A few weeks back I left my fanny pack @ the Blue Creek boat launch. It contained lots and lots of tackle and my license and punch card. I went to Fred Meyer to get a new license and they gave me a new punch card and license. I believe that I had somewhere around 20 steelhead punched but I'm not sure. Now that winter runs are here I'd hate to go over the 30 fish limit. My question is this:
- I've punched 2 winter runs this year. I'm not sure how many I punched on my last card so I'm scared of going over. Is there any way they can monitor this? I'll bet that I can take 5 and be safe, but what will happen if someone turns it in for me and WDFW finds out that I went over 30 fish (which I'll try to avoid)? Don't want to get myself into trouble......
Help

They gave you a new punchcard...... There's no way to tell how many fish you punched on the last card, other than your guestamation. Just go pull some fish and don't worry too much about how many fish were punched on your last card. If you've got some sort of moral conflict going on about how many fish you're taking, then stop at your seven fish or whatever. If not, then fill the damn card up.

Does your new punchcard even have slots for sturgeon and steelhead? Last year I lost my license and punchcard and when I went to get a duplicate, the second punchcard was only good for salmon. This was because of the fact that you're only allowed 30 steelhead and 10 sturgeon per year. The new punchcards didn't allow for steelhead and sturgeon because anyone could say they lost their card, get a new one and fill it too. If your new punchcard has spaces for steelhead then either a mistake was made with the computer licensing system, or the law has been changed? In either case do what you think is right.

Try to remember to the best of your recollection the steelhead that you caught and punched. Use that number to figure out the balance of your allotment. Do the best you can and that will be it. Just like 4Salt, I had to get a second punch card because I had used all the Spaces for Salmon. When I recieved my second card(free) it didn't have any extra Steelhead or Sturgeon spaces for filling. Maybe you got the complete card because you purchased a new license at full price In the end it will still be your call as to how you deal with it. Look at it this way, a lot of people never get close to a 30 steelhead season including CR.