Talked to my buddy gill netting on the port side of China Creek and he said "It's slower than slow".
Well they are certainly getting their "
opportunity":
[TD="class: BoldNormalTextBlack, width: 90"]Category(s): [/TD]
[TD="class: NormalTextBlack, width: 500"] COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
[/TD]
[TD="class: BoldNormalTextBlack, width: 90"] Subject: [/TD]
[TD="class: NormalTextBlack, width: 500"] FN0566-Salmon: Gill Net - Area D - Opening for Sockeye in Area 23 - Barkley Sound and lower Alberni Inlet [/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]
[/TD]
[TD="colspan: 2"]
The Area 23 Gill net fishery will be open for 72 hours from 20:00 hours Monday July 9 to 20:00 hrs Thursday July 12, 2012 in that portion of 23-2 bounded in the south by a line from Pocahontas point to a boundary sign on the opposite shore and, bounded in the north by a line from Hocking Point to a boundary sign on the opposite shore. A possible extension for Friday July 13th will be announced after the Thursday Area 23 Salmon Harvest Committee Meeting. Variation Order 12-Sal-23-GN-07 The Area 23 Gill net fishery will be open for 14 hours, from 14:00 hours to 04:00 hours daily starting Tuesday, July 10 and ending 04:00 hours, Thursday, July 12, 2012 in that portion of sub area 23-2 north of a line from Hocking Point Light across to a boundary sign on the opposite shore and in that portion of Subarea 23-1 bounded in the north by a line from Polly's Point light across to a boundary sign at Stamp Point on the opposite shore of Alberni Inlet. A possible extension for Friday July 13th will be announced after the Thursday Area 23 Salmon Harvest Committee Meeting. Variation Orders 12-Sal-23-GN-08, 12-Sal-23-GN-09, 12-SAL-23-GN-010.
[/TD]
And the seiners are seeing their "
opportunity" ramped up as well:
[TABLE="width: 642"]
[TR]
[TD="class: BoldNormalTextBlack, width: 90"]Category(s): [/TD]
[TD="class: NormalTextBlack, width: 500"] COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Seine
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: BoldNormalTextBlack, width: 90"] Subject: [/TD]
[TD="class: NormalTextBlack, width: 500"] FN0560-COMMERCIAL- Salmon: Seine - Sockeye - Area B - Area 23 - Alberni inlet - extended opening [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]
... The target catch for this opening is 75,000 sockeye. The 2012 pre-season forecast for Somass sockeye was 700,000. The Run size was upgraded Thursday July 5 to 950,000. Escapement will be monitored daily and any changes to fishing plans will be communicated through the Area B advisors and on grounds notification. Commercial seine allocation at this run-size is 176,859 sockeye. Seine catch to date is approximately 65,000. Gill net catch to date is approximately 84,057. Area 23 - Alberni Inlet The seine fishery is open from 11:00 hours Sunday, July 8th to 17:00 hours Thursday July 12th, 2012 or until the target catch is reached, whichever occurs first, in the following areas: - In that portion of Subarea 23-1 bounded in the north by a line from Polly Point to Stamp Point and in the south by a line from Dunsmuir Point light to a point located at 49Ú09.660 N, 124Ú47.720 W on the west side of Alberni Inlet north of China Creek; and - In that portion of Subarea 23-2 southerly of a line from the Light at Hocking Point then drawn easterly 90 degrees true to a point on the opposite shore located at 49 degrees 05.260 north and 124 degrees 49.158 West. Minimum bunt mesh size is 70 mm. The target species is sockeye, incidentally caught Coho may be retained. Pink, Chum, Chinook and Steelhead may not be retained. Variation Order No. 2012-SAL-23-SN-04[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Between that many bags in the water, and the near constant FN pounding of the river, methinks you might want to change your statement to: "
What a horrible year to be a sockeye"!! Expect escapement numbers to plummet as these openings continue. Also strong suspicion the run will be "
upgraded" once again, to allow for next week's shenanigans...
Nog
