Action Notice: Halibut Season

Chum King · 06-15-2006, 01:39 PM

The Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. all depth Pacific halibut season will reopen for the period of June 22-24. Approximately 30,500 lbs (17%) remains on the spring quota, and is anticipated to be adequate to allow for the additional three day opening.

Additional details are available at ODFW Marine Resources

ron m · 06-15-2006, 01:41 PM

Thanks Eric, we knew it was gonna happen, but good to have official notice!
ron m

kamloops · 06-15-2006, 01:58 PM

I love the part about the North Of Falcon Season possibly not lasting longer than the 1st opening period (Aug 4-6)

I could not agree more, let's see how this works.
It's August on the river and buoy 10 is open, that's
3,000 boats past the spotting station in Hammond fishing
tuna, salmon, river crabbing, not to mention bottom fishing
and maybee even a few going halibut fishing on their way to the tuna grounds. With the existing reporting guessing that would be if one boat gets a halibut during those dates, that's an average of 1 halibut per boat x 3000boats with an average weight of 25lbs, that's 75,000lbs of halibut, just a bit over our measly 6000lb quota.

AND THAT'S JUST THE OREGON SIDE......

Bet it lasts 2 hours max, who want's to bet?

CATCH AND EAT · 06-15-2006, 02:19 PM

Glad you guys are getting another shot at them.

Tom, It looks like I will get one more halibut and that will be it. :depressed:

apparentgenius · 06-15-2006, 09:41 PM

I'm not sure if they found one halibut in a boat, they would consider every boat that went out caught a halibut

hmmmm...would that be the formula or would it be more like

50 boats checked, 1 had a 25lb halibut (probably not a statistically valid sample for them but I'll continue),

10% of all people checked said they tried for halibut

5 total of the 50 sampled tried for halibut

1 in five were successful

3000 boats,

300 tried fishing halibut

60 were successful

1500 lbs taken

I'm guessing at their methods from the questions asked of me

but this sounds a little more reasonable for the smart scientists at ODFW.

Nalu · 06-15-2006, 11:26 PM

Alright! That gives the Central Coast 18 total days of fishing opportunity.

kamloops · 06-16-2006, 04:44 AM

We had 13max.

Nalu · 06-16-2006, 05:10 AM

Quote:

We had 13max.

CR season opened May 1 until May 27th. 27 TOTAL days.

In the central area, I included days that were "too rough to fish" in the total count, since 18 days is what was available, good weather or bad. With poor weather days included, the central coast was down around 12-14 "fishable" days for most "small" boats.

18 days total allowable halibut fishing with 12-14 fishable days for Central Coast

27 days total allowable halibut fishing with 13(per Kamloops) fishable days for the CR.

I guess I'm just dense, but I just don't see the inequity here.

kamloops · 06-16-2006, 05:35 AM

If it's time to argue this again for the 15th time I guess I am game.

I had 3 trips and tagged two fish on the C.R.

The big boats had 13 days
The weekend warriers had 5 fishable days

You do the math

Better Yet---Explain this

Central Oregon Coast Sub Area
year lbs left on the table
2002 32,830
2003 65,064
2004 35,156
2005 10,284
2006 ????
Why not give us a average of pounds left un-caught year after year.

184 day season of 20,000lbs <40 24/7.

Washington harvests 100% 0f their halibut quota year after year.

SeaJayOR · 06-16-2006, 06:26 AM

Eric,
BTW, thanks for the notice... :whazzup:
CJ

ron m · 06-16-2006, 06:27 AM

ENOUGH ALREADY!

Tacklebuster · 06-16-2006, 07:03 AM

It's getting to the point where I hate even clicking on a Halibut post anymore. I guess the grass is greener on the other side. If I had a 7 day a week fishery, I harbor little doubt I would be tagged out already fishing out of Newport. I find it hard to believe there was not 6 "fishable" days out of the CR to do that in when it was open. If work or what not got in the way, that's life.

I aint saying the system you CR guys have is right, I'm just saying it is what it is so take advantage while you can when it's open 7 days a week. I can tell you it get's very old when the 3 days it is open here the ocean is not very fishable only to have the ocean lay down the day after it's closed for all depth.

You guys get a longer coho season with "restricted" days, we get a longer Halibut season. It is what it is so let's stop whining about and just fish already.... Jeesh.

Orca · 06-16-2006, 07:17 AM

LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA....

NorthRiverRick · 06-16-2006, 04:48 PM

Just put me out of my misery, please!

