When Do Commercial Prawners Start?

Where can you find out from DFO when the commercial opening starts?
Is there a website that list the opening?
 
Newbie to prawning here. I have been out 3 or 4 times up Howe Sound. Is it worth it to go prawning after commercial opens up? Are you pretty much guaranteed to loose some or all of your gear? I assume the commercial guys also drop traps up Howe Sound. Is it really bad, and simply not worth it??? Thanks
 
jayinsurrey said:
Newbie to prawning here. I have been out 3 or 4 times up Howe Sound. Is it worth it to go prawning after commercial opens up? Are you pretty much guaranteed to loose some or all of your gear? I assume the commercial guys also drop traps up Howe Sound. Is it really bad, and simply not worth it??? Thanks
Click to expand...
I would say no. Firstly if there are situations where commercial gear and recreational gear somehow becomes tangled, they will cut your line. If you are lucky, they might tie the cut ends together requiring a splice later. The distance between commercial buoys is quite significant so judging where their set line actually runs is a challenge - so avoiding commercial traps is equally challenging. Secondly, when the commercial season starts the Spawner Indexing Survey evidence clearly demonstrates they fish down the available biomass quickly in the Southern waters. Northern waters there is less commercial effort, and therefore they do not appear to fish the biomass down as quickly.
 
searun said:
I would say no. Firstly if there are situations where commercial gear and recreational gear somehow becomes tangled, they will cut your line. If you are lucky, they might tie the cut ends together requiring a splice later. The distance between commercial buoys is quite significant so judging where their set line actually runs is a challenge - so avoiding commercial traps is equally challenging. Secondly, when the commercial season starts the Spawner Indexing Survey evidence clearly demonstrates they fish down the available biomass quickly in the Southern waters. Northern waters there is less commercial effort, and therefore they do not appear to fish the biomass down as quickly.
Click to expand...
X2. Get your prawning done before they open. They’ve got a short window to make their money and won’t hesitate to drop on top/cut your lines. They’re running long strings and they certainly won’t alter course to avoid. Had to deal with them dropping overtop my set last year off gabriola. Was very impressed the Scotty puller managed to get the commie set off bottom with two guys pulling and it sitting idle between every pull. Managed to get my set back from under it but buddy came pretty close to losing a finger while we were heaving and I was trying to keep bow of boat into waves as it was rough and couldn’t back into it. Not worth it.
 
April 1st is for certain closed areas. I have caught prawns during the commercial openings but they do have extremely long strings so you have to be super careful. I would not set overnight as they often pull super early and could reset on your gear. You may be fine setting in the afternoon mid-morning and keeping an eye on your traps. Any trap lines caught under are not worth trying to get free as I learned crabbing last month. The motor on my Brutus Ace went and my mount needed some repair. Fortunately, the new $300 motor was much better.

Heading out in a few minutes. Prawning has been good so far.
 
On the topic of prawns do depths change from winter to spring?

I set up in Howe sound in my usual spots last weekend and where I normally do well I got 8 prawns total in 8 traps...I left them overnight and don't think anyone pulled them unless they replaced my tie wraps or emptied them through the holes and then dropped them in the same place...

Either the spots are fished out or maybe they changed depths? I have no experience prawning in april...
 
question now... so I have heard from a few that 5 days before the Commie prawn opening, that sporties have to stop prawning, yet in watching fisheries notices, I cannot find anything that says this??
 
There is usually a FN of where they are doing spawning index testing. This is the areas that are closed to us just before commercial season starts. I don't think it is everywhere.
 
ElectricDyck said:
On the topic of prawns do depths change from winter to spring?

I set up in Howe sound in my usual spots last weekend and where I normally do well I got 8 prawns total in 8 traps...I left them overnight and don't think anyone pulled them unless they replaced my tie wraps or emptied them through the holes and then dropped them in the same place...

Either the spots are fished out or maybe they changed depths? I have no experience prawning in april...
Click to expand...
Lots of reports of shallow due to the cold this year. Commercial buddy says drop two strings of two up hill at different depths and then reset set at the depth that hits
 
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN0441-RECREATIONAL - Shellfish - Prawn and Shrimp - Areas 17, 19, 23 Closures

Recreational prawn and shrimp harvesters are advised that the harvest of prawns and shrimp by trap, ring net, or spear while diving, will close from 00:01 hours May 4, 2022, to 23:59 hours May 10, 2022, in Stuart Channel (Subareas 17-5, 17-6, and 17-9), Saanich Inlet (Subareas 19-7 to 19-12 inclusive), and Alberni Inlet (Subareas 23-1 to 23-3 inclusive). This action is to allow for the completion of comprehensive spawner index sampling at the start of the commercial fishery.

All other coastal areas remain open to the harvest of prawns and shrimp by trap, ring net, or spear while diving until further notice, except the following protected areas which are closed year round:

Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Marine Refuges;
Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site Strict Protection Zones;
Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area;
Offshore Seamounts and Vents;
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve and Area of Interest (AOI);
Whytecliffe Park;
Porteau Cove;
Point Atkinson; and
Vancouver Harbour between Lions Gate Bridge and Ironworkers Memorial Bridge (also known as Second Narrows Bridge).

All prawns carrying eggs externally on the underside of the tail must be returned to the water immediately and in the manner that causes the least harm.

Daily, possession and trap limits are in effect coast-wide.

Variation Order No. 2022-RCT-178.

Please be reminded that the recreational daily quota (daily limit) for Shrimp, including Prawn, is 125. The combined possession limit is 250, which is twice the daily quota (daily limit).

Refer to the B.C. Sport Fishing Guide for further information
href="http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html">http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html
To plan ahead, refer to the following website: Seasonal Prawn Closures
href="http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/shellfish-coquillages-eng.html#prawn">http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/shellfish-coquillages-eng.html#prawn
FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dillon Buerk href="mailto:dillon.buerk@dfo-mpo.gc.ca">dillon.buerk@dfo-mpo.gc.caMike Kattilakoski href="mailto:mike.kattilakoski@dfo-mpo.gc.ca">mike.kattilakoski@dfo-mpo.gc.caJenny Smith href="mailto:jenny.smith@dfo-mpo.gc.ca">jenny.smith@dfo-mpo.gc.caHong Tjhie href="mailto:hong.tjhie@dfo-mpo.gc.ca">hong.tjhie@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0441
Sent May 2, 2022 at 14:59
Visit us on the Web at href="http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca">http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
If you would like to unsubscribe, please submit your request at: href="http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=manage_subscription">http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=manage_subscription


If you have any questions, please contact us via e-mail to: href="mailto:DFO.PACOpsCentre-CentredesOpsPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca">DFO.PACOpsCentre-CentredesOpsPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
 
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