The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission last week reversed a measure approved in February that imposed a two-year moratorium on retaining any wild steelhead caught in state waters.
By a unanimous vote, the commission instead will allow anglers to retain one wild steelhead per year on a dozen rivers — all but one of which is on the Olympic Peninsula — affected by the moratorium.
The new annual limit for those rivers, which takes effect Oct. 3, is more conservative than the annual five-fish limit in effect before the moratorium was enacted last spring.
Meanwhile, the commission has directed the Department of Fish and Wildlife to update its comprehensive plan for managing steelhead throughout the state. That plan, now being developed in conjunction with treaty tribes and other agencies, is scheduled for completion by 2006.
Rivers and streams affected by the commission reversal include the Bogachiel, Calawah, Clearwater, Dickey, Goodman, Green, Hoh, Hoko, Pysht, Quillayute, Quinault and Soleduck.
Anglers must still release any wild steelhead caught on all other rivers and streams throughout the state. Hatchery-bred steelhead, which represent the majority of the annual catch statewide, are not subject to that rule but are managed according to daily catch limits established on a river-by-river basis.
