Early Halibut Opening

[trophywife]

Slowly.... lower limits.... lower size.... I hope the kids today have opportunities later in life to fish and experience what we have. Seems we legislate recreation, the government in return provides free methadone for our suffering.

I do like having limits, gotta keep people honest. Although I do think we should have a trophy tag system, where you can purchase a specified number of tags for over slot size fish. That would be a win win. Those tags would need immediate attachment to the fish and become void thereafter. Hmm, thoughts.

think about your ask as this a horrible system in my honest opinion. like Bod explained it is in place.
It divides sport fishers by economics and access.
We should be permanently gifted back quota,look at how much more our trickle down economy is.... just like the slipper skipper families should be treated. fish it , or lose it. We as a group have never had a problem fishing it.

 

[Samnjoe]

Anyone know how much quota the commercial guys leave in the water?

 

[wildmanyeah]

Anyone know how much quota the commercial guys leave in the water?

Maybe 5%? im not sure looks like the used up most of it last year

 

[Tips Up]

Any way to see how much quota was was leased by Rec Fishermen, lodges and guides under this stupid "Experimental" halibut program?
5% left in the water plus what ever was leased is what we need transferred to Rec side of the quota. IMO.

 

[SG2.0]

April 1 start, with 1 fish/day and only 1 in possession, max size is 102 cm. The annual limit remains unchanged at 10. There should be a Fishery Notice out soon.

A lot of analysis went into investigating the 1/1 option as a potential mechanism to allow as full of a season as possible. All our prior modelling did not investigate and develop 1/1 options, so this was entirely new and untested ground. FYI for those who have looked at prior versions of the model - the 1/1 options in the table were not actively connected with any data producing the same estimates as the 1/2 options...so essentially of no real benefit to making decisions. Topping that, the interests from the recreational community are extremely diverse. For example, no one wanted a really late season start, and conversely no one was looking for an early closure.

We dug through 2 years of iREC data (2023/24) to develop a detailed understanding of the sizes of halibut people actually retained, and developed an analysis of which size ranges were accounting for the recreational catch of halibut. No surprise that the majority of fish retained were less than 90cm - this aligns to all the IPHC and commercial catch data. The biomass has shifted substantially and is dominated by 2 younger/smaller age cohorts - so that's the size available for the fishery to catch. Accordingly, our modelling needed to be updated to reflect this shift in biomass.

These are difficult decisions to make, and the Halibut WG looked at the data to find a regulatory framework that best fit the widest possible interests of the recreational fishing community. Impossible to please everyone, especially when the aim is trying to find a compromise to the various and diverse interests.

Looking ahead to next season, if people wish to become engaged in the SFAB process to speak your mind and provide the Halibut WG with your thoughts as to what type of fishery choices best represent your interests, then I would suggest getting involved in your local SFAC committee and making sure this is an agenda item on your SFAC meeting so your group can develop input for the SFAB Halibut WG to consider.

Or find ways to get engaged and involved in the Halibut WG so you can replace old dogs like myself. We need new people with fresh ideas and perspectives willing to learn and help make the SFAB better.

Want to get involved on halibut WG but do not want to replace you or Deryk. Two of the good ones.

I do think these regs will have long term implications to tourism to BC…negative implications that were over looked. Plus I’ll bet nice chunk of TAC left in water. On Thursday will be putting forward a motion at north island sfac to have numbers for min size for decisions next year. (Wanted min size this year, realize risky but in times like these risks have to be taken and there would be savings. Just a question of how much).

 

[SG2.0]

Any way to see how much quota was was leased by Rec Fishermen, lodges and guides under this stupid "Experimental" halibut program?
5% left in the water plus what ever was leased is what we need transferred to Rec side of the quota. IMO.

Usually around 8000-10,000 lbs. iphc dfo report has it. In 2025 I will guarantee that will be around 30,000+ lbs. already talked to numerous guys who never used it who are this year otherwise will lose guests

 

[Eden Island]

I appreciate the efforts to maintain the season length - April 1 start is as good as usual over many years. I personally would rather see a higher max size [like the former 126 cm] and a lower annual limit [like 5 or 6] but I know there's been tons of analysis and its not possible to grant all wishes.

