New Steelhead fishing regualtions in WA. good or bad? - California Fishing

PlatinumHooks · 07-05-2004, 06:06 PM

Eventhough, most of us here live and fish in Cali. Some of us do travel to fish and I thought this was a very important subject to take a look at(since I have fished and plan to fish again in Washington). I'm undecided on how I feel about this matter, but I'm definitely gonna contact the DFW in Washington (via email link below) and give my opinion. Read the following:

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission wants to hear what you think about the new statewide moratorium on wild steelhead harvest during a public meeting August 28 in Bremerton.

The moratorium, which took effect May 1 and runs through March 31, 2006, requires anglers to release wild steelhead. Hatchery-raised (legal) fish are marked by a clipped adipose fin and a healed scar. Commissioners will consider comments and written testimony when they discuss the moratorium's future during a conference scheduled for September 2.

Send written comments to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at: 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia WA 98501-1091, or via email to: commission@dfw.wa.gov, by August 26.

GlobalFisher · 07-05-2004, 09:15 PM

Isnt that how it has always been? Releasing wild steelhead and being allowed to keep the hatchery fish? Maybe thats just Oregon...

PlatinumHooks · 07-05-2004, 09:21 PM

I believe that is just Oregon. This just started in Washington this past May.

GlobalFisher · 07-06-2004, 12:13 PM

Oh, I think that is is a good thing to do though. It saves a lot of fish, and provides more to fish for in the long run. Just kind of dissapointing when you catch one and cant take it home.

cst · 07-06-2004, 12:58 PM

i dotn think anyone will say "dam, i caught a wild steelhead" heh

GlobalFisher · 07-06-2004, 01:06 PM

I dont think any people would say that either...Just when you are hoping to catch a keeper and bring it home and you end up catching a native it can kind of dissapoint you. I would have just been excited catching "any" steelhead.

You know what I mean...?

cst · 07-06-2004, 01:19 PM

yeah steelhead look like fun to catch.

PlatinumHooks · 07-06-2004, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlobalFisher

Oh, I think that is is a good thing to do though. It saves a lot of fish, and provides more to fish for in the long run. Just kind of dissapointing when you catch one and cant take it home.

Yeh, I agree to a certain extent. I think limiting the daily limit to maybe one or two as opposed to cutting it off all together for the next two years would be better. You know that the wild Steelhead are gonna be bigger than the stocked fish in most cases. So if you hook up to a huge fat steelhead and it's not stock, you've got put that fish back! That sucks!

In alot of, if not most cases, I'm all for, and do support catch and release. It's when I go out for species that I don't always have a chance to catch, or I'm fishing in places that I don't always fish (such as Washington state), that I would want the option to be able to keep the biggest fish I've caught. I don't know? I've already responded to the Washington Commission of Wildlife Services. They responded to me this morning via email and said that my input will be given to each wildlife commissioner on board. It was cool to get involved.

GlobalFisher · 07-06-2004, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony"PltnmHooks"Z.

Yeh, I agree to a certain extent. I think limiting the daily limit to maybe one or two as opposed to cutting it off all together for the next two years would be better. You know that the wild Steelhead are gonna be bigger than the stocked fish in most cases. So if you hook up to a huge fat steelhead and it's not stock, you've got put that fish back! That sucks!

In alot of, if not most cases, I'm all for, and do support catch and release. It's when I go out for species that I don't always have a chance to catch, or I'm fishing in places that I don't always fish (such as Washington state), that I would want the option to be able to keep the biggest fish I've caught. I don't know? I've already responded to the Washington Commission of Wildlife Services. They responded to me this morning via email and said that my input will be given to each wildlife commissioner on board. It was cool to get involved.

Exactly!

Fishinhopeful · 09-03-2006, 09:44 PM

I think its great honestly, let the big ones go they deserve it, and you have had top release wild steelies now for a long time!

BIGFISH4YOU · 10-28-2006, 06:58 PM

LET THE ANCHOR RIVER HERE IN ALASKA BE THE LESSON FOR ALL STEELHEAD RIVERS. THE ANCHOR RIVER HERE WAS ALMOST WIPED OUT BECAUSE OF OVERFISHING AND JUST UNTILL A FEW YEARS AGO WAS BACK ON TRACT TO BEING ONE OF THE BEST RIVERS IN THE U.S. I WOULD SAY THAT ALL THE DIE HARD STEELIE GUYS WANT IT THAT WAY ANYWAY. THEY ARE A BEAUTIFUL FISH. THE RIVER IS NOW CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY.

Fishinhopeful · 09-03-2007, 10:28 PM

The wild steelie numbers are in ever increasing danger due to mixed breading between native and non native steelies. It is a rarity even in the nations best steelhead rivers to catch a wild steelie, which further supports the new regulations. Besides thats what we have cameras for, LET EM LIVE!