The Outdoor Line Forum

With the new 2014 salmon seasons coming out yesterday, does anyone know what the Chinook guideline for area 9 is set at for this year? I believe it was 7,000 Chinook last year? I can't find the number in any of the articles I've read to date.

Hey MG,

The season in Marine Areas 9 and 10 open July 16 and consists of a guideline quota of 3,218 in MA 9 and 1,112 in MA 10. These numbers are approximately 60% of last years harvest guidelines.

We were faced with an unanticipated Lake Washington wild chinook "driver stock" situation which forced the co-managers into sport harvest reductions despite strong numbers of hatchery chinook returning to Puget Sound this year.

While I lament the reduction, I sincerely believe that this quota -with the limit reduced to a one fish bag- could last well into August.

In north MA 10, the June chinook catch & release season will remain open and we also managed to keep the July 1-15 resident coho/chinook C&R in MA 9 & 10.

To make room under the weak stock Lk Washington chinook bar, MA13 (south sound) was converted to mark-selective and increased the bag from 1 to 2 fish.

The good news?
We came through the NOF process with NO CLOSURES and fishing will be smokin' in Marine Areas 9 & 10, albeit with a one fish limit.

With the reduction in harvest in MA's 9 & 10, there will be a whole bunch of fish headed for the south sound and I sincerely believe that we're going to see a banner year in MA's 11 & 13!

I sure do hope so! MA 11 and 13 could use some help down there. I will be sure to keep you posted if that is the case.

I sure hope that this is a good year for areas 11 and 13! We have been in a steady decline the last few years down here; skunk trips get old quick! Another thing to keep in mind, 2 rods (if you purchase the endorsement) are going to be allowed in area 13. I hope that will translate to a few more hatchery fish in our fish boxes instead of surplus fish @ a hatchery plus generate a bit more revenue for the WDFW!

250,000 clipped fish [conservative estimate] headed our way. We get 3218...that leaves 246,782 for the tribes! Seems fair to me.

Lake Washington needs chinook to feed the sea lions. Cut our quota cut our limit so the tribes and sea lions can have their fish seems fair.

I believe we will be done in 2 week ends. With all due respect Nelly I see no silver lining in this one.

Lake Washington wild fish? We have had hatcheries in this state for over a 100 years. There are no native fish! There are clipped and unclipped fish.

Eddy C wrote:250,000 clipped fish [conservative estimate] headed our way. We get 3218...that leaves 246,782 for the tribes! Seems fair to me.

Hey EC, I know you're tongue-in-cheek with your math and I was as bummed as anyone with the drop to a one fish limit 'cause I know that you know where I spend my time in July...

The fact of the matter is that we share a responsibility with the co-managers of protecting the naturally spawning chinook to the extent mandated by the Federal Government. The Endangered Species Act listed Puget Sound Chinook enjoy protections under the law and we are faced with the reality of a bit less chinook harvest this time around.

Without an agreement in place that is approved by NOAA, we would all be on the beach this summer.

Fishing with a one fish limit is one whole heck better than not fishing at all