Our halibut tend to come in July, August and September and my wife and I might catch 4 to 6 between us. Most are small [8-15 lbs] but we have each caught them right up to 126 cm.

 

[trophywife]

Usually around 8000-10,000 lbs. iphc dfo report has it. In 2025 I will guarantee that will be around 30,000+ lbs. already talked to numerous guys who never used it who are this year otherwise will lose guests

this is what part of the problem is that lodges and guides are facing. literally forced into it and then the government can tell us how well it works. instead of buying in we as a group should up the fight and refuse to buy any.

 

[kaelc]

April 1 start, with 1 fish/day and only 1 in possession, max size is 102 cm. The annual limit remains unchanged at 10. There should be a Fishery Notice out soon.

A lot of analysis went into investigating the 1/1 option as a potential mechanism to allow as full of a season as possible. All our prior modelling did not investigate and develop 1/1 options, so this was entirely new and untested ground. FYI for those who have looked at prior versions of the model - the 1/1 options in the table were not actively connected with any data producing the same estimates as the 1/2 options...so essentially of no real benefit to making decisions. Topping that, the interests from the recreational community are extremely diverse. For example, no one wanted a really late season start, and conversely no one was looking for an early closure.

We dug through 2 years of iREC data (2023/24) to develop a detailed understanding of the sizes of halibut people actually retained, and developed an analysis of which size ranges were accounting for the recreational catch of halibut. No surprise that the majority of fish retained were less than 90cm - this aligns to all the IPHC and commercial catch data. The biomass has shifted substantially and is dominated by 2 younger/smaller age cohorts - so that's the size available for the fishery to catch. Accordingly, our modelling needed to be updated to reflect this shift in biomass.

These are difficult decisions to make, and the Halibut WG looked at the data to find a regulatory framework that best fit the widest possible interests of the recreational fishing community. Impossible to please everyone, especially when the aim is trying to find a compromise to the various and diverse interests.

Looking ahead to next season, if people wish to become engaged in the SFAB process to speak your mind and provide the Halibut WG with your thoughts as to what type of fishery choices best represent your interests, then I would suggest getting involved in your local SFAC committee and making sure this is an agenda item on your SFAC meeting so your group can develop input for the SFAB Halibut WG to consider.

Or find ways to get engaged and involved in the Halibut WG so you can replace old dogs like myself. We need new people with fresh ideas and perspectives willing to learn and help make the SFAB better.

Thank you and all the volunteers. Keeping 10 fish is a good way of holding the line. It's up to the rest of us armchair lobbiest to support you guys and provide pressure where directed on politicians.

 

[Samnjoe]

Thank you and all the volunteers. Keeping 10 fish is a good way of holding the line. It's up to the rest of us armchair lobbiest to support you guys and provide pressure where directed on politicians.

10 fish per year only benefits guys who live on the island with very few exceptions.

 

[kaelc]

10 fish per year only benefits guys who live on the island with very few exceptions.

I didn’t see the 1 possession, that does suck for every islander as well. Few islander ever catch their 10 and most of us do not go Hali fishing two days in a row. Keeping it to 10 helps everyone. We have never seen a rebound from prawn limits being reduced or springs. Sure some guys go Hali fishing from home two days in a row but I haven’t since a Hali derby in 2018.

 

[wolf]

It’s like going hunting and having someone aim the gun for you clean your meat and pack it for you “not real hunting”
I get it guides need to feed families and everyone wants their share

BUT not everyone has a boat hence why its importnat to have a guide , BUT I will say these REGS have killed my long time clients that used to come here 10 years ago for 1 /2 they stopped coming as the value isnt there anymore , hard to ask a guy to come fly out then pay me (my fee) plane and hotel and restaurants for 1 fish especially now at maybe a 30 lber...

13 years ago they pushed for people to lease quotas and we fought hard to stop as the ONLY one who benifits is the slipper skipper that was
" GIFTED" this quota. the commercial sector always carrys over and alot doesnt get used.
ITS vey simple but it will never happen take away a bigger piece of pie from them , but good luck on that we should be thankful that jimmy allows us to have our 15% if we had 25% we would have no issue , pray for a conservative gov, just maybe we might see change...

