Washington halibut

[Cuba Libre]

I guess no matter how bad things are here--- tey could have been worse............

http://www.bdoutdoors.com/story/puget-sound-halibut-2012-season/

 

[Hook'Em Hard]

Yea it would sure suck to be an american halibut fisherman. The ironic thing is in a lot of places (especially border bank) on one side of the bank anglers are fishing March - September (us canadians) and on the other side they are targetted only a handfull of days per year (the americans). It must really burn the americans knowing they can fish that spot a couple of times per year but us Canadians are out there as often as we like (between March and end of August) catching the same fish and yet we still complain that our season isn't long enough and we only get 1 per day.

One thing that did impress me is they have already announced the opening date for the 2013 season. DFO could learn something from them for sure we all know our 2013 opening date will be announced about one week before it opens next year. That said I will take an unknown opening date and 6 months of fishing over a handful of days per year. It looks like the american season is mostly thursday-sunday they even tell you what days of the week you can go out!

As bad as it is getting up here it could always be worse. A lot worse.

 

[reelfast]

it costs about a hundred bucks and a bit of gas to head your way and harvest some halibut. look for me out there. i promise to not interfere with any anchored boats as i only drift for halibut. see'yah.....................

 

[Bod]

Welcome, and enjoy our side of the border. Thanks for all of the Salmon we catch that are heading back to your side. I wish our government would get there head out of there butt and do like you do. Enhance our Salmon.

 

[reelfast]

thanks Bod, i promise to be a respectful 'tourist'

 

[Little Hawk]

"Anglers may possess a maximum of two fish in any form, and must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card."

Some things the Yanks simply do better, like maintaining their highways, fairer gas prices, the best resaurants on road-trips, growing fish to catch while they actually try to fix the damage done to habitat and last but not least - the best rocket-science out there for monitoring recreational catch data.

There's a novel idea eh? A catch-card that you cut/mark every time you pull a hali in the boat, just like a deer-tag and then (by Law) you must mail it in to DFO at the end of every season!

Sadly, Ottawa has little use for primary school-level tools to acurately measure harvest...

Look at the Chinook record we filled out with each catch, anyone ever been directed to send one in to the DFO each year?

 

[butthead]

Fishing with my canadian friends

I must say that I enjoy fishing with my canadian brothers for hali's as our season is way to short. It seems right before our start the natives do a few days of long lining and we get the left overs.

 

[wildwest]

I agree LITTLE HAWK,living under this CANADIAN GOV. is like working for a SHITHEAD BOSS.

 

[fogged in]

So you do not like our Halibut Fishing season March 1 til early in Sept. or so.
As mentioned in an earlier post...this is the Washington State Halibut season
2012 Puget Sound halibut seasons
• Marine Area 5: From May 24-28, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for Memorial Day weekend. From May 31 through June 23, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. WDFW has also set Thursday, May 23 as the opening day of the 2013 season.
• Marine Areas 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10: From May 3-19, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. From May 24-28, the fishery will be open each day (Thursday through Monday) for Memorial Day weekend. From May 31-June 2, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. WDFW has also set Thursday, May 2 as the opening day of the 2013 season
Memorial Day is May 28 this year..Wish all those guides would stop their bitching. Wait til the new restrictions on Spring salmon come in...the guides are REALLY going to hit the roof. How many Springs and Halibut do the guide boats take out of the Victoria, Sooke, Renfrew and Swiftsure waters in a year?....can anybody tell me? Many (not all) Sport Fisherman with 25 to $50,000 tied up in a boat, fishing with a buddy maybe two or three dozen times a year (many less), take maybe a dozen springs or less and a couple of halibut if any at all. Now after they renew much of their gear each year, maintain their boat, and sometimes pay monthly moorage, like myself, they are the guys who REALLY contribute to the economy with little impact on the resources! Back to the Guides...in one breath the guides claim to be providing big numbers to the tourist industry and in the next they say their customers are just regular locals who can't get out on their own for a variety of reasons. The true Sports Fisherman would be much better off if there were much fewer guides...kinda like 10 or 20 years ago. Many of us Sports Fishermen feel this way but most don't dare the wrath of the pros.

