Early Halibut Opening

[eroyd]

How about permitting 400cm of halibut a year. Take it however you want. Mark down the length of every fish you kill on your license until your done.

 

[wildmanyeah]

Given the low commercial quote the price and demand could be fluctuating to much right now.

DFO is probably in maintenance mode as well,

Wonder who will approve the IFMP and all the questions that are going to the minister

 

[BearCove]

Not really, this is what happens when we try to please everyone trying to keep the longest possible season, when the catch data demonstrated clearly that people fish halibut mostly in the June to September time period, and failing to take into full account that people value the expectation and opportunity of taking home a larger halibut if they are lucky enough to catch one. While catch data does show that most of them only get small fish.. you can't ignore the value people hold for the chance of being able to take home a big fish. Which IMO drove the demand for XRQ through the roof making the program difficult to manage.

It's really not that hard to manage, once you have your permit it's all done digitally. The hardest part for them is trying to make sure the program isn't abused, which I'm sure it is. It's a complete honour system, suppose to report, purchase and pay, only need 20lb in your account and reconcile after you keep a big fish.

 

[Hardy Guy]

I heard if nay be FN concerns with the program ..... who knows ??

 

[SG2.0]

Even alaska has a program like this now. I'd assume it has to do with fact it is super busy groundfish season commercially, and they're spread very thin (DFO mentioned this in meeting I was at) plus election caretaker mode? Or price per pound has tanked and commercial sector is worried about rec guys buying it up...one or the other is my guess. I don't think it would be due to overwhelming interest as they hadn't even opened the prospect of applying yet, so they wouldn't know the overall interest yet.

 

[SG2.0]

Good

Naive comment. Without this program this season due to the absurd halibut regs many guides and charters would not be able to get return clients for 2026. Who do you think donates the most $$ to conservation, hours of volunteer work etc... A LOT of guides and charter operators. Without them, you'd really see the dire straits of what would happen to this sector.

 

[Aces]

Naive comment. Without this program this season due to the absurd halibut regs many guides and charters would not be able to get return clients for 2026. Who do you think donates the most $$ to conservation, hours of volunteer work etc... A LOT of guides and charter operators. Without them, you'd really see the dire straits of what would happen to this sector.

Oh c’mon. Nothing naive about it.

That program is bs, nothing more than a way to circumvent sport fishing regs and a shrinking bio mass. When they first offered it we all said anybody that was on that program we’re screwing the rest of us.

I guided for 37 years and know exactly how things work.

 

[BearCove]

I heard if nay be FN concerns with the program ..... who knows ??

Why would they? They get theirs off the top, doesn’t effect them at all.

 

[SG2.0]

Why would they? They get theirs off the top, doesn’t effect them at all.

FN do own 34% of the commercial halibut quota now.

 

[profisher]

Not really, this is what happens when we try to please everyone trying to keep the longest possible season, when the catch data demonstrated clearly that people fish halibut mostly in the June to September time period, and failing to take into full account that people value the expectation and opportunity of taking home a larger halibut if they are lucky enough to catch one. While catch data does show that most of them only get small fish.. you can't ignore the value people hold for the chance of being able to take home a big fish. Which IMO drove the demand for XRQ through the roof making the program difficult to manage.

On the south Island there is more halibut effort in March thru May when there are more appropriate currents and dogfish aren't as bad. So south Island lost a full month of prime fishing with the April 1st opening and also like everyone else the smaller size. What did the west coast and the north give up? Maybe to be fair those areas should give up either July or August so the pain is equal up and down the coast..then up the size for all with the savings.

 

[Hardy Guy]

Why would they? They get theirs off the top, doesn’t effect them at all.

They want more commercial access. If commercial has extra to go to XRQ it should go to them first ....... just what I heard, may be dock talk.

 

[Gong Show]

Everything is in chaos right now at the end of March and the Chinese tariffs on cdn seafood.

 

[Admin]

From a couple pages back...

This thread is really starting to meander all over the place. The opening and regulations for the upcoming season have been established. Further discussion on other elements of the Halibut debate needs to be taken to a new or different thread in the Conservation section.

I should have closed this one then, as it had served it's purpose and was originally posted in 2022. It is now closed.