Quota?

[Eddy C]

Fishing is red hot all over area 9 what do you hear about how we're doing on the quota?

[Smalma]

WDFW yesterday posted the catch estimate for MA 9 for the opener (7/16). The one day catch estimate is 1,059 or 14% of the 5,599 quota.

After looking at the creel reports for Sunday that estimate is not a surprise. I think folks should be glad that there was a one fish limit!

Curt

[Nelly]

As always, Smalma is right on the money.
We'll have a better look after this weekend and the new numbers come out so for now....FISH ON BROTHER

[Eddy C]

How we doing on that quota Smalma?

[Smalma]

Eddy -
I see on WDFW's web site that through Sunday (7/23) the estimated catch for MA 9 was 3,425 Chinook or about 62% of the "quota".

It is any bodies guess as to how long the remainder of the quota will last. If catch rates are similar to last week fishing the coming weekend is problematic. At least on the eastern part of the MA 9 reports are that catch rates have dropped. If that is true for the western part as well we might get through the coming weekend. To get to early August would take a significant drop in catch rates.

Maybe Tom in his advisory role has more updated information and better on water reports.

Curt

[Sandlance]

Smalma - thanks for the update. Do you know if WDFW (and other managers) factored the huge abundance of sublegals in Areas 10, 9, 8-2, etc.) into this year's quota? As you may remember, there were so many fish that they had to close down the season (in November). Thanks for any info you may have.

[Nelly]

Hey gang
The WDFW Conference call with the Puget Sound Rec Fish Advisory group was this afternoon.
Area 9: 61% of the quota used by 7/23, which is 7% behind where we were last year to-date. Given declining effort and catch rates this fishery will go well into August.
Area 10: 10% of the quota used by 7/23, which is 8% behind last year. 25% of the quota was unused last year.

I'm uncertain if sport sublegal encounters would prominently figure into an abundance estimate or subsequent year forecast.
I do know this: it's a great sign for the future!