SEATTLE—With the Alaskan Way Viaduct along Seattle’s waterfront slated to down late next decade, a group of local fishermen has its eyes on the girders and guardrails for a whole new structure: underwater reefs for ailing Puget Sound rockfish and lingcod.

Rob Tobeck recently came up with the green idea to recycle clean parts of the elevated highway for marine fish habitat instead of sending it to the landfill.

“I’ve always been frustrated with the lack of good bottomfishing you’d think we would have in Puget Sound,” explains the former center for the Seattle Seahawks and Washington State University, as well as Coastal Conservation Association member. “I’ve seen in Florida where they’ve taken old barges and old bridges and that’s where you go fish.”

Lined up behind him is Bear Holmes, a 62-year-old fourth-generation Washingtonian who chairs CCA Washington’s Puget Sound Marine Enhancement Committee and who admits to personally aiding in the decline of those stocks in his younger days. He wants his grandchildren to one day enjoy that same quality of fishing he did in the day.

http://www.nwsportsmanmag.com/current-issue/

One of the topics we're gonna cover tommorow...
Isn't it about time we did something for the bottomfish around here?

I mean heck, we bottom-drag the crap out of Puget Sound homogenizing the bottom, eliminating structure and we wonder why rockfish populations crash...

Also, we're having Shane Aggergarrd on to discuss the NOAA proposal to eliminate sportfishing on the west side of San Juan island...
See ya in the morn and phone in with your comments!


866-979-3776 or 206 421-3776 from 6-8:30 on ESPN 710 Seattle

Darn, I'll be Officiating at the Puget Sound Anglers Derby Areas 10,11.
Hope you'll have the info on your site. Last time I could not bring Bear's discussion with Robby anent this topic on your site, ti was listed but would not play.

I am suprised none on you folks think this a worthy project. If Washington State's D.O.T. and maybe D.N.R. gets enough letter, I am sure it will come fruition .

I am suprised none on you folks think this a worthy project. If Washington State's D.O.T. and maybe D.N.R. gets enough letter, I am sure it will come fruition .