SpringFever2359
Well-Known Member
Not for Canadians
Early Halibut Opening
- Thread starter carpeweekend
- Start date
Stoisy
Active Member
Based on the last 3 years (see data on post #197) roughly 85% of the estimated capture occurs June-August. With May and September adding another 6% each. So, 98% of capture occurs from May to September. That doesn't necessarily match the fishing effort. But those prime summer months are certainly when the bulk of the catch is occurring, and the majority of the effort. Fishing from June to August doesn't exclude the rest of the year. I think it's easy to see that 95% of us fish between June and August, while also fishing at other times of the year.
ziggy
Well-Known Member
Thanks got it. Is there a similar chart that breaks down catch numbers by area?
Using just common sense I think it is fair to say like stoisy said that over 90% of license holders fish mid May or June to August. Say around 300,000 licenses sold, are you trying to say that there's 30,000 people (10%) fishing halibut out of Victoria and rest of BC in Feb to April or mid May? Definitely not, let's be honest here. Much less than that, probably actually more like only 2-5%.
And there was a sfab survey for halibut that went out to those that attend sfac meetings, the results showed that members #1 priority was overwhelmingly to protect the June to August fishery. Keeping that upper slot larger size halibut was also in top 2 or 3. Of course there were other diverging opinions in the survey, but the option of Feb to April fishery was quite low on vast majority of people's lists who filled them out. Unfortunately tough decisions will have to be made by the board. While I'm not on it, I do stand in on the meetings and have to say there is always lots of discussion. Searun (Pat) has done an absolute ton of work on the data side showing the vast majority of the fish we are catching these days are under 85cm. Reducing the lower slot can have significant savings, where as upper very little.
I attached a pdf I put together showing percentage of our catch by length as well (this is from 1475 samples) and really does show this.
Also thanks Brian for allowing me back
And there was a sfab survey for halibut that went out to those that attend sfac meetings, the results showed that members #1 priority was overwhelmingly to protect the June to August fishery. Keeping that upper slot larger size halibut was also in top 2 or 3. Of course there were other diverging opinions in the survey, but the option of Feb to April fishery was quite low on vast majority of people's lists who filled them out. Unfortunately tough decisions will have to be made by the board. While I'm not on it, I do stand in on the meetings and have to say there is always lots of discussion. Searun (Pat) has done an absolute ton of work on the data side showing the vast majority of the fish we are catching these days are under 85cm. Reducing the lower slot can have significant savings, where as upper very little.
I attached a pdf I put together showing percentage of our catch by length as well (this is from 1475 samples) and really does show this.
Also thanks Brian for allowing me back
ziggy
Well-Known Member
I don’t think anyone is saying 30,000 people are fishing Halibut on the south coast outside of the three summer months anymore than they are saying 270,000 people are fishing halibut in the three summer months. That logic requires every licensee to fish halibut which doesn’t happen and fails to factor in the fact that most people fish more than once.
I’m interested in the survey and how many people were actually surveyed as a % of the 300,000 licensee’s in order to quantify the results. Also would be good to see what portion of the TAC is harvested outside of the main population centres. I expect that’s a question I should be asking DFO.
I’m interested in the survey and how many people were actually surveyed as a % of the 300,000 licensee’s in order to quantify the results. Also would be good to see what portion of the TAC is harvested outside of the main population centres. I expect that’s a question I should be asking DFO.
SpringFever2359
Well-Known Member
Yup...I'm great at fishing for them, suck at catching,It’s also bold to assume that fishing for halibut means catching halibut
The key to halibut fishing is to fish where there is a shipload of halibut. It's that simple
I like the min size (also love the halibut tag idea, but know hard to get ottawa to do it...), we are already charged 30,000lbs for discard mortality which I think is way too high, so maybe a min size puts us in actual line with that. Here is what I found for implenting a min size would do, see pdf attached.
islandboy
Well-Known Member
Definitely puts more pressure on the spring cod/Rockfish fishery.
Keith Brown
Active Member
Hmm its Tidal Waters are under federal control. Out of province? Highly unlikely.
searun
Well-Known Member
15.8% reduction in TAC. We do not have the final Recreational TAC numbers as there are deductions for overage from last year that will need to be applied. We will be in the roughly 650,000 pound range or less. That is about 154,000 pounds less than last year to put it in perspective.
Further perspective - looking at the 2024 data the TAC we used between June and August was 695,796, which is more than we have to work with this season. So when folks are thinking that the shoulder season represents a small amount of TAC, bear in mind we don't have enough TAC this season to repeat a June - Aug fishery.
