Sportfishing Rule Proposals & Comments
View proposals and comments on proposals that were submitted by the public and WDFW staff.
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Rule Change Recommendation Short Title
• See comments Rules Category
Eastern Washington and Columbia Region Freshwater Type of Rule Change Proposal
Conservation Short Description
Require that in freshwater areas (except in the Columbia River between the Buoy 10 line and the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line) salmon, steelhead, dolly varden/bull trout that are to be released may not be totally removed from the water.
Explanation
Aligns with Oregon's existing rule and would be required from February 15 through June 15, when fishing from vessels less than 30 feet in length (substantiated by Coast Guard documentation or Marine Board registration). For the past several years, Washington has adopted this rule via emergency regulation.
Original Rule Proposal Number(s)
DFW511234
RINGLEE, CHRIS September 21, 2012
GIG HARBOR, WA
Comments:
I support this regulation to protect ESA listed salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River.
This regulation however may be very difficult to enforce for WDFW staff. DOCKSTEADER, GAREY September 22, 2012
LONGVIEW, WA
Comments:
When bank fishing (i.e. plunking) along the Columbia River it's sometimes difficult to NOT take all of the fish out of the water to remove the hook and return the fish to the water. TACHELL, JONATHAN T October 08, 2012
GIG HARBOR , WA
Comments:
I would like to see this rule put in place. I believe there is no reason to remove the fish from the water if it is going to be released. ROWE, ANTHONY W October 12, 2012
APO, AP
Comments:
If preparing to release fish and reduce mortality we must keep fish in the water. Many of these fish have literally performed a olympic feet by passing over multiple dams and through multiple nets. How many times have we seen the hero shot over dry ground and see that angler slip lose grip or worse apply the death grip in order to retain control of a fish. Its not a huge thing to ask anglers to help reduce mortality by keeping fish in the water. LAROCCO, MICHAEL October 23, 2012
WOODLAND, WA
Comments:
Make it permanant. Where it makes sense, management of the CR should be consistant between states. An annual passing of an emergency regulation wastes peoples time and probably costs some $ CARVER SR., RUSSELL L November 29, 2012
LAKETAPPS, WA
Comments:
Please pass rule change#27. IRVEN, LANCE J December 07, 2012
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA
Comments:
Yes, this should be standard anyway with those fish. Just like the Olympic Penninsula. HINDS, PATRICK E December 07, 2012
OTIS ORCHARDS, WA
Comments:
I support this regulation. With increases in selective marked fishing as an attempt to protect wild fish, this should decrease mortality in the catch and release of wild fish. DODD, JOEL D December 16, 2012
PUYALLUP, WA
Comments:
I support this proposal. We share the Columbia with Oregon and should do all we can to make rules the same for people from both states. PASSMORE, MICHAEL F January 09, 2013
CATHLAMET, WA
Comments:
Agree; only reason to remove fish from water is for pictures. This extends the stress they encounter. Most of the time the fin clip (or lack of) can be view with the fish in the water while still in the net. WICKERSHAM, ED January 25, 2013
RIDGEFIELD, WA
Comments:
I support this rule change but I do not understand why it should not apply from Buoy 10 upstream. I fish the CR from the mouth to Bonneville for salmon and steelhead as well as the ocean. I have a relatively large high gunwale 22' boat and I do not fully remove any fish from the water that are goin to be released. I had to modify my net gear a bit but it is the right thing to do and the agency should be demanding that conduct.
Recreational fisheries should be required to take all reasonable measures to decrease mortality on wild and listed salmonids. This is a relatively easy and inexpensive regulation change.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ed Wickersham MANKOWSKI, DENNIS R January 14, 2013
VANCOUVER, WA
Comments:
I think that fishing alone in rough water, on the Columbia, trying to unhook a fish in the water, even if using barbless hooks,can be risky. It would be safer to pull the fish out and unhook it and then put it back in the water. I think that the safety of the fisherman should trumph the comfort of the the fish in this situation.
Thanks, You folks are doing a good job.
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