HALIBUT REGULATION UPDATE

[yammy5]

Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Fin Fish (Other than Salmon)

Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN0077-Halibut: All Tidal Waters - Further to FN0044 - Changes to the Recreational Fishery

Further to Fishery Notice FN0044:

In order to manage within domestic halibut allocations, the following changes
will be implemented in the 2008 recreational fishery:

Coastwide
---------

March 1 to 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 3.
April 1 to May 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 2.
June 1 to Dec 31: Daily limit of two. Possession limit of 2.

Areas 121, 23 and 123
---------------------

April 1 to Dec 31:

• No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in that
portion of Area 121 seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.000 minutes
north latitude and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes west longitude and continues
southeasterly at a bearing of 116 degrees true to a point at 48 degrees 28.327
minutes north latitude and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes west longitude. [12
nautical mile limit]

April 1/08 to March 31/09:

• Electronic licence conditions will be expanded as follows:
"no person who is not a Canadian resident may fish for or retain halibut under
this licence in Areas 121, 23 and 123."


Variation Order Nos 2008-80 (close time) and 2008-81 (quota).


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Bill Shaw 250-756-7152 and Gary Logan 604-666-9033

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0077
Sent February 21, 2008 at 14:01
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 

[scott craven]

• No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in that
portion of Area 121 seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.000 minutes
north latitude and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes west longitude and continues
southeasterly at a bearing of 116 degrees true to a point at 48 degrees 28.327
minutes north latitude and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes west longitude. [12
nautical mile limit]

Anybody know what portion of the bank this is ?

 

[Last Chance]

CONGRATULATIONS! This is a line that runs from basicly a couple of miles southwest Bouy Juiliet to a point halfway between the Swiftsure Rock pile and the "Finger" off Bamfield. Not exatcly prime halibut turf anyway. I can completeley live with these regs, it would target waters that are fished heavily by the Neah Bay Crowd.


I completeley commend the DFO on this decision. The daily limits in the spring may be a constraint, but April-June are not exactly "fill the boat to the gunnels" months for Halis, you are lucky to get one bigger one for each angler on any given day anyway.

 

[Tailspin]

Much better than anticipated! At least we can still get out. I like the June- Dec dailey of 2

 

[Tips Up]

Sounds reasonable and a Feb. 21 announcement! Time to spare!
Still hope to see an annual limit on the license next year.

Tips

 

[Deewar25]

That appears they are still not putting an annual limit on them? That would be disappointing to me...I think that is a very fair restriction to work with. The 2 possession limit will hurt the Renfrew by the book guide types somewhat as that should wipe out most multi-day bookings, but I'm sure there will be people in general that break the rules and ship out their daily catches. Will be up to the guides to do the right thing and restrict that it seems. I'm not sure as I've only ever done the one day, but I assume multi days have found their way around this anyway and traditionally ended up bringing back 6 for a 3 day trip...pretty hard to go to Renfrew and not get your 2 a day.

I could be wrong...just my assumption.

 

[Last Chance]

quote:Originally posted by Deewar25

That appears they are still not putting an annual limit on them? That would be disappointing to me...I think that is a very fair restriction to work with. The 2 possession limit will hurt the Renfrew by the book guide types somewhat as that should wipe out most multi-day bookings, but I'm sure there will be people in general that break the rules and ship out their daily catches. Will be up to the guides to do the right thing and restrict that it seems. I'm not sure as I've only ever done the one day, but I assume multi days have found their way around this anyway and traditionally ended up bringing back 6 for a 3 day trip...pretty hard to go to Renfrew and not get your 2 a day.

I could be wrong...just my assumption.

I find with most my bookings, we choose the weather and tides of the better day to do Hali's, and then the other day chasing springs on the shoreline, won't hurt my routine a lot. Sure, you may loose some of the "meaties", but the other side of the coin is if your guests are meaties, just throw the hook the next day and bring in some big ones. A couple of 60's is MUCH more meat the 10 15's, which would normally be the norm out there. THis has also just put the kaibosh on the guide giving his two fish as well. I think there is some excellent thought behind this decision.

 

[bananas]

I'm with you LC.Won't hurt me at all.Even though most are 3 day trips i've been training all my regular customers for the last couple of years it fishing not catching your limit.

 

[Deewar25]

quote:Originally posted by LastChance
I find with most my bookings, we choose the weather and tides of the better day to do Hali's, and then the other day chasing springs on the shoreline, won't hurt my routine a lot. Sure, you may loose some of the "meaties", but the other side of the coin is if your guests are meaties, just throw the hook the next day and bring in some big ones. A couple of 60's is MUCH more meat the 10 15's, which would normally be the norm out there. THis has also just put the kaibosh on the guide giving his two fish as well. I think there is some excellent thought behind this decision.

Yeah...suppose that makes sense for the multi-days as long as they don't do a number on the spring restrictions. Didn't think of that systematic approach to Renfrew. How much are they actually out there boarding boats out of curiousity though? Once you are on the docks, its pretty hard to police as you are slicing up and divying chunks of halibut amongst your group - kinda hard to figure out how many you actually caught! I hope there is more presence out on the waters to keep people honest.

