You guys couldn't resist. I pay my taxes, have invested in a jet boat, rods, reels, gas, etc. You know how expensive fishing is. When I go out I want to catch a spring not sit on the bar and watch a still rod in the holder. I have been BB for 10 years and have never caught a early soc. And if I did I would stop fishing and move locations. Quickly releasing a soc causes no harm. If they are still concerns, DFO needs to conduct more research to actually determine the mortally rates of BB caught socs. DFO is just assuming what is happening. Studies from the US show that properly released salmon have low mortally rates.
I highly doubt DFO is looking at the websites. I never see them on the river so I doubt they would be web site watching. The way I see it, if the natives are allowed to drift net fish, talks by the DFO about conservation of early socs is thrown out the window. Drift nets catch more socs or fish than any fisher could catch during the month of June. Additionally, I have seen the natives beach Seine just below the mouth of the Frasier during late August when the wiped out Thompson coho are moving through. How is that fair?
The DFO says the same thing every year but never actually follows through. If they are concerned about the early socs, then shut down the entire Frasier for all fishers until August. Like I said before, I will contine to BB for 3 reasons: I have invested huge sums of money into the industry, have never caught an early soc and the DFO lets the drift nets to continue.