 

[Poppa Reelie]

The system you want to see, has been in place for years. This just shows us that people don't read the reg's, don't have a clue what's going on, don't get involved, and then complain in the end. Our system isn't perfect, but it's what there is to work with. It usually doesn't give us the results we would like to see, but again it's the numbers the working groups have to deal with.

Ya I dont know what to say. I guess I keep seeing rivers closed to sport, even catch and release (but open to netting), Ocean fishing restrictions so complicated you need a science degree to learn them and then they change yearly depending on emotions. It just tiring the more they take away we never get back. Albeit the 80's was a complete collapse east side of the island and no restrictions on sport fishing, just commerical, and the fishing rebounded.

Schadenfreude - DFO​

 

[Capt_Ed]

10 fish per year only benefits guys who live on the island with very few exceptions.

I cant figure out how anyone needs 10 Halibut. With a salmon limit ,a ling limit and some prawns how can 1 family eat 10 29# halibut. As many know here i spend 4 1/2 months a year at TC and come home with our limit . We eat fish twice a week all year and no way with all the other limits would we need 10 halibut. I take 2 30# halibut a year as i like that size for eating. I realize very few Halibut fishers actually get 10 a year but blaming lodges or guides or commercial fishers and then the Americans will only make DFO happy that we , AGAIN, are fighting amounst ourselfs. Trust the people that are fighting for you and if you don’t, then step up, but do your research first

 

[wildmanyeah]

If I had to guess I would say probably 95% of the tac is used up by people who retain 2 or less adjusting annual limits would do nothing.

It’s the same with chinook most chinook are caught though guiding operations and the average chinook retained was less than 6 per person.

So using annual limits as an effective way of reducing catch would mean setting annual limited very close to current possession limits.

 

[ship happens]

I cant figure out how anyone needs 10 Halibut. With a salmon limit ,a ling limit and some prawns how can 1 family eat 10 29# halibut. As many know here i spend 4 1/2 months a year at TC and come home with our limit . We eat fish twice a week all year and no way with all the other limits would we need 10 halibut. I take 2 30# halibut a year as i like that size for eating. I realize very few Halibut fishers actually get 10 a year but blaming lodges or guides or commercial fishers and then the Americans will only make DFO happy that we , AGAIN, are fighting amounst ourselfs. Trust the people that are fighting for you and if you don’t, then step up, but do your research first

I've been stewing this around in my brain for so long I just didn't want to open that can because you know what happens when you do. Why not allow a fish or 2 and done. But then your talking total participation of anglers to count those fish. Almost need tags to manage it. Unless there's a easier way

 

[Rain City]

Is there no way of doing an over slot that can count as two or even three fish on your annual limit? Still keeps the retention at one but helps out the guys that only get out one or two times a year. Has this ever been considered?

 

[eroyd]

If I had to guess I would say probably 95% of the tac is used up by people who retain 2 or less adjusting annual limits would do nothing.

It’s the same with chinook most chinook are caught though guiding operations and the average chinook retained was less than 6 per person.

So using annual limits as an effective way of reducing catch would mean setting annual limited very close to current possession limits.

I'd guess the opposite. I'd guess the biggest chunk of the tac is taken by the minority who feel the need to maximize their catch, take granny out to get extra limits etc. A smaller, reasonable limit of say five fish might give a longer season to those of us who can pace themselves. Assuming folks play by the rules.

 

[wildmanyeah]

there is 100's of guides across the coast, taking out people every day for 4 months of the year, Many of whom it will be their only fishing trip of the year, Guided success is infinitely higher than non guided success.

I get what your saying, i just dont think its a significant amount compared to the above.

This is also where the majority of fishermen are and why now a days it would be really had to rally the troops, is a guy that goes on one or two trips a year, who has many choices of where to go gonna spend hours of their busy life advocating for more tac? its just not gonna happen and that's where there majority of anglers are.

 

[trophywife]

i will stand by my statements that the bigger lodges should be part of commercial tac. it is corporate. money machines. us small guides in the communities bring people in and also spend our money in these communities. absolutely adding to the trickle down economy that keeps all the services supported. also thought of a weight or length limit per license rather than 10 halibut.. so someone would get say 100lbs quota or 60 inches in total per licence catch it how you can or want to.