Well, this being DFO's first ok move, I wonder if they'd ever consider wiping out the coho hatchery vs wild limit thing out on the banks. I find it disappointing out there how many probably die from being thrown back (especially being yanked off the hook with a gaff, never mind the foul hooks/gill bleeders)...better mananged system IMH would be just to set 4 a day limit of which only 2 can be coho/2 springs. Throwing back 15 coho just to get your 2 is so messed up out there. Catch your 2 and your done..move to shore, play for the big ones...bet a system like that in place for the banks would have done wonders for the stocks.

 

[Last Chance]

Allowing Hatchery and wild on the bank would probably be a good plan, I've tossed back dozens of wild in a day, I don't know how long they live after getting yanked up by a big Tommy.

DFO makes a check about twice a month, and I've only actually seen them at the dock once, and he didn't get out of his truck.

 

[Tips Up]

quote:Once you are on the docks, its pretty hard to police as you are slicing up and divying chunks of halibut amongst your group - kinda hard to figure out how many you actually caught! I hope there is more presence out on the waters to keep people honest

Better check the regs on transporting your catch. You must be able to show that you are within your limit. Packed skin on for ID.

I agree with your coho comment. Keep the first 2 coho and move on.

Tips

 

[Deewar25]

quote:Originally posted by Tips Up
Better check the regs on transporting your catch. You must be able to show that you are within your limit. Packed skin on for ID.

I agree with your coho comment. Keep the first 2 coho and move on.

Tips

hmm...yes, suppose a good point...as we go as a large group, some have smaller coolers etc, so we tended to cut our chunks up to workable size (especially with a larger one)...I mean, we could jigsaw them back together pretty easy, but I guess that's not good enough for them. Have to remember that this year...

Yeah, was interesting about the coho, I emailed DFO about that and actually got replys back from the federal end of it expressing concern about that issue and interest in the solutions I presented (although they did try to justify survival rate for catch and release is quite high) - in the end though, they said just to take it up with the local SFAB in the area.

 

[juandesooka]

quote:Originally posted by bananas

"i've been training all my regular customers for the last couple of years it fishing not catching your limit."

Heh, that's a good one. I'm going to use that as my new excuse for the slow days...

 

[cletus]

I believe (or maybe it's just easier)if you cut up your catch, all pieces of that fish should be numbered on the package the same,so it can put back together.

 

[tyee hunter]

I like this decision....my only concern is the possibility there will be increased targeting of the bigger breeders for the qty of meat instead of 3 smaller ones...cause i cant say im a big fan of whackin the big breeders....

 

[wolf]

WHAT CROCK OF YOU KNOW WHAT!!!!!!!!GOOD FOR THE BOYS IN RENNY BUT SCREWS US HERE IN VICTORIA MORE MISMANGEMENT BY (DUMB F*&k ORG.)

There is a very small amount of guys that fish renny in april,may!!!!!!!!!

Love the idea of the USA getting to make them come here about time that is one good thing they have done good for them, creates more business for the boys on our coast hopefully.

Salmon will be next!!!!!!

I think its time to stop giving to salmon enhancement as they are shutting hatcheries down all the time anyways and funding!!!!! and put that money we as fisherman donate to all the derbies to a fund to hire a lawyer to fight this system,we are now the minority and about time we pull together!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone know a lawyer who loves to fish as much as we do???

Sorry my rant Im feeling sick as hell with the flu and pissed off!!!!

Wolf

 

[fisher69]

quote:Originally posted by tyee hunter

I like this decision....my only concern is the possibility there will be increased targeting of the bigger breeders for the qty of meat instead of 3 smaller ones...cause i cant say im a big fan of whackin the big breeders....

Good point tyee. The increase in mortality from those chasing the big ones could bite us in the butt later on. I am also not much of a fan for the big ones. Never did like the texture much. Myabe we could get a stuffed one at the end of the dock for pictures and that would quiet the meat fishers.

cheers

 

[Nimo]

These regs are great. I think they reduce pressure where possible doing the least harm to the industry as possible. Although it throws a kink in the US abuse, I don't see that it stops the guides from sending their limits home with their customers. Throw in an annual limit and I think it's workable.

Once we are in a position that we are providing the highest possible value per pound from these stocks it's time to go to work on that 12% quota - and I don't mean by paying the commercials to stay home.

Add the annual limit and I would get in line to help lobby for more sports quota.

 

[SerengetiGuide]

I definitely don't mind this at all really. 2 nice sized hali's will give any client a lot of hali meat. And other than those coming in May just to target the hali's, I don't think it will affect whether or not any of our clients will book/not book etc.

I know we catch some hali's in May and June to feed (as dinner) our guests over the busier june/july/august months....so depending on what the annual limit is, that might be a pain.

 

[fishingbc]

You guys should all be thinking of guides coast wide that rely on halis every time out.....we are all in this together.....south coast , west coast, north coast etc.....any reduction in our limits will affect the industry as a whole...time for a coastwide guides association