Hmmmm, degenerated to name calling have you? Sorry I and others who do not meet your vision of the brave new world exasperate you to such a degree.

Now, is there anything further worthwhile to discuss about NOAA/NOF/Tribes?

It should be interesting on how this letter plays a role during the NOF process when it comes to another possible closure--- Area 9 Chinook summer fishery.

I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you worked for the government...

when we are fishing under a quota, wouldn't it better to track catch on a daily, weekly or on a pre-established end of quota date? Then analyse the data to see where we are at in the quota...

Similar to the crab reporting, season ends on labor day, but because of online reporting, it is usually opened again november 1 because we have not met the quota... why not track columbia river salmon, area 9 chinook, area 10 blackmouth via online reporting, or for the non tech savvy mail it in just like you usually do, you can thank those of us that do report online when you get an extra two weeks to fish, while the department is still processing your mail in card...

Pretty optimistic about area 9, I hope you are right.

Pisses me off... the whole family is excited about a new boat this year.

I was planning on pulling the trigger at the sportsman show, but I'm gonna hold off now...

I don't work (anymore)! Gave it up about 10 years ago. As I have said several times in this thread I have no problem with reporting on line but I reject being required to do so immediately upon retention as a CRC report.

As for crab reporting I have said I report that online. But I also keep a paper copy of both the report and WDFW confirmation; way to many stories of online reports being "lost" and the $10 penalty being assessed.

Oh, and the recreational winter crab season to which you referred normally opens 1 October (not 1 November) if there is an adequate portion of the State's share remaining for a full winter season. If the residual is insufficient for a full winter rec season the Department may open a shorter winter season in a given management area with emphasis on holiday periods.

Now, back to NOAA/NOF/tribes. I would like to be optimistic about the marked selective Chinook fishery in MA 9 and MA 10 but my perception was that the Muckleshaft was far more political than biological and that it will continue and possibly become more onerous. As has been mentioned earlier in this thread that situation may ultimately result in a cost/benefit analysis and a decision to toss in the towel and cease all State funded Puget Sound Chinook hatchery operations. That is a potential the tribes need to consider.

This letter centers around lost opportunity starting in the Elliot Bay bubble, then Area 10, possible area 9 closure and reduced allocation.

Should be an interesting at NOF this year if the Muckleshoots and WDFW part ways.

Nobody is saying it should be a "requirement" ... everyone is saying it should be an "OPTION"

I have twice tried to shed you Piper. Let it go.

Sounds like OceanSun works in the same industry I do. I like his ideas for beefing up the app to include personalized "journaling" features, but for the sake of what WDFW needs, I think most of that would be out of scope (lol).

The last thing I will say about this reporting app business is that, despite my desire to always accommodate people's preferences, no reporting system will add the value we're seeking unless everyone eats the same dog food. That means that, as much as I'd like to let those who love paper hold on to it, to do so would defeat the purpose of offering the app in the first place. If only half the license holders use the app, the data recorded at any given time won't be accurate enough to be meaningful, because the catches by non-adopters wouldn't be available until the season ended. Sure, there are reasonable ways to extrapolate data, but if the app were to be used as an in-season management tool, it would need to be more accurate than anything less than full adoption could provide.

No matter what we use, the fact that catch recording can't be monitored effectively means that our data will only be as good as participation allows. That's a problem software won't solve. My reasons for wanting to go electronic lie mostly around convenience, ease of use and the prospects for in-season management tools. A WDFW with near real-time data can only become a more effective, better-informed manager of the resource. Plenty of devils in the details, but even a sub-par implementation of an electronic reporting system would improve WDFW's efficiency and accuracy in analyzing catch data, and that should matter more to all of us than our preferred way of reporting our catch, IMO.

It looks like the subject of ways of reporting would make a good subject for its own thread. Feel free to start a thread about this or maybe the mods can take and use what is here to start that thread.

This is about NOAA's letter to the tribes and WDFW.

Back in early Boldt the state tried to manage salmon based on ins-season information. Resulted in a gargantuan cluster-**ck as areas opened and closed on a daily basis. There will be a ton of e-regs so nobody will know what is opened or closed.

There needs to a lot of thought as to how the fishery, and the fisheries that follow it on the migration route, are managed. You close a crab fishery and then find out there is harvest left you can re-open it. You close (say) Area 9 and then fish that there are still some Cedar River Chinook left you can now fish the Cedar.

Am I the only one that sees the irony of someone posting on an internet forum that they are 'just not interested in being so "connected'?

Change is hard for some people. I get that. In fact there is a local steelhead club here that would rather not fish than enjoy a C&R season. Can't wait to see if they'll stay home when it happens?

One of the most important features of all these connective devices is the OFF button. It'll get you disconnected right quick!

Progress doesn't require unanimous approval, and I'm sure you'll still have a paper option until you die and they will develop a 'reporting factor' for all of the unconnected.

But the advantages of real time monitoring will bring digital reporting into the picture. My local bio loves the idea for use in a Skagit C&R season. It's tool that we now have the technology to use. Not doing it should be seen as a step backwards.

It might be time for WDFW and the Muckleshoots to part ways if an agreement can’t be reached regarding reopening the Elliot Bay Bubble, reopen Area 10, and try to restore allocations to some degree to both Area 9 and Area 10 for Chinook summer fishery.

What is the use of raising Chinook and having them come back to where they were released if you can’t catch them.

I prefer catching these fish in these areas in Puget Sound instead of traveling to other areas of the state to catch the same fish.

They should pilot and require real time catch reporting for the commercials with an app, it is easy pull a fish outta the gill net, push a button on the smartphone...

"Someone" responds that there is no irony at all. I simply do not desire to have that "smart phone" run my life. Rather than use the "off" button I choose to save money by simply not owning one and limit my internet activity to when I am home.

Sorry Larry, didn't mean to pick on you like that. My internet activity is the same as yours. I own my business and work with my hands - the phone doesn't run my life, it's a tool that I use when it's appropriate. Kind of like pen and paper, a table saw, a ladder, a fishing rod, and thanks to my advancing age, reading glasses!

My phone is only as smart as I allow it to be.

As to the original topic: I'm wondering if this letter is a subtle hint that the situation could be taken over by another governing agency if the process remains contentious. Having corresponded with Bob Turner on other matters the phrase "stay in its lane" is a familiar one and in my experience meant "it's out of my hands".