I can tell you that the people I know who drift netted around Harrison caught 86 Chinook in 3 days. They're supposed to release. Did they ? Nope. Not a single nook
Don't worry - we can't do a damn thing about this type of activity from this net user group. This is what they do and this is what they will continue to do despite white man's regulations. This group will self regulate and take what they deem appropriate for their existence. We can complain and point fingers all we want but this will not change anything as I believe/speculate there is an unwritten policy of "hands-off" regulation enforcement for this user group. I mean really - who is going to get charged? Who would go to court to defend? I don't think the individual FN fishermen carry ID's with them when they go fishing so I really think a CO's options with such activities are very limited to immediate, on-the-spot fish and net seizures and any on-board possible firearms related issues.
I think any complaints are heard and possibly recorded but only immediately investigated if there is immediate threat to human safety or if the CO's are in the immediate area. Seriously though, there is only so many CO's actively patrolling the waters, there is only so much they can cover and expected to humanly do. If they had to investigate every call, there is no way that a CO team could even do that as all they would be doing is running their equipment back and forth burning fuel just to get to a site where the activity has long since been over. I'm not saying it's pointless to report but expectations have to be realistic because you can imagine the call center activity during this time of year and the poorly staffed dispatch center trying to evaluate validity, threat risk and priority to dispatch resources to such calls. Not to mention the logistical timing of a CO getting to that spot. From the CO's perspective it must be frustrating that they can only do so much with the resources they have but they must feel someone satisfied with how much they individually have done every day they are out there in the field or on the water. I'm made a point of thanking them for being out there at every personal opportunity I have with encounters with CO. I wish I could physically do what they do and that profession was actually a dream of mine which has long expired.
Again - this is just my opinion and speculation and can not make claim that this is actual fact. This is just how it looks to me.
And please, take the opportunity to thank your CO for their service every chance you get. These fine women and men are humans providing a service which puts their lives at risk every day they put on that uniform and as humans we all need acknowledgement and a verbal thank you of appreciation.