Not buying a license is a no go for me. I don't have any other hobbies that would take up the 100+ days a year I'm on the water.
Besides that, I like to fish for species that don't get the hell netted out of them, require hatcheries or are as poorly managed by WDFW as other species.
No doubt salmon and steelhead are the gold standard in regards to species and their poor management is what pisses people off the most.
If you don't buy a license, how does the state really know the reason you didn't renew was due to salmon and steelhead management?
I know the idea was floated around about individual carch cards for specific species. I buy a freshwater license every year which gives me the right to fish for steelhead. I haven't fished for steelhead in three years after fishing for them for the past 50 years and don't plan to in the future. Yet I'm paying for opportunity to do so. I won't be renewing my Columbia River endorsement this year as I don't plan to fish the Cowlitz this year.
Maybe the a la cart system is the way to go. It would give the state a better idea of how many people are truly checking out of salmon and steelhead fishing versus just not buying a license. Over time and with declining license sales for those two specific species, you'd think they'd get the message loud and clear that people are fed up with the mismanagement of those two species. They should know it by now, but it doesn't appear they do.
I know that what I typed is a slippery slope. Nobody wants more bs when it comes to licenses, fees etc. It may cause some enforcement issues as well, but you could at least speak loudly with your pocketbook in regards to management or lack there of in terms of salmon and steelhead.
No easy solutions, just my thoughts as a WA lifer.
It's a damn shame where we are.
Flame on if you must.
SF
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Go Dawgs!
Founding Member - 2023 Pink Plague Opposition Party
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