quote:Originally posted by Deewar25
so question is LC as one of the Renfrew regulars, if they slapped this on you, do you then redirect focus in Renfrew? No longer offer the hali/salmon package and just focus on the beach at 60% the daily rate or something along that lines? Seems to me that is what many would do as it is really hard to justify going all the way out to the banks just to pick up that 10-15 pound flattie (besides when you can dial in the coho/springs as well).
This would be fine to focus on the beach, but I would then be worried about the newly introduced salmon fishing pressure and the much larger #'s of big springs that will be taken because of this first light boat concentration...thus impacting the Sooke fishery much more than typical when Renfrew fishing would focus on the banks (I think that makes sense, but I'll clarify if need be!).
I think micro-managing needs to be done for the benefit of all. Banks fishing Swiftsure to La Peruse etc - limit 2 - annual (doesn't need to be 10 - personally I think 7-8 is fine even if Renfrew locals end up on the short end there because of chicken size), Sooke/Hardy fishing, limit 1, same annual - a charter can still get the business with 1/person down here because of the larger size and the simple fact that 2/person isn't exactly an easy task anyway. I don't think that is unreasonable.
Thoughts?
I think it (1 per day) would have a moderating effect, it would mean that many of the anglers who know how to fish hali inshore would do so, as in shore the size is much larger. It is a little trickier, an involves a little more finess to anchor up for Halibut inshore, but it produces bigger fish, you burn LESS fuel, don't beat the heck out of yourself, and don't go as far. I'll probably be sticking it out off the Waterfront untill the JDF for 2009, fishing for Hali's was a little better of Vic then in Renny anyway untill July.
By making a minor restriction to that fishery, you slow things down on the groundfish considerably. It's like making a river fly fishing only, rather then chucking a worm at trout, an anlger needs to master the art of something a little trickier, and it works quite well in fresh water as a moderator. If someone realises they would need a little more then a bag of whatever Berkley crap Outfitters is pushing and the directions to the hali spot of the day, some people may think twice about exploiting what is a very simple meat fishery. I don't see ANY sport angle in winching up a boatload of 5 pound halibut from 400 feet of water, why destroy 10 fish when 2 or 3 larger would be more productive, and a little easier on the ecosystem. Seems that there would be more to running a guide service then drifting around the edge of Swiftsure, peole would have to learn how to fish. And those that do, I assure you, would be well rewarded
The bulk of my guests would rather have a pair of 40's then a boatload of paddles, that would be easy enough to do on a good tide change out there, then the call is made, either go offshore, or chase springs on the shore, or a little of both. The attitude out there of making sure your box is as full as the next boat coming in is very strong in Renfrew, ESEPECIALLY amongst the guides.
As for Salmon, many more boats come in skunked along the shoreline then do with fish, so I don't think the effort would shift nor have a signifigant impact on salmon. This year, with the exception of the Wedge in a few weeks in July, you would have done about the same fishing Otter/Beechy as you would have fishing Camper/Logan.
Last Chance Fishing Adventures
www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
www.swiftsurebank.com
