PSA for WS Fishermen

[Bubba]

I just watched a few guys get busted on the spokane bridge fishing for pinks, including a father with his two kids. Those with fish were fined and their gear confiscated. I think the two with no fish got lesser fines but still might have lost their gear.

Read your regs folks…then read them again…then have a friend read them. yes they can be that convoluted, and the Inner Elliott Bay Fishery is one of the more technical ones. From Duwamish Head over to pier 91 and up to the 1st ave S bridge is closed right now. It is open a couple days a week before a long closure at the end of the month. You gotta figure it out or you might get a hefty ticket from a really nice WDFW guy.

He will also be patrolling Lincoln Park as I invited him down to see the carnival there.

-have a licence

-know your regs and your location

-mark your catch record cards before you wet you line again

-release all fish hooked behind the gill plate (no snagging)even if it is mortally wounded

And PLEASE be a good example to your kids.

Share This

[JenV]

I used to see quite a few guys who would fish down there…and I always had to wonder – are they EATING fish out of the Superfund-er, Duwamish River? Is that safe?

Share This

[cjboffoli]

JenV: As you’d guess it is decidedly NOT safe to eat seafood out of the polychlorinated biphenyl polluted Duwamish. In fact, the EPA tests fish and crabs on a regular basis and in one recent year, when the state health assessor got the results, he called the EPA to verify that the tests were correct because he couldn’t believe the levels of toxic chemicals were so high. Officially I think the State says that those who do fish the river should not eat more than one meal a month from it. And shellfish and crabs, which can have the highest concentrations of pollutants, are permanently off limits. I have heard that salmon are among the safest species to eat because they do not spend a significant part of their life swimming in the river. But even though the State says some fish from that river are safe I defer to the Duwamish Tribe, who have been around these parts for a lot longer than white men. Their spokespeople say consistently not to eat ANYTHING from the river.

Share This

[miws]

I remember, over 25 years ago before the highrise bridge opened, being amazed at all the people fishing off the east channel bridge as I went by on the bus. Knowing how polluted the Duwamish was, couldn’t believe they’d actually eat the fish.

Regarding Lincoln Park, I usually see maybe three people at most, if any at all, fishing just north of the point at Colman Pool. Was quite surprised this past Saturday, to see quite a crowd there. As I was approaching, from the trail head south of Lowman Beach, actually thought it was a group of kids on a Naturalist beach walk, though I thought that was a bit odd, since it was not much of a low tide. (From that distance, my perception of the peoples’ size was skewed).

Anyway, as I got closer and saw it was mostly adults, and pretty much everyone was fishing, thought maybe it was a fishing/sportsman club of some kind. It appears though, to have just been a bunch of unrelated, smaller groups out for a Saturday of fishing.

Mike

Share This

[Cait]

Spokane Street is only open to Fishing Friday – Monday. We eat fish from the Duwamish every so often… no problems here.

Share This

[Serene1]

Did anyone fishing at Lincoln Park last evening find a pair of dropped waders???? My husband would be sincerely grateful if they were found. Thank you!

Share This

[Author]

Posts