New Halibut Regs. Letter to the Editor
- Thread starter Rockfish
- Start date
Fish Assassin
Crew Member
Good article......
scott craven
Well-Known Member
Exactly, are they not just implementing what the SFAB has suggested ?
This was supposedly a method of extending the season.
trendsetter
Active Member
I just put this down to a stupid decision by all parties involved. Time to get back to fighting for more allocation so these type of regulations aren't necessary.
Aces
Well-Known Member
trophywife
Crew Member
any laymen fisherman i speak with about the new regs all think it has to do with conservation... frustrating to say the least.
trophywife
Crew Member
trophywife
Crew Member
so you would be happy if in sept you have two days to catch your families food and you hook into only one or two 70lb fish?
everybody has different opportunity to access halibut... some very limited....
SerengetiGuide
Well-Known Member
Everyone who I have talked to who fits into that category said it is complete and utter BS!
Gunsmith
Well-Known Member
bigbruce
Crew Member
Frankly, I'm OK with the 6 hali limit, but I'm sure not OK with the size limit as I have absolutely no idea how I would deal with measuring and releasing a +60 lb hali at the side of my boat. That part of the new regs are going to create some very dangerous conditions on the water and have not been particularly well thought out- no doubt conceived, as the letter writer suggested by a DFO person who has never actually dealt with a halibut that has swallowed a barbed hook.
I consider myself fortunate that in the few years since I've retired and have taken up boating and sports fishing on a somewhat regular basis, that I have not had to deal with this problem. I haven't caught any halibut over 40 lbs and I'll be quite happy if that pattern continues - as would, I suspect, most lay fishermen.
I consider myself fortunate that in the few years since I've retired and have taken up boating and sports fishing on a somewhat regular basis, that I have not had to deal with this problem. I haven't caught any halibut over 40 lbs and I'll be quite happy if that pattern continues - as would, I suspect, most lay fishermen.
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It was not some DFO officer in Ottawa who came up with this plan it was our own SFAB and I assure you it's members have caught plenty of halibut.
It's a very limited window you need to measure say 50-70lbs. If you catch a 90lbr it should be quite obvious at a glance it's over the limit so getting an exact measurenent is not necessary.
I've seen a few top rods make comments like "I won't be anchoring up in the hog holes because of this new reg."
That is excellent and exactly what the reg is going for. Instead of targeting the biggest breeders anglers are going to target small to medium fish. As a result of this reg fewer BIG halibut will be hooked and the ones that are hooked only a small % will die as a result of the C&R.
While it is certainly disappointing the commercial fisherman and First Nations have a different rule set I do believe slot limits work from a conservation angle. Yes this new reg is not about conservation people are quick to point that out but in my opinion it should be about conversation. Think about it Canada's TAC has been reduced or stayed the same year after year in recent history. If we start making conservation a priority just maybe we can reverse that trend and start getting the TAC to increase and our oppurtunities can increase with it.
It sure is unfortunate for the guy who gets out once per year and only catches a 100lbr he has to let go but if everyone could keep those 100lbrs all year that fish would have probably been caught before he got there and/or the season would already be closed before he could go out because bigger fish use the TAC faster. You could say the same thing about the guy who fishes salmon once per year and only catches wild coho. Or goes crabbing and gets a trap loaded with females. Sorry you got no legel fish better luck next year why is this any different?
Anglers need to change their ways for decades we have all chased the biggest strongest fish to hang on the dock scale or brag about to your friends. Catching a big one is only good for your ego and a picture, its not good for the species and its not as good on your plate. If your a charter operator I suppose it's also good for business but that falls under the ego or bragging rights catagory.
It's a very limited window you need to measure say 50-70lbs. If you catch a 90lbr it should be quite obvious at a glance it's over the limit so getting an exact measurenent is not necessary.
I've seen a few top rods make comments like "I won't be anchoring up in the hog holes because of this new reg."
That is excellent and exactly what the reg is going for. Instead of targeting the biggest breeders anglers are going to target small to medium fish. As a result of this reg fewer BIG halibut will be hooked and the ones that are hooked only a small % will die as a result of the C&R.
While it is certainly disappointing the commercial fisherman and First Nations have a different rule set I do believe slot limits work from a conservation angle. Yes this new reg is not about conservation people are quick to point that out but in my opinion it should be about conversation. Think about it Canada's TAC has been reduced or stayed the same year after year in recent history. If we start making conservation a priority just maybe we can reverse that trend and start getting the TAC to increase and our oppurtunities can increase with it.
It sure is unfortunate for the guy who gets out once per year and only catches a 100lbr he has to let go but if everyone could keep those 100lbrs all year that fish would have probably been caught before he got there and/or the season would already be closed before he could go out because bigger fish use the TAC faster. You could say the same thing about the guy who fishes salmon once per year and only catches wild coho. Or goes crabbing and gets a trap loaded with females. Sorry you got no legel fish better luck next year why is this any different?
Anglers need to change their ways for decades we have all chased the biggest strongest fish to hang on the dock scale or brag about to your friends. Catching a big one is only good for your ego and a picture, its not good for the species and its not as good on your plate. If your a charter operator I suppose it's also good for business but that falls under the ego or bragging rights catagory.
salmonkiller01
Well-Known Member
Wait for the sept long weekend for halibut closure notices to see what the sfab fought for, if it doesn't close well they were right(kinda, cause the slot limit sucks for novices like me who might get one a year if I am lucky).
SerengetiGuide
Well-Known Member
I disagree strongly with many things in GDW's post but will somewhat hold my tongue. However, will say it's the "sit back and take it" attitude that got us to this situation in the first place.
juandesooka
Active Member
The reason it is different is because this "conservation" rule does not apply to the group who is catching 85% of the fish! Requiring the sporties to toss back the big ones just to have them dangle from a long line has no conservation benefit whatsoever. It would like rec anglers only keeping males, but the commercials can keep both ... if the much larger user isn't subject to it, then what's the point for the rec limitation?
Now, that being said, if this limitation brings down the average size of sport fish caught, this should allow the set weight allocation to be spread across more anglers and a longer time period. This has its own benefits -- if we are stuck with this 85/15 allocation, that is way to extend the season. BUT, be clear about it, this is purely a political and economic allocation issue, NOT a conservation issue. By playing that C card, you cloud what is really at the heart of this. It is NOT about killing less fish ... it is about which user group is given the legal right to take them.
I believe most rec anglers have no problem with true conservation measures, as long as they are applied equitably. If NO ONE can take halibut above 70 pounds, so that the big spawning mommas can do their thing, I don't expect we'd hear much complaint. What rankles is that this limitation is applied to only one user group. Does this seem equitable to you? And if not, then back to the question .... what do you think this policy is based on?
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