| Reference ID: DFW545835 | | Critical Conservation Need Submission Type: Public | Rules Category:
Statewide | Species covered in proposed rule
• Steelhead
| Rule to Change:
Statewide Freshwater Rules > Tackle > “Hook and line angling only. Barbed or barbless hooks may be used, and a hook may be single-point, double, or treble, but not more than one line with up to three hooks per angler may be used.” | New Rule Proposal:
Statewide Freshwater Rules > Tackle > “Hook and line angling only. Only barbless hooks may be used, and a hook may be single-point or double point but not more than one line with up to two hooks per angler may be used.” | Why the change is needed:
The barbless hooks only rule has been adopted as a conservation effort in many areas including many OR rivers, parts of CA and ID, and Canada including all of British Columbia. Hunt (1970) found that fishing seasons and daily bag limits, when used by themselves, are not effective management tools, because they do not apply to each fish that is captured. Hooten (1987) found catch and release mortality of adult winter steelhead to be 2.5 times greater when using barbed hooks compared to barbless hooks. The use of barbless hooks reduces handling time and stress on hooked fish and adds to survival after release (Wydoski 1977). The extremely valuable juvenile steelhead, rearing for 1-3 years in freshwater, are often regularly exposed to mortality in fisheries targeting trout and adult salmon and steelhead. Compared with using barbless hooks, using barbed hooks has been proven to increase tissue damage, handling time, exposure to air, and can significantly reduce smolt numbers and adult returns. Compelling evidence shows that catch and release mortality of juvenile and adult salmon and steelhead can be greatly reduced by using barbless hooks. | Names of individuals or groups with whom you have discussed this change:
Wild Steelhead Coalition, Federation of Fly Fishers Steelhead Committee, The Conservation Angler. | Describe their support and/or concerns:
Support similar or identical proposal | | Submitted by: GAYESKI (WILD FISH CONSERVANCY, NICK J — DUVALL, WA Date submitted: 06/14/2012 |
Reference ID: DFW545835 Current statewide freshwater hook rules are adequately protective. When warranted hook, line or combination thereof are placed on water bodies as needed.
MCKIMMY, TOM M December 13, 2012
TACOMA, WA
Comments:
We need to spend more of our effort on educating people on the best way to release fish with out hamming them. Insted of making them fish with barbless hooks, wich would make it almost impossible for a novice, or child to land a large fish. I know it is possible to release fish unharmed with barbed hooks, even smolts. I have done it alot. Sometime it is best to just pinch the barb, other times cut the end of the hook off by the barb, just to name two. There are many other ways as well. Lets not punish the kids and beginners. Two single barbed hooks is a good compromise. MCKIMMY, TOM M December 13, 2012
TACOMA, WA
Comments:
We need to spend more of our effort on educating people on the best way to release fish with out hamming them. Insted of making them fish with barbless hooks, wich would make it almost impossible for a novice, or child to land a large fish. I know it is possible to release fish unharmed with barbed hooks, even smolts. I have done it alot. Sometime it is best to just pinch the barb, other times cut the end of the hook off by the barb, just to name two. There are many other ways as well. Lets not punish the kids and beginners. Two single barbed hooks is a good compromise.
|
