King Carcasses Dumped at Shilshole Boat Ramp

Should have taken a picture first thing this morning when there were 30+ Chinook carcasses piled on the rocks next to the first dock at the launch. This is what was still there this afternoon. Sure would like to know the story behind this..... Can't help but think it's tribal related. We had to released two hatchery Chinook today while Coho fishing, 15 and 7 lbs. I didn't think it was even legal to dump carcasses in the marina regardless of who you are?! Looked to me like an "In-your-face" move.

Press notified? Reel News if nothing else responds.

nothing to look at here... growing the crabs for next year

And they left the collars on???

What the holy hell is wrong with people nowadays..

I know where I'm crabbing next year. Those salmon fed crabbies are the tastiest. Extraspecially those illegal to retain nookers give them a sweet sweet taste of what once was and never will be again type fisheries.

What is the concern? Putting the carks back into the water is exactly what anglers are supposed to do. It's not much different than a spawned out salmon. It's alot better than tossing them into a landfill.

The marine derived nutrients are exactly what the estuary needs. Take note of the small fish that are feeding off the carks. The crabs can't be far behind.

Whoever put these carks in the water is doing things correctly.

Also, I counted six carks. That's a daily limit for three anglers.

At least it's better then last year at the Monte launch on the Chehalis, HUGE pile of tuna carcasses dumped in the middle of the middle launch, it could not be used without moving them. Total shi*heads. Bob R

Two issues with this:

#1 - There is no King retention in area 10.

#2 - I'm all for adding nutrients back into the system, but even if they were legally retained dumping them right at the boat launch is just rude and nasty.

Just because the carcasses are at Shilshole doesn't mean they were caught in a closed area

Fish on...

Todd

It's a short run to MA 11 from Shilshole... just saying, 30+ seems a bit suspicious though.

On dumping the carks... like all things, it's a matter of amount. One guy doing it, no biggie... everyone doing it, could be a problem (think sealions in westport).

I fish out of shilshole myself, I dump my carks elsewhere in Salmon bay.

I've been to Shilshole 1000 times and that doesnt look like any of the docks or surrounding waters by the boat launch there.

One concern is an entirely legal one. It is illegal, under the Clean Water Act, to put biological materials (and a host of other stuff) into the water. When WDF first started the whole nutrient enhancement/put carcasses back program they had to do a complete environmental review and get approval from the water quality regulators. Which they did.

Biologically and ecologically there is nothing wrong with what they did. That doesn't make it legal, though. Not that they care.

Agree. That is definitely not one of the docks at the boat launch, or in the marina...Shilshole's docks all are made of much nicer wood, and don't they have white rubber all along both sides of both docks at the boat launch?

There may not be rubber along the south edge of the southernmost dock?

Fish on...

Todd

Poor form to dump them at the ramp, whatever ramp it was. Take them out and dump them in the deeper water if you must.

Dang, guess I risked a hefty Federal violation each time I returned clam, shrimp and crab remains back to the beach. Oh, what should I do now that I realize what a bad environmental steward I have been for so many years??? Well, maybe continue with what I've been doing.

Note I said it was illegal. I didn't say it was not the right thing to do.

I was snickering the whole time I was typing!

It's right between the dock and the rocks in front of the Coney hot dog place. Take a look on visit 1001. I was with someone you know well, initials JB.

There was 30 at 5:30am and it is Shilshole. LOL

One issue here is that you can't fillet your fish and dump the carcasses before "coming ashore" per WDFW regulations:

"Clean or portion fish or shellfish while in the field with the following exceptions: It is unlawful for an angler to fail to retain proof of compliance
with species, size, number, weight, sex, or wild or hatchery origin restriction, if such restrictions apply, until the angler is ashore and has finished fishing for the day. For all ROCKFISH species and for fish with a length restriction, anglers must retain the fish carcass until coming ashore to comply with the above rule. This does not apply if the catch is in the process of being prepared for immediate consumption."

If you come ashore, filleted your fish, then went back out to dump the carcasses, good luck convincing a wildlife officer as you came in a second time that you already came ashore once before dumping carcasses...

The fish on the bottom left looks like a wild doesn't it?

Charter boats come in with fileted rockfish every trip, 50 gallon bucket full of carcasses. Drop off at dock for tag checking by WDFW and then run a bucket out for another boat and dump outside of the boat basin, daily.

The carcases are likely from the Elliott Bay opener week before last they got 250 or so chinook , and will be conducting a few night time fisheries, as far as i know all of this is whithin Elliott Bay and some of the tribal fishermen use the shilshole ramp

I thought the Mucks said they had no directed king fisheries?? If there are surplus kings in Elliot Bay, why are we not being given the opportunity to fish?
If the tribe was responsible for the dumping of the carcasses, this was a big F*** you to the rec's. They knew it wouldn't go un-noticed and that we would be pissed but they don't care.

If you went to Barkley and brought back your whole fish like you're supposed to, and you lived on the bluff right above the ramp, and you liked to screw a bit with the Internet and dock police, you might dump your carcasses there. Not me, but I know someone that fits the description above who's been known to deposit his Barkley carcasses down there. Last summer there was a similar uproar about a fileted halibut down there in August. I have no idea if it was him this time around, but wouldn't surprise me in the least.

I can confirm that it was indeed Shilshole. I was there and there were at least 30 carcasses on the south side of the south pier near tideline. I spoke with the checker and he said he worked the entire day on Wed and there were no carcasses there when he left. He said folks that were crabbing found them and took them for bait. These were fresh when i saw them around 5:30 AM. Regardless of who did it, i feel it was in your face and just wrong to leave them there. IMHO.

The main purpose of my post is to validate the original post by Fishtales.
K

Dumped my Westport Carc's in West Seattle last week but I at least went to the end of the dock. Don't need to showboat like this individual. Most likely someone like me who didn't dice up the fish until they got home. You guys get so panty wadded.

This post is to validate Fishtales post. I was there at 5:30 AM and there were at least 30 fresh carcasses on the south side of the south most launch pier. They were just below the tide line. I spoke with the fish checker when I returned from fishing and he noticed them when he came to work in the morning and indicated that they were not there when he left on Wed. The numbers in Fishtales photo were due to crabbers taking them for their pots. So most did go to a good cause if that is any consolation.
It is also interesting that their disposal corresponds directly with the biggest push (by far) of chinook through the locks.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/counts/sockeye/chinook_chart.jpg

K

Sorry for the double post.....newbie. It is a bit encouraging to see the locks numbers moving above the preseason forecast (see previous post for link).
"Panty wadded"...yes i suppose so. It is hard to look forward all year to a king fishery at our front door and of late see it go from a little to none. I suppose this fact might make it easier for one to jump to (potentially logical) conclusions.

K

Went to the locks last friday after hitting seamar for some tuna knives and the tide was out but the kings were thick. Kegged up waiting for the incoming tide. Potential for thousands of eggs just that day I was there.

Got to hand it to the tribes. They have not netted anywhere they usually do except for their ceremonial fishery earlier in the summer. Saw the net lights monday morning at 530am on the way to work from WS but they haven't been there since. I have gained some respect for them by keeping the nets out and acknowledging a low water potential poor year for returns. So good game to the tribes thus far. I know they will be nailing the pinks if they are there and the coho. That is fine, they are open to us. So to all of you get out there and kill some pinks and get those [Bleeeeep!] fish out of the river so the kings can get the good spawning grounds. Nutrients or not they are taking up space in prime real estate.