AOTY Clarification - Eel River Salmon

What I don't think you're seeing is that my actions are drawing attention to the problem - what are you doing about it besides criticizing me?

The work I did on the Russian is largely responsible for the listing you are choosing to ignore.  The supplementary enforcement on the Russian is a program I created.  Both have protected the resource.  IMHO targeting them for your enjoyment is not helping-pointing out the DFG loophole will only encourage more people to do what your doing.

And, Sean, closing an abundant lingcod and rockfish fishery when almost all other such fisheries are heavily impacted is a good thing in many ways.  What's wrong with saving some old-growth?

There is no such thing as lingcod old growth...which is why they have recovered so quickly.  In addition, for a reserve to be meaningful it needs to protect a resource from significant pressure.  That doesn't really exist at the Cape because of weather and bathymetry...its protected by nature.  All a reserve will do there is keep you from enjoying a resource that can easily support its current harvest effort. 

Old growth ecosystems are the focus - not just older and bigger fish.  I don't agree that it's sustainable at the current level of pressure.  I've seen the fish get smaller out there, and as people go further and further for a hot bite it will suffer more and more.

I have spent more time on the MLPA than you ever will.  I doesn't do crap for "ecosystem management".  It only manages fishing regulations. 

Your assessment of stocks is not supported by data.  The most recent PFMC stock assessments show all rockfish stocks recovering and rebuilding under current regs.

Ab, I've been following this thread a little when I have a moment. I'm only speaking up because I hope you'll listen to Sean about the Cape. He's poking at you a little bit but I'd give him his due as a resident expert on MLPA. I've heard you express that about the cape before but never took you serious. I'm so far from a biologist or fish expert but I've seen fishing across the entire country north south east and west (Haven't been to AK yet)and without a doubt and hope no one is reading this, Cape Mendo is a magical honey hole that has more fish in it than any place on the coast as attested to by us and local sport captains.I can't imagine it going on the list for needed recovery before a score of other areas. It's a sport fishery not commercial and in difficult times ahead for this country we need the ability to put food on the table without risking life and limb to get to it. I've got young'uns too. I think we need to monitor ourselves to not over fish an area like that, and give away places for the MLPA on our coast that are hard to access. Nature herself protects the Cape as said earlier. Regardless, we'll really need Seans help when we go through it next year. You're making me a little nervous.
I've got no two cents on Salmon in the Eel. I don't believe that about the roe dumping at least in most cases but like shulz-"I know nossing I know nossing" I trust the experts to save me from myself.

Here's a little Chinook C&R photo sequence I have saved for just such an occassion.

Photo 1 shows fish on the dirt
Photo two shows contribution to the next generations landing on the ground
Photo 3 shows pointless release

Yes its a dark fish, but you can pick who bites your line!

I'll add my (salmon biologist) knowledge $.02 about the issue with catching and releasing salmon.  While you may or may not agree or believe "roe dumping," is not the point.  What probably is more consequential is "energy dumping."  A nice long fight (or any fight for that matter) on a salmon absolutely doesn't positively benefit the salmon, who is not looking to feed in the river/creek/stream.  The energy lost will not be "regained" as they are NOT going to get more from food. 

I have spent more time on the MLPA than you ever will.

Put the flamethrower away, Sean.

That sounds the final bell for me.  I'm out.

That's not a flamethrower brother, but what do you expect when you attempt to "fill me in" on the inner workings of a process and lived and continue to live on a daily basis for almost 2 years now.

If your feeling hot, its more likely the bonfire of conflict burning inside of you. 

So, wait, Eric are you talking about targeting coho in the Eel? Or just regular chinook?
I feel like I'm missing some hidden part of this argument. And if ya'll are gonna have a discussion on the net for everyone to see, why not tell the whole story?

And, I know this is somewhat off-topic, but isn't the stated purpose of the MPA to protect unique and diverse marine regions? It is my understanding that the MPA was NOT enacted to protect dwindling fish stocks.
So, for example, they are attempting to close the Cape due to its value as a unique, special area of interest...not because the rockfish population could possibly be declining. I had a difficult time wrapping my head around that concept when they closed off the areas that had the healthiest fish stocks...like Pt Sur. I figured "Why the hell would they close THIS area? It has the absolute BEST fishing and the fish stocks seem to be doing great!" But I now understand they closed it because it represented a marine area of biological significance--from rocky reefs to sandy bottom to rich kelp forests. 
I could be wrong. But this is what I gleaned from the few Cen Coast meetings I attended in person (had to watch the rest on my computer due to work commitments).

Or just regular chinook

He is talking about Chinook, but Chinook from the Russian to Redwood Cr./Prairie Cr. are listed as threatened under the federal ESA.

That sounds the final bell for me.  I'm out.

DING!  Another round!   

Thank you, Sean, for exchanging PM's with me over this.  I think we still love each other.   

PK - my original intent was to clarify that catch and release fishing on the Eel is something that is actually permitted (not just a loophole) in the DFG regs.  It IS, BUT...  BUT I had no understanding of the FEDERAL ESA, which has more power than the state DFG, but rarely enforces...  Sean gave me a good education on it, and I now see how screwed up it is.  I still feel strongly that my activity on the Eel River will have a net positive effect, and this will be even more true now.  I will curtail or eliminate my Eel River fishing and devote my energies to trying to figure out how to move forward with an agenda of showing the damage that's been done to the watershed and fishery, the damage that's done by continued C&R fishing, and questioning why it is permitted when it IS clearly harmful to what's left. 

As for the Cape...  I just don't want to see it ruined by greed like most of the rest of our planet, but, through another dose of educaSean, I see that the MLPA may not be the answer to that.  I'll probably just continue inviting folks out there to fish and appreciate with me, and I'll hope to convey my sense of protectiveness, pride and wonderment in hopes that those who are exposed will latch onto those feelings and make them their own.  I'm just an emotional guy who wants to experience all of this cool stuff and who wants to see it taken care of so we can all continue to appreciate it in all its glory.

When my Dad died I found a strength to move forward focusing on the half-full part of things - I'm pretty good at it, and I know I'll need it for the rest of my life.  That said, I don't claim to have all the answers, and I appreciate the input of others who care.

Thanks.   

I'm just an emotional guy who wants to experience all of this cool stuff and who wants to see it taken care of so we can all continue to appreciate it in all its glory.

Which is why we will be forever bound by the "Humboldt Brazilian" 

Whew!! That was a long and interesting, educational thread!!  I guess the same should go for any wild steelhead caught too, eh? Only hatchery steelies on the Russian or Trinity count and wild ones from the Smith? Not to stir it up or anything...

That is part of the REAL issue behind this Jonesz.  DFG is looking the other way so steelhead doesn't get almost completely shut down.  Technically you are right, there should only be steelhead C&R on river systems with a fishable hatchery population in the mix.  That would leave out most coastal streams.  Unfortunately steelhead were listed in many areas on very poor and/or misleading data...there are still a lot of steelies around in most areas.

"Unfortunately steelhead were listed in many areas on very poor and/or misleading data...there are still a lot of steelies around in most areas." Thank goodness we still get to try for em.... I'll never understand the ways of the DFG... It seems like the folks who care the most about the fisheries ie. anglers, always seem to be the ones who take it in the shorts... instead of going after the REAL culprits of declining fisheries.