Humpies important for area’s economy

For people who don’t think recreational fishing is important to the economy, I have just one word — humpies.

Pink salmon, otherwise known as humpies, are often prolific and usually not too smart, so they attract anglers in droves.

Carl Wollobek, chief operating officer at the Por

t of Everett, talked with me earlier this week about how important pinks are to the port.

“Thank God for humpies,” he said. “It makes a big difference.”

Humpies, which arrive every two years, boost the port’s marina and its boat launch fees as people rush to catch one.

This year, the port’s gas and diesel sales were up solidly from the previous year (when there wasn’t a humpy run) and boat ramp use was up dramatically from last year.

The weather was nicer this summer and fall than it was last year, so that was a factor. But the humpy run clearly played a big role in the amount of money the port took in this year, Wollobek said, adding that’s the case every during years during a run.

Boat use, fuel purchases and ramp fees from anglers are obviously only just a few ways the salmon help the economy. But they’re concrete examples of the importance of recreational fishing that I think are often overlooked.