The SFAB Halibut Working Group will be meeting this week to run through the data and closely examine the survey results from SFAB participants who provided their input on what core values they wished to see considered in how the TAC decisions are to be guided. As noted, the majority said they wanted to protect the core season (June to August). Given what we have to work with there should be enough TAC for that period of time based on historic catch patterns. We may need to consider 1 fish options to also slow down use of TAC to ensure the core season is protected.
Also bear in mind the current biomass has shifted and is now dominated by 2 younger and smaller age cohorts (2012 and 2016 spawning cohorts). Those age classes will be smaller - 65 to 90 cm median size/length. Shaping potential slot size options to stretch out our available TAC will need to consider this shift in biomass. Our catch from last season reflects these size fish dominating the catch, so its not rocket surgery that the most impactful slot size limit options will be to apply or restrict catch of smaller fish. So the 2 small fish option will be problematic to continue.
Further perspective - looking at the 2024 data the TAC we used between June and August was 695,796, which is more than we have to work with this season. So when folks are thinking that the shoulder season represents a small amount of TAC, bear in mind we don't have enough TAC this season to repeat a June - Aug fishery.
The SFAB Halibut Working Group will be meeting this week to run through the data and closely examine the survey results from SFAB participants who provided their input on what core values they wished to see considered in how the TAC decisions are to be guided. As noted, the majority said they wanted to protect the core season (June to August). Given what we have to work with there should be enough TAC for that period of time based on historic catch patterns. We may need to consider 1 fish options to also slow down use of TAC to ensure the core season is protected.
Also bear in mind the current biomass has shifted and is now dominated by 2 younger and smaller age cohorts (2012 and 2016 spawning cohorts). Those age classes will be smaller - 65 to 90 cm median size/length. Shaping potential slot size options to stretch out our available TAC will need to consider this shift in biomass. Our catch from last season reflects these size fish dominating the catch, so its not rocket surgery that the most impactful slot size limit options will be to apply or restrict catch of smaller fish. So the 2 small fish option will be problematic to continue.
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trophywife
Crew Member
the fly overs always count three in the hold? lolIt’s also bold to assume that fishing for halibut means catching halibut
ziggy
Well-Known Member
Has there ever been thought given to selling a Halibut stamp like we do with salmon? The funds could be used to buy back quota permanently from the commercial guys. Maybe not practical given the price demanded to buy as opposed to lease? Before I get flamed, let’s be honest the commercial quota will never be turned over to Rec fishers, whether it’s still fished or simply leased out.
Yes but as searun said earlier very hard to get put through in Ottawa as lots of weird hoops ya have to go through for something like that. Ya think it could just be a minister order.
wildmanyeah
Crew Member
I don’t think it’s worth tho throwing the south island under the bus for mob rule
You could free up tac by closing days of the week.
It’s not like the lodges don’t have other options to fish for stuff.
You could free up tac by closing days of the week.
It’s not like the lodges don’t have other options to fish for stuff.
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Keith Brown
Active Member
Sports fishermen in the USA lobbied and were successful in having the USA recreational halibut quote allocated increased. Now the recreational quota is 30% instead of 20%. So essentially they have increased their halibut quota by 50% while the commercial fisherman took the reduction from 80% to 70% of the halibut allocation. It seems that if there was a recreational lobby effort in Canada to change our current 80/20 split to 70/30 that there is a reasonable expectation for success given the results down south.
I also feel that its worth mentioning that no one is more disgusted with the 25% tariff on Canadian goods than me, however I refuse to lower myself to blaming American fisherman/tourists that want to support our local economy and enjoy fishing with family and friends in Canada. Try putting the shoe on your foot and see how that feels. It makes no sense blaming fisherman from Washington State and Oregon for what comes from Washington DC. Crap if we were keeping score on what Trudeau has done over the last decade we all would have to wear a clown costume when were fishing.
I also feel that its worth mentioning that no one is more disgusted with the 25% tariff on Canadian goods than me, however I refuse to lower myself to blaming American fisherman/tourists that want to support our local economy and enjoy fishing with family and friends in Canada. Try putting the shoe on your foot and see how that feels. It makes no sense blaming fisherman from Washington State and Oregon for what comes from Washington DC. Crap if we were keeping score on what Trudeau has done over the last decade we all would have to wear a clown costume when were fishing.
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