I got my money's worth for my 2016 license, which was inexpensive considering all the fun I had with my friends and family...

-Wild Steelhead C&R on the Humptulips in February/March 2016
-Caught a few Spring Chinook outta the drift boat Kalama April/May 2016
-Fishing with buddies for trout Cottage Lake May 2016
-Neah Bay was rough weather for the Memorial Day halibut opener but we got out and caught some flat-siders & lingcod.
-Westport bottomfish trip in May yielded limits of rockfish & lingcod.
-June 17 I caught my earliest Albacore for the season
-Late June Skykomish opener there were plenty of summer kings & steelhead around and we found a few.
-July we had plenty of crab cookouts thanks to area 9/10
-Buoy 10 trip with coworkers to Buoy 10 was fun
-Westport Tuna trip in August was tough fishing but glad I went.
-Fished mouth of the Lewis for the first time and we caught a couple.
-A few Snohomish coho trips, a few nice fish I think October?
-A shotload of weekend road trips to the Humptulips in October/November with the drift boat.
-Great fishing for hatchery steelhead on the coast December

Last year was a turbulent time for fisheries management, but I always say you get out what you put in.

I respect your choice if you don't buy a license because you won't use it, but I don't respect negative online posts that will deter others from fishing because you weren't happy because of politics. There were plenty of great opportunities in 2016 and this years should be even better!

There is an interesting aspect to this question that has bubbled up a few times. I grew up in CA. Almost all my fishing was shore based, walk and wade. At least the freshwater stuff, which was almost all I did due to mal-de-mer.

Up here, the primary fisheries are boat-based. Marine salmon, tuna, rockfish, halibut. Freshwater takes driftboats or some other craft for lakes.

So, the question about buying a license gets weighed against the boat or boats stored in the garage/shed/marina. Add to that the fact that most boat-based trips include others and it becomes an even bigger social event. I remember my Dad and a bunch of coworkers heading up to our cabin for opening day of kokanee. I chose not to go as I had both a track meet and the quality of fishing was iffy. They, on the other hand, had a great weekend of eating, drinking , probably lying, and did get some fish. And a good time was had by all.

There is a lot more to our motivations than just if there are fish to catch. WDFW is betting on it.

Thanks for the reminder. Dennis Co has them at two for $7.50. Could not help myself.

Nope. I'll buy a shellfish/seaweed license so I'll still be able to bitch but I'll spend my money and my time up north. The writing has been on the wall for awhile but after the last couple of years it's time. The WDFW isn't advocating on our behalf and I won't fund those working against me.