I think you might be on to something there....

So in practially speaking this has been done before, if I understood correctly. Are you able to shed some light on what the thought process was at the time? And the reaction to it?

Among the goals of rec management is to maximize time on the water and spread the catch over the most folks. For example, way back, WDG used to very closely enforce the rule that EACH steelhead be punched (released or not) and the daily limit was 2. C&R 2 and you're done so that somebody else will have access to those fish.

Same with hunting. ML and archery are both considered less effective (at least in a kill/day) so they get more days.

This has to be balanced by what is the minimum kill to attract an angler. A salmon limit of 1 or a razor clam limit of 5 may theoretically allow a longer season but fewer would participate.

This will get complicated by the business aspect of, say, the Westport Charter fleet. They need days, rather guaranteed, to book folks in. In recent decades the number of charter boats seems too have declined while private craft have boomed. Different drivers of who fishes and what they need.

WDFW needs (boy does it get old to say this) to take a long and deep public look as to how rec hunting and fishing seasons are structured; what the concepts are, what the benefits and costs are.

Just reading through threads here it is obvious that one size does not come close to fitting all. Which means that that we all won't get everything we want all the time.

It’s insulting that some here are comparing how I fish as a sportsman, with how the 1% Royal elite tribes fish.
I have been using barbless hooks for 35 years where required or not. I’ve never targeted wild Steelhead, or used a downrigger.
How we manage what is left of our fisheries should be up to us and not what the tribes, or those who want us to fish like tribes, want.
So ban downriggers, have bait or weight restrictions. Anything that keeps us on the water setting an example for the rest of society. Lead by example or get out of the way.

Ban electronics!

Back when the fly shop was still in Carnation, i had an interesting conversation with the owner (Jack Cook?). Anyway, pleasant sorta hippy guy that showed me his old techniques from years of fishing all over. I liked and respected him a lot so listened to him a bit and what he told me totally threw me a curveball. He said he loves to fish the dry fly only these days and cuts the hook off of his flies. He said he only fishes for the rise and called it fishing pointless. I have to admit, I absolutely agreed with him. Truth be told I do get my kicks off of the first take whether a tug or a float going down so I understand that aspect but man I couldn't bring myself to casting for days to see one rise. Anyway, this conversation reminded me of the story so I thought I'd share.

I have a good friend who was the assistant director shortly after the state's management changed from DOE to the WDFW.
He could not agree more.

The agency needs more people with balls who can get deals done and less biologists.

State's management of what? What went from DOE to WDFW?

I'd like to agree with the balls part, though I don't believe anyone at WDFW has enough authority to change this without losing his/her job, regardless of testicular fortitude. WDFW's "decisions" get made on the Hill, by people we never see and by means even less transparent than NOF.

I doubt very seriously that Chuck Frigging Norris could turn the tide from any WDFW post today.

Your friend was a manager in a very different political climate. When he was calling the shots, there were still enough fish to support all State fisheries, to your point, largely because we weren't shy about planting fish. The Tribes also had nowhere near the lobbying power in the pre-casino era, so what the Tribes got at NOF was what the treaty provided (you know, as it should be).

Due to irresponsible, financially-driven decisions made at the Federal level (by the Department of frigging Commerce), mixed stock, open ocean fisheries have shrunk and depleted our native stocks to the point where whatever makes it back to severely compromised habitats is less in both number and fecundity. That paradigm assures more and more ESA impacts coming into play. As ESA impacts come into play, all of us (Tribes included) lose opportunity. The available opportunity is no longer enough to go around, so now someone has to lose. The treaty does a lot more to protect tribal rights in the current climate, so here we are.

I don't blame biologists. The science selected to support policy decisions is often the science that causes the least political pain at the end of the day, regardless of whether the staff biologists put it forward as "best available."

I would add that the science in WDFW is often directed by admin. That is, tell us what we want to hear. Unfortunately, this has been going on at some level since at least the late 70s.

Yes, one only needs to look at the myriad of advisory groups which have been established ostensibly to improve communications between the Department and constituents yet which haven't met in years let alone have their information to include meeting dates, agendas and meeting minutes published on WDFW's webpage.

Old adage:

It is more important to look good than be good.

An ounce of Image is worth a pound of Performance

Ban DR. You must be kidding.

WDFW dipsh%ts do aerial surveys to guess how many fish were caught. So regardless of numbers area 10 will close just before the peak of the run. Halibut fishing will close early even though no one caught anything.

The seasons, staff and other resources are allocated and budgeted before it begins.

Fire them all

I'm stealing this. It's probably gonna get me fired upon snarky deployment, but it's pure smartass gold.

Just plan carefully. More than a few wore "The beating will continue until morale improves" shirts. Morale never improved.

What if we had a "Good To Go" style cell phone app for fishing.

Pay for your license, but $5 for every Chinook you kept during the Puget Sound fishery. All funds collected directly go towards hatchery production. If you keep nothing you pay nothing extra. If you cheat you pay quadruple. If you fish every day and help drain the quota you pay your fair share via fees. I fished 4 days a week during the 2017 fishery and we caught just enough Chinook to feel good, but not enough to feel like heroes. It sounds crazy just typing this idea but batsh!t crazy ideas are all that get approved in this state so lets go for it!