Commercial prawn opening date
- Thread starter Capt_Ed
- Start date
ship happens
Crew Member
Usually they wait until the spawning index comes through. Typically it's around the second week of May.
scar tissue
Active Member
May 15th
Alison2
Well-Known Member
It was still 125 two days ago.
ThatswhatSeasaid
Active Member
Can we still prawn after the commercial guys start?
I think we have to wait about a wee, then can go back in. I was told today, our traps have to be out by may 9th?
Corey_lax
Crew Member
You can drop traps but good luck if a commercial guy drops his line over top of yours.
ThatswhatSeasaid
Active Member
Oh it's like that, hey? Okay, do they go everywhere? Are there spots we can go to avoid them? Like do they even go right tight into the Saanich Inlet near the boat ramp?
Strait shooter
Member
Saanich inlet is closed May 14-19
ThatswhatSeasaid
Active Member
Thanks for that information. Why just for one week?
Strait shooter
Member
Details on fisheries notice. FN0429
Flyflicker
Member
Like Squire said, I drop traps in more structured areas where the commercial guys sometimes seem to avoid a bit. The prawn opening for sporties usually closes a few days before the commercial opening then will reopen a few days after the commercial opening. I’ve found the commercial guys are just out there trying to make a living. Once I accidentally set on top of a string that they had laid out. My line was cut but retied so never lost any gear, just had to splice my lead line. Ive been ou on a friends commercial prawn boat helping out and anytime we tangled with sporty gear, if we had to cut the line we always retied it.
Flyflicker
Member
I looked up FN0429 and it only pertains to commercial drift net 
Charlie415
Crew Member
Closed for spawner index testing.
Recreational prawn and shrimp harvesters are advised that the harvest of prawns and shrimp by trap, ring net, or spear while diving, will close from 00:01 hours May 14, 2023, to 23:59 hours May 19, 2023, in Stuart Channel (Subareas 17-5, 17-6, and 17-9), Saanich Inlet (Subareas 19-7 to 19-12 inclusive), and Alberni Inlet (Subareas 23-1 to 23-3 inclusive). This action is to allow for the completion of comprehensive spawner index sampling at the start of the commercial fishery.