 

[Sculpin]

So you do not like our Halibut Fishing season March 1 til early in Sept. or so.
As mentioned in an earlier post...this is the Washington State Halibut season
2012 Puget Sound halibut seasons
• Marine Area 5: From May 24-28, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for Memorial Day weekend. From May 31 through June 23, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. WDFW has also set Thursday, May 23 as the opening day of the 2013 season.
• Marine Areas 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10: From May 3-19, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. From May 24-28, the fishery will be open each day (Thursday through Monday) for Memorial Day weekend. From May 31-June 2, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. WDFW has also set Thursday, May 2 as the opening day of the 2013 season
Memorial Day is May 28 this year..Wish all those guides would stop their bitching. Wait til the new restrictions on Spring salmon come in...the guides are REALLY going to hit the roof. How many Springs and Halibut do the guide boats take out of the Victoria, Sooke, Renfrew and Swiftsure waters in a year?....can anybody tell me? Many (not all) Sport Fisherman with 25 to $50,000 tied up in a boat, fishing with a buddy maybe two or three dozen times a year (many less), take maybe a dozen springs or less and a couple of halibut if any at all. Now after they renew much of their gear each year, maintain their boat, and sometimes pay monthly moorage, like myself, they are the guys who REALLY contribute to the economy with little impact on the resources! Back to the Guides...in one breath the guides claim to be providing big numbers to the tourist industry and in the next they say their customers are just regular locals who can't get out on their own for a variety of reasons. The true Sports Fisherman would be much better off if there were much fewer guides...kinda like 10 or 20 years ago. Many of us Sports Fishermen feel this way but most don't dare the wrath of the pros.

Why are you so nervous fogged in? Why did you join this site. Most of us can see through the fog you spew. There are a few of you that have come on here to divide the sports fleet. It's not working. Give it up. You are wasting your time.

 

[fogged in]

Why are you so nervous fogged in? Why did you join this site. Most of us can see through the fog you spew. There are a few of you that have come on here to divide the sports fleet. It's not working. Give it up. You are wasting your time.

Didn't know contrary opinions were not allowed....sorry...It just one mans opinion....atleast you were polite...thanks for that.

 

[GLG]

Fogged in, we know who you are. Just a slipper skipper troll.
You can tell by you writing style and you talking points.
Your name is chris2
GLG

 

[Big Green Machine]

So you do not like our Halibut Fishing season March 1 til early in Sept. or so.
As mentioned in an earlier post...this is the Washington State Halibut season
2012 Puget Sound halibut seasons
• Marine Area 5: From May 24-28, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for Memorial Day weekend. From May 31 through June 23, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. WDFW has also set Thursday, May 23 as the opening day of the 2013 season.
• Marine Areas 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10: From May 3-19, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. From May 24-28, the fishery will be open each day (Thursday through Monday) for Memorial Day weekend. From May 31-June 2, the fishery will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. WDFW has also set Thursday, May 2 as the opening day of the 2013 season
Memorial Day is May 28 this year..Wish all those guides would stop their bitching. Wait til the new restrictions on Spring salmon come in...the guides are REALLY going to hit the roof. How many Springs and Halibut do the guide boats take out of the Victoria, Sooke, Renfrew and Swiftsure waters in a year?....can anybody tell me? Many (not all) Sport Fisherman with 25 to $50,000 tied up in a boat, fishing with a buddy maybe two or three dozen times a year (many less), take maybe a dozen springs or less and a couple of halibut if any at all. Now after they renew much of their gear each year, maintain their boat, and sometimes pay monthly moorage, like myself, they are the guys who REALLY contribute to the economy with little impact on the resources! Back to the Guides...in one breath the guides claim to be providing big numbers to the tourist industry and in the next they say their customers are just regular locals who can't get out on their own for a variety of reasons. The true Sports Fisherman would be much better off if there were much fewer guides...kinda like 10 or 20 years ago. Many of us Sports Fishermen feel this way but most don't dare the wrath of the pros.