Mr. Fisherman · 06-16-2006, 05:08 PM

Chum King, thanks for the update.

Fellas, if the tables were turned you would be doing what you could to improve your opportunities.

What needs to happen in my opinion is to manage the fishery off CR as a substainable fishery rather than the bycatch arrangement that it is currently under.

We will keep trying to make that happen.
it will happen quicker if we stand together on this.

Nalu · 06-16-2006, 05:53 PM

Mr. Fisherman- True, everyone fights for their own best interests, and they should. I have no problem with that. Does the CR deserve more fish? Maybe, but that hasn't been proven to me. I keep hearing conjecture and terms like "unfair", but nothing to the side that says "this is why we deserve to have more fishing days than a comprable fisherman in the Central coast"

I see the allowable fishing days being more in the CR than the central coast. 27 to 18. Then the arguments start up that it is "tougher" to fish out of the CR than the other ports. OK, even if it is, that's not a rationale, especially when we have members of this board that moor in the area that consistently fish across the CR bar on days that I won't fish out of Depoe Bay.

When it comes to brass tacks, there will be 6 open weekend days out of the Central Coast. Of those day, 4 or 5 were fishable. There were and additional 12 days to fish during the week out of the Central Coast. Of those days, there were probably 8-10 fishable days max.

Nobody has yet to explain where the inequity is in this. The argument keeps coming up that the "season isn't long enough". FINE!, go to a derby fishery like the Central Coast and see how long it lasts! My bet is that it would still be open, and perhaps you'd leave quota on the table!

Before anyone starts taking more fish from the Central Coast, justify it with some sort of quantative facts for the reason why the CR region is getting screwed. The easiest way would be to fish apples to apples, derby style to derby style. Right now the bottom line is that the CR has more allowed fishing days than the Central Coast.

I agree 100% with Ray on the sustainable fishery management idea. Seems the best idea is that fishery in each area is managed idependently. If there is enough sustainable fish off the CR, they the CR should have all that makes sense. Pulling from one big pot encompassing the entire coast doesn't seem like it makes a lot of sense. Of course if the reason the areas are lumped together is because of the migratory nature of halibut, then it would stand to reason that the entire Oregon area is treated the same.

Wouldn't that mean the same amount of fishing days, and same style of fishery opening for each port?

Nordic Sun · 06-16-2006, 06:53 PM

Mike
I respectfully disagree with your assumption that if the CR sub area fished the same days as the central coast we would have quota left.

Looking at the catch reports we see that the port of Garabaldi fished 6 days and 16,700 lbs.

If The CR had the same derby days we would be out of quota at our 14,900 lbs.

Remember there are al least FIVE ports that fish the CR all with charters and communities with economic interests equal to that of any of the other costal communities.

I guess I would like to know what it would take for you or anyone else to stand up and allow us an equal share of the total fish.

If we fished the same derby days as the rest of the coast would you or any one else join our effort for equal quota? Come to the meetings held in the central coast and the southern coast, and stand up and say " Let's make the quotas equal"? I would hope so, but I think not.

Why are the 7 to 9 other coastal ports entitled to 92% of the fish, and the 5 ports at the CR entitled to 8%

The answer is simply historical political lobbying. Help us achieve equity. I don't care how we get there, but I want to get there soon.

Respectfully Posted
Bob

ron m · 06-16-2006, 06:57 PM

Gentlemen, the topic of CR halibut quota and days to fish for halibut is worthy of discussion, however it would be helpful to the interests (and sanity) of the rest of us if it were limited to original posts on the topic instead of taking over almost any topic re: halibut. Yes, I see the irony, I realize that I have contributed to "hijacking" a halibut post. My apologies for doing so, but if the discussion of CR halibut quota were limited to posts on the subject, many of us think this board would be the better for it.

ron m

kamloops · 06-16-2006, 07:26 PM

My boat has been tied up to the slip since May 21st.
May 27(last day) was not fishable. That's 44 days till
JULY 3RD.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Nulo and Ron will lead the
battle in making sure the Central Oregon coast leaves another 10-20k fish on the table this year, and personally make sure we don't get one single pound. I honestly could care a less what you guys think.

Nalu · 06-16-2006, 07:50 PM

Ron- I agree. Call me stubborn, bull headed, whatever you want. I don't like listening to people whine and complain everytime the subject of halibut comes up either. Seems like an easy solution. Don't grumble everytime the subject comes up, especially when the halibut subject isn't in your area.

If you do want to whine, and complain and say how misfortounate you are, then I'm going to step in and disagree with you. Period.

