Pat Pattillo, (360) 902-2705

Tulalip Bay 'bubble' salmon fishery delayed until May 18

OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will delay the start of the salmon fishery at the Tulalip Bay Terminal Area by two weeks to accommodate the Tulalip Tribes' ceremonial and subsistence fisheries.

The recreational salmon fishery in the Tulalip Bay Terminal Area - known as the "bubble" - is now scheduled to open Friday, May 18. That fishery was originally scheduled to open May 4.

"At the request of the Tulalip Tribes, we are delaying the sport fishery by two weeks to ensure treaty tribal fishers can meet their ceremonial and subsistence fishing needs," said Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for WDFW.

Even with the delay, the Tulalip bubble will be open for recreational salmon fishing two weeks earlier than in previous years, said Pattillo.

Beginning May 18, the Tulalip Bay Terminal Area will be open Friday through noon Monday each week through Sept. 3. The exception is June 9, when the bubble is closed for the Tulalip Tribes salmon ceremony. Beginning Sept. 8, the bubble will be open only on Saturday and Sunday of each week through Sept. 23.

Pattillo reminds salmon anglers fishing the bubble this year that they will be allowed to use two fishing poles from June 10 through Sept. 23, with the purchase of a two pole endorsement.

Nelly,

Thanks for trying to get to the bottom of this issue with Pat P. I listened to your show this weekend and could tell from your voice that you were none to pleased with the precedent set by this action.

It is my understanding that the tribes have moved up the release of these fish to have the fishery under way before we have had access to them and they started this several years ago.The fact that the Dept moved up our start date and then the tribe was able to over-ride that decision should be met with outrage at the travesty that the NOF process has become.

Level playing field for ALL user groups!

FIshy

I was at the meeting you attended Nelly, and it was stated at the meeting that the tribe was not in favor of letting the sporties out there early (May 4th) and I wondered why he phrased it the way he did. It almost sounded to me like he knew there was a good possibility this would happen. He also discussed how the tribes wanted to start netting for Baker Sockeye earlier in the salt, and then go 7 days per week in the river. He tried to calm us down by saying that even though it would be open 7 days per week, he was confident they wouldn't be out there every day. Should we start a pool on how many days they net and how many fish they catch over their share, plus a bonus for when they shut the sporties down due to the over harvest by the tribe.

Is anyone from WDFW going to be on the Outdoor Line this weekend to answer for this? Have they been invited?

At least you get/got the 2 rod endorsement, not for the year but for a period of the year........Chehalis River, we can't get it for any period of time......

I agree...NOF process is flawed........

Hey TD,
I've invited Pat Patillo to join us this Saturday. I will let you know if he takes us up on our invitation.
Thanks for listening and thanks even more for asking about this important issue.
The only way we're going to get anywhere is by bringing these issues to light.

Guess I took friday and sat off for nothing!

I spoke with WDFW Director Phil Anderson this afternoon and he has agreed to come on the show and discuss the events leading up to the Tulalip Bay decision.

We will be taking calls and texts during the show with your questions.

866 -979-3776, 206-421-3776 or, text us at 710710.

It should be something north of interesting...

Thanks for having the Director on the show. And good for him, for explaining what happened, publically.

It's already been said, but the bubble season change seems like a horrible precident that really undermines the legitimacy of the NOF process.

Going to be some distractioned Saturday morning with shrimp pots and halibut gear so am hoping that you'll podcast the interview.

I don't think this decision emphasises the tribes ability to reign over the state, all it shows is that they have the right to the first crack at their own fish. The fishery is based on Tulalip Tribes Chinook stock, stock that they produce to supplement their commercial activity. The sport fishery in the "bubble" or terminal area is a bonus for sportys. If it weren't for that tiny slot fishery, there would be no Chinook harvest in 8-1 or 8-2 during summer months due to ESA listed stocks in both the Snoho system and more importantly the Stilly.

Also, the fishing offered from Tulalip (if you check their regulation) is for subsistance only, currently. So far this season, I have heard of 2 fish caught in their subsistance nets.

The fishery is the same for the commercials as it is for everyone else, slow, spotty, and unpredictable.

"The federal government provided the funds for the new hatchery to the tribe, which planned and directed the project, making the Tulalips the first tribe in the area to own and run a fish hatchery."

No bonus. We signed the same treaty they did. At one time this fishery had decent numbers until the tribe ruined the return by trying to get them to return earlier than we were allowed to fish for them. Or so goes the rumor. I don't know if I'll get a chance to tune in. I'm hoping that rumor is cleared up as well as return numbers, run timing, why the state caved in besides simply "the tribe wanted us to", etc.

And where do the eggs for those chinook come from... Wallace.

Which brings us to another question as to why they shut down the sky king fishery.

The only thing I can figure is that the state approved an increase in the number of chinook that wallace raises so in order to meet the demand for the first few years they shut down the harvest.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, WDFW Director Phil Anderson joined us this morning and answered some pointed questions.
Here is the Podcast link
Take a listen and let us know what you think.

I understand the argument that this was something overlooked in the NOF process but not so sure about those good relations. We've had this bubble chocked full of crab pots during our days, net's put in earlier than noon Monday and mucking with the run timing. Maybe WDFW has good relations but I'm not too fond of the shenanigans.

Without the (any) Tribe's agreement there is no fishery.