Impressive 5th post

 

[fogged in]

Impressive 5th post

You guys are pretty clever for sure.
As far as me, my name is Chris..how did you know?
AND I have probably caught more fish in my days on the water then most of you ever will.
BUT no need to brag or get caught up with all the BS and lies that goes on with this site!!!
I particularly like the comment "if there is no picture, it didn't happed"
Must admit, I find it all quite amusing!

 

[reelfast]

little hawk, a reality check on WDFW and fish 'management.' yes, we are REQUIRED to purchase a Catch Record Card, CRC. we are obliged to mark the area, date, species and wild or hatchery for each salmon we harvest. halibut, just the area and date. our license is valid for the same time period as those issued in BC. at the end of that time, we are REQUIRED by law to return those CRCs to WDFW.

everyone assumes that this pretty fine data will be munched on and produce an accurate record of what was harvested and where thereby leading to some informed management of future fishing dates. unfortunately, WDFW puts all of those CRCs in a shoebox, turns on the magic smoke and mirrors program invented in 1972 by a statistician, never validated by the way, and produces havoc for every person fishing this side of the border.

our short halibut season is the direct result of this smoke and mirrors approach as 3 years ago WDFW claimed, based on what no one can figure out, that anglers were harvesting 120 halibut a day for the entire season!!!!!!! now considering that the largest halibut derby occurs right here in port angeles, and considering during that same year the high single day number was 80, and went downhill from there, you have to wonder what the hell is going on.

since statistics in 'my friend' i challenged WDFW to a debate regarding their procedures. that carried on for about 3 weeks with the distribution list growing to about 50 addresses which included the director and commissioners, and as a result NOT A DAMN THING CHANGED.

so we continue to be subjected to smoke and mirrors fish management, much the same as you folks.

 

[sammyslabber]

You guys are pretty clever for sure.
As far as me, my name is Chris..how did you know?
AND I have probably caught more fish in my days on the water then most of you ever will.
BUT no need to brag or get caught up with all the BS and lies that goes on with this site!!!
I particularly like the comment "if there is no picture, it didn't happed"
Must admit, I find it all quite amusing!

Yep some pretty impressive stats i must say..your posts are as varied as your aliases ..your statement about catching more fish in your day pretty much somes it up.. TROLL AWAY MOROON! Anyone have an extra can of that spray ??

 

[Gunsmith]

Hey reelfast, we may have our different opinions but you are still welcome to fish our side.

 

[searun]

Yes indeed, things on this side of the 49th could have been just as bleak. Its all about opportunity and expectation of catching a fish. Hard to have both when you are only allowed to fish certain days of the week. Regardless, that's the best choices they have given the TAC available to recreational anglers. Time for those of us north of the 49th to see and heed the warning of what may be to come if we don't work together to come up with ways to work better within the TAC we have.

I would be all in favor of an yearly punch card with a maximum number of halibut (10) AND a Halibut Stamp with all proceeds going into a special fund that Rec Anglers can manage. Cold Hard Cash is KING, and potentially opens doors/opportunity.

 

[searun]

Also, forgot to mention to our US participants on the site - come on up and enjoy. We certainly have enjoyed the fruits of your labour and investment into hatchery fish and habitat improvement when it comes to Salmon. Get up here and enjoy your own fish!.....and THANKS!

 

[reelfast]

thanks folks. fishing your side would be a welcome opportunity for sure. right now blackmouth is open so we are getting out each day the stait allows. only 1 fish/tag/day but we punched out today will be back out there tomorrow as well.

heard the USCG hailing what sounded like a canadian fishing boat this am,'...be prepared for us to board your vessel...' i'll bet they were on the wrong side of the line!