OK - thanks for the info guys.
Yeah, the 3-day-a-week opening is a very good compromise. I am actually quite surprised. Hope it's not a "kick the can down the road" solution and they're just gonna close it in a couple weeks (after the roche harbor derby) as the Yuasa article suggested.
Yes, rumors can sometimes be annoying. But they do get the brain juices flowing on a particular topic so that we're not caught unawares. And, what's the internet good for if we can't throw around some unfounded speculation?
Plus, rumors can be true (or close to it) at a given point in time, even if the ultimate narrative changes. This happens when stories develop rapidly as this one did. And, the rumor also got me in gear to fish, which I've been every day this week and it's been GREAT. So I guess I'm saying I'm a fan of rumors. And this is a fishing discussion board. Rumors are what fishing is all about.
On that very subject...I did hear an industry organization (I think charters) threatened to sue WDFW if they closed MA7. If that's true, I'd find it somewhat distasteful if WDFW agreed to keep it partially open because of the threat of a suit. That'd be twice in a year they caved due to threat of litigation. Even though it works in my favor this time, I still think a regulatory agency should have a spine. Again, speculation.
Larry B -t hanks for your synopsis. I am wondering if anyone knows the answer to this question...what about the fact that they don't clip their kings in Canada? How does WDFW account for that, do they just assume antyhing unclipped is wild? MA7 is probably unique in that it sees alot more unclipped canadian HATCHERY kings than any other marine area.
Having fished for "winter springs" in canada, whenever they catch a clipped king at least 24" (which they catch alot of) they whack it and say, "thanks, America!". They can whack any king 24" or greater, whether it has a fin or not. So basically, we're supplying them with alot of their winter fish while we're not allowed to touch theirs. Something doesn't seem right about that, though I fully admit I may not be aware of all the facts/issues.