Coho Salmon and Steelhead in Big River Mendocino

i'm pretty sure it is perfectly legal to fish for salmon in the ocean. i think they are the same salmon we fish for all the time. what's not right about fishing for them outside the mouth of the russian ?

Jack I am not an expert but the way I see it is during the early ocean season the Salmon mix up in the ocean and there isn't really any way to protect fish from 1 system and still allow us to fish. During the late summer and fall the fish stack up just outside the river mouths waiting for the right tides,flow or temps to enter the river to start their upstream journey. The fish that stack up outside the Russian are mostly Russian river fish.  The Russian fish are federally protected fish once they enter the river. There are a group of dedicated and hard working people who are doing everything they can to achieve a sustainable run on the river so they can come off the endangered list. Some say it's all politically motivated some say Russian never had a large run and never will but I know some of these people and they do it because they love the fish the river and love(live) to fish. I respect these people and not targeting these fish is a small price to pay to support them.
Another reason I don't fish for them is it just doesn't make good business sense. There is a lot of money time and effort put into the protection of these fish while they are in the river, why not protect them for the few weeks they stack up outside their home rivers. I know you will think I'm a dreamer but wouldn't it be great if people just did the right thing. Everybody screams when the Feds don't let us fish but when the Feds react it's usually too late. Believe me their is nothing I would like better than to fish with you outside the mouth it's a great spot to fish but I just wouldn't feel right but that's just me.

Hi Mooch and Jhfish,

If you're interested in volunteering for our snorkling (sp?) fish studies on Big River in Mendocino, contact Matt Coleman at The Mendocino Land trust.   He's a great guy and I've learned a LOT from him.   He really cares about the river and is a truly scientific thinker with a good heart.   I don't know if he has any current plans for another snorkling run.   Currently we're going out monthly on the electric Bobcat Boat and doing water quality tests for temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, etc..

If anyone is interested in boating Big River together send me a PM!   I've been learning a lot about the river/estuary, her wildlife, and the logging history.   Pretty interesting stuff.

Here's a photo of my favorite form of river wildlife.   Beautiful to observe, dangerous when cornered.   That's my girlfriend on Big River.  You can just see the electric Bobcat Boat behind her.

-Matt (HobieSport)

Mike:

You are my hero...I agree 100%...legal and ethical are not the same.  Not only that by doing so those idiots are going to close down the whole fishery if they aren't careful.

Thanks Sean but you got it backwards I am but a Grasshopper.

Matt Mariko's Paintings are wonderful they reminded me of my late sister's Paintings they brought tears to my eyes please thank her for me.
I have canoed the Albion and Big River few times, looking forward to hooking up with you.