Puyallup Salmon Fishery Negotiations Continue

Anybody else glad they can go kayak fishing and not have to deal with Puyallup River?

Puyallup Salmon Fishery Negotiations Continue
By Andy Walgamott, on June 19th, 2013

With the traditional start of pink salmon season on the Puyallup River less than two months away but a sport fishery still in flux, negotiations between state and tribal managers have risen to the highest level.

An indication about the seriousness of the issue for both parties, WDFW director Phil Anderson and the Puyallup Tribal Council are now involved in the talks, according to a source close to the discussions which began several months ago during the annual North of Falcon salmon-season-setting process.

At issue are 54 late-summer days that tribal netters want to have exclusive access to the 7 miles of river from the 11th St. Bridge in Tacoma upstream to the mouth of the White River, a stretch that includes some of the best lower-river public access and fishing for the odd-year, all-native humpbacked salmon.

Gear and angler conflicts have occurred in recent years on this historically significant salmon fishery, and could again this year with the Puyallup expected to see 1.2 million pinks as well as smaller numbers of Chinook and coho. Anglers often wade well out into the glacial stream to target the fish while netters and their gear move downstream. Though the lower river has been straightened, there are a couple sharp curves.

When negotiations during North of Falcon failed to resolve the problem, WDFW put the line “To be determined” in the rules pamphlet, and that understandably caught sport anglers’ eye. Fishermen have been contacting the agency and Northwest Sportsman for updates.

As pinks begin to filter towards and into Washington saltwaters and August comes ever closer on the calendar page, a state official acknowledges that it’s the closest to a fishery that discussions have continued, but says WDFW is talking face to face with their counterparts at the tribe to resolve the issue.

Through the twin pillars of a 1974 federal court order and Endangered Species Act listings of some Puget Sound salmonid stocks, harvests are comanaged by the state and tribes.

http://nwsportsmanmag.com/editors-blog/puyallup-salmon-fishery-negotiations-continue/

Im sorry I know the puke is a favorite fishery for many a folks but its also a breeding ground for flossers/snaggers and with all the bickering between the tribes and sporties wont be surprised if they just give it to the tribes and close it to everyone else... that's just my .02 on the matter though and Im biased because Im not a fan of the puke because of what ive seen and heard of what goes on there...

I was wondering what river you fish, where the pinks are willing biters?

Oh and I live close to the puke, there are nets in it right now and have been in for a month.

I love fishing the Puyallup and am looking forward to the run this year. That being said I'm happy I bought my kayak in case the negotiations don't work out.

I hate dealing with all the morons and Natives in that river.  I don't fish that river unless it's a workday and it's nearly empty.

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What are they netting this time of year?

-Allen

The Puke is a great place to go if you want to combat fish, get into arguments over tribal fishing rights, or get hit by a car crossing the road...That being said, I will be in the yak chasing the Pinks off of Brown's Point instead...

 

Maybe I will see you out there Kaptain King. I getting the last few bits for my kayak with the hope of catching pinks off browns point. I have yet to fish out of my kayak.

I just got my outback Tuesday and already am foaming at the mouth for opportunity to NOT  be a part of the zoo that is the Puyallup.  Looking forward to a great fishing season in the sound!

Yo Homebrewer48 and DSamurai - I live in north Tacoma by Point Defiance and am down to fish anytime. Hit me up and let's go attack Owen Beach in a couple of weeks when the fish are in. Crabbing is starting July 1st!!!! Can't wait for the first Dungie crabcake to hit my belly....

They have two nets in today, one at the confluence of the puyallup and white and one 100 yards down behind the old cannery

Sounds good, I should be good to go in a few weeks. But crabbing? I never thought of that. Might have to give it a shot.

slightly off topic anybody heard anything on the skokomish???  july 1st is when it supposedly opens

"from mouth to Bonneville power lines
(upstream of Hwy. 101,
approx. 47°18.88'N, 123°11.26'W) (834)
To be determined"

I really want to be able to yak around the estuary and try and pick off a couple of the estimate 10K+ chinook