First of all, I would like to thank The Herald for an excellent special series on the demise of local commercial salmon fishing. I do not stand alone when I say we local sport fishers feel your pain. I started salmon fishing in 1988 out of Everett and was hooked on it instantly. The salmon season was 365 days a year with a two-fish daily limit in any area, any species. I would go out as a novice on weekends with my father. We would catch at least one salmon per rod by 10 a.m. in the summer, never exceeding that limit. There were nets too – mostly Indian nets in the Tulalip area and commercial nets off Mukilteo during midweek.
There where also fish, and this had been a ongoing tradition, I was told, for many years. I don’t believe the locals impacted the fishing because the rules, limits and enforcement where there. The question now is: Where did the fish go?
Let’s bounce to 1993 when fishing was severely restricted in Puget Sound. The state that year imposed a $20 “chinook enhancement fee” to our yearly license of about $12. Sport fishers are still waiting for their enhancement. The fee goes on!
Fishing and fishing opportunities have steadily declined since then. This past summer’s coho season was the worst in memory and most will agree. And now there are a lot fewer boats on Puget Sound. The point in all this is that the fish are getting ambushed somewhere out there on their way back in without somebody counting.
Unless things change this will make a significant impact on the local fishing industry, i.e. boat sales, lodging, food, tackle and fuel. Personally, I am putting off a new boat purchase and sitting back to see what happens. I am tired of saying “Just a boat ride today.”
Kai D. Hunt
Everett
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
