And on it goes...
Fishing in the Inlet and Sound is pretty much a graveyard - mostly memories.
Put an entire day a few ago in checking out the sound - one fish. Spoke with around a dozen good fishers - same or worse results. Monitoring the effort and catch for a week shows no improvement.
Myself and pretty well the balance of the Ukee guides hit all of the approach lanes to the Sound on a daily basis. In a "good" year, by now I would see 75 or better Stamp fish to the boat. This year less than a dozen. All my buddies hunting out there say the same. They simply are NOT there.
And while I amongst others would very much like to see a few fish in for the Derby, this matter is getting well beyond that simple desire. The unleashing of the FN economic fishery, coupled with the bag fleet efforts have vacuumed up the few earlies that did show. And at this juncture, there is nothing coming in behind them. Yet the bag fleets and FN's go again today and more - of course just a few days in front of the impending Derby. Not that there is anything there to catch, but hey, let's at least ensure the system is as close to devoid as possible when the Derby does go... [V]
The "increased abundance" The Dino refers to was based upon returns to removed systems up-Island. As in if Conuma sees a larger return than forecast, certainly the Stamp will see the same. No science - gut instinct and computer projections gone horribly wrong. [xx(]
We are all hoping beyond hope that the fish are simply late. But look at your calender! How late can they be? Historically the system should be right hopping with fish by now. It ain't. Total irresponsibility on the part of "management" to condone the type of carnage being inflicted on a run size even at the optimistic prediction numbers. Criminal and sickening to witness the same when the run now appears to be smaller than originally predicted!
Nearly all other runs have been early this year - the Fraser and US origin fish disappeared from the banks and feeding grounds 2 weeks earlier than "normal" this year. Conuma and points north have seen quite early returns as well. Yet
The Dino insists the Robertson fish are still out there, and can support hit after hit by netters who realize but a pittance for their efforts. How long can this go on before we red list this stock?
DFO - you best hope that they are late, and that they do show in numbers - real numbers that is, not your fudged data yet again to support your overly aggressive removal practices. This time the eye is on you, lawyers are lined up and willing to engage and the
Media Monster is starting to cast it's hungry eyes in your direction. Methinks that should the worst case scenario enfold as it appears very much it might, it is time for a few most uncomfortable moments for you. Not that it will make much of a difference. Your agenda of nuking the fish right out of existence appears to be right on track. And with the hands currently on the wheel of controlling that, methinks there is little hope for any resource beyond your pet fish farmed clones.
SICKENING!!
Nog
PS: 7,000 plus removed via the FN gillnet "economic opportunity" fishery last night. Seiner poised to roll. Gillnetters out this eve.
Gonna be lucky to find a single fish to enter in the Derby, but worse yet, the stock may be in the process of receiving it's death blow. Thanks DFO.
