There appears to be some concern about people fishing after they caught their limit of one pink on the Squamish this year. I commend your enthusiasm for the welfare of the fish, and I won't argue with anyone who chooses to leave after catching and retaining their one fish. I certainly practice this on the Fraser when the sockeye are open. When the sockeye are not open, I choose not to fish the Fraser at all (even in the springs are open). That's my choice.
But I'll present another side of the story. The pinks in the Squamish are already in, or close to, their home water. Unlike the Fraser sockeye that have to deal with great distances and warm water, the pinks have the benefit of short travel and the water is cold (glacial fed cold). If DFO was concerned about pink mortality due to low numbers and environmental conditions, they would have CLOSED the fishing for pinks. Remember in past seasons (2005, 2007, and 2009) there was a non-retention fishery for pinks on the Squamish. In fact, the river was closed in mid-August 2005 due to a chemical spill that occurred. I believe it's fair to say that a C&R fishery did not affect the run as evidenced by strong runs in 2011, 2013 and 2015.
As I've said above, if you choose to stop fishing after retaining your limit of one fish, then that's your choice. However, before preaching to others to do the same, I think it would be good to consider all the information and not compare the Squamish pink salmon fishery to the Fraser sockeye (Bottom Bouncing) flossery.
Just my 50 cents worth. Carry on and get your line on the water...
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Topic: Pink Run 2017 (Read 302018 times)