Plummeting stocks of salmon and sea trout have sparked fears for the future of the lucrative angling industry.
The sport supports about 2,800 jobs across Scotland, and is worth around £113million a year to the national economy.
Concerns have been raised by river gillies, boatmen, bailiffs and anglers, who say catches have “dipped alarmingly” in the last two years.
And they are urging the government to adopt a quota system for 2015 to help conserve fragile stocks.
The Scottish Gamekeepers Association has set up a new fishing campaign arm to tackle the problem.
Spey gillie Ian Gordon said: “Wild fish need all the help they can get and it is clear that lack of action is no longer an option.”
He added that the views of professional gillies and river keepers had been ignored for too long and said the Scottish Government should look at introducing quotas through a tagging system in time for next season.
Mr Gordon said: “By applying quotas that everyone is bound by, the government can ensure that conservation measures are targeted and only what is harvestable is taken.”
Colin Espie, a Deeside gillie for 40 years who is a member of the new group, said: “With the current drop in spring catches, in particular, something needs to be done and people need to speak up now to help the situation.”
Poor survival at sea, seal predation and high mortality caused by lice infestations have all affected Scottish salmon and sea trout numbers.
The new group believes the government could help the industry and ease tension between anglers and netsmen by applying quotas through a tagging system.
Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse said the government placed a high value on conservation of wild Scottish salmon and other wild fish stocks.
He said: “That is why we instigated an independent review of wild fisheries earlier this year. The review will report very soon and I will consider the recommendations made and consult further on firm policy propositions in due course.
“Meanwhile, I have taken the view that the protection of the spring stocks cannot wait for that work to be completed.
“I announced earlier this month that I will consult on statutory measures to replace and enhance the voluntary practices on catch and release and the cessation of netting, that has been in place in previous years across Scotland.”