The CR- An estuary full of sturgeon to fish, a large coho and king fishing season, live bait for tuna fishing, 27 available days of halibut fishing, crab the ocean, or if the bar is rough, crab in the bay.

Some people make it seem that the 6 halibut that are allowed to be tagged every year is the only fishing opportunity. Really? If you can't fish halibut, you can't fish?

Stop whining and I'll stop replying.

Odin- You had my answer above. I have no problem with fishing equality. I absolutely agree that the CR should have its fair share. That would seem to indicate that a study should be done that measures amount of angler days generated per port, and some sort of equitible solution figured out. If change is to be done, it has to be with quantifiable data. A couple guys saying "it's not fair" every time a subject comes up is not going to generate any sort of change. The CR did get more quota this year, and what was the response? It's not enough, it's unfair! Seems to me there is a process to make change...The charter boats in the area banding together, the Chamber of Commerces, the actual ports involved all gathering together to produce informtion that provides facts that the anglers of the area are not having the fishing opportunity that anglers in other ports are having.

Nalu · 06-16-2006, 08:02 PM

By the way- I respect Odin and his clear headed, and even keeled approach. We may not agree, but I am 100% willing to listen and give thought to his arguments. We have discussed other things than this, and every time Bob makes it a discussion, not an argument. That's the way to generate change, and with people like Odin behind it, I'm sure there will be positive momentum.

Besides that, if I'm not mistaken, Odin tagged out on halibut this year. :grin:

Orca · 06-16-2006, 08:27 PM

Agreed,

ODIN, you and others could lead a reasoned, logical, and thoughtful approach to the issue at hand. The problem is historical and political as you say, and has a great deal to do with that State to the North. Non CR ifish folks did attend meetings and request/support additional quota for the CR. Change does not happen overnight, and sometimes not even this decade when dealing with government agencies.

Kamloops approach is not the way to get anything done here, or anywhere else for that matter.

apparentgenius · 06-16-2006, 08:29 PM

I'm with you Ron. There's a couple posts of halibut recipes that I'd like to check out but I'm afraid there will be a speal about the CR not having ample opportunity to fish.

Glen

skein · 06-16-2006, 08:35 PM

Well, looks like I'm odd man out, but the thread IS about the Halibut Season. If that's not a thread to continue discussion, then what is? And yes, I agree that we shouldn't jump all over every thread that has the word halibut in it, but this one seems justified.

And I also agree with the CR Dogs; we have it made down here. Argue numbers, pounds, days, whatever, but I'm still halibut fishing and they're not. I'm glad I'm not in their shoes.

Skein

apparentgenius · 06-16-2006, 08:45 PM

Jim,

I actually agree with you too, I think they should get mor fish up there and I also think WA should chip in. I find it hilarious that some WA folks complain about the central OR coast.
I would just like to see one flippin halibut thread that doesnt have the same incessant whining. Go ahead and do a search for posts with halibut in the title. I'm willing to bet the vast majority contain the same message over and over and over.

Can we just peg a post to the top of the page where the complaint can be renewed several times a day and all those interested can read it over and over and over and over at will?

GLen

Salty Walty · 06-17-2006, 10:00 AM

How about we all remember that we are all part of the same Board. Debating the topic and trying to work matters out is great. There are Meetings to attend and there have been positive changes for the CR. There more than likely will be more changes but it will take some time for those to happen.
Bickering amongst ourselves does nothing to address the issue. Thanks, Walter

apparentgenius · 06-17-2006, 01:58 PM

But Walt this is so much more fun. One doesn't even have to think. Just type away.

Puffin · 06-17-2006, 05:53 PM

Maybe none of you know the history of the Columbia river halibut fishery. At one time there was a thriving commercial fishery out of the CR. Around the turn of the last century it was fished out and until recently had not bounced back. Perhaps the resource is being protected. Just a thought you know maybe your kid wants to take his kid fishing too.

pnwcoast · 06-17-2006, 06:51 PM

Thanks for your view. Not often a long time fisher let's a new guy like me in on a fact of the way things are.

kamloops · 06-18-2006, 07:13 PM

Puffin

The area you talk about is loaded with fish. We are going to develop that area if we get a chance maybe next year.

flapbreaker · 06-18-2006, 09:31 PM

Just an honest question here. I've heard that the area that is fished for Halibut out of the CR is relatively small. Can it sustain a larger take year after year? If so then I don't see why they don't increase the total alotment. If it can't then the fishery would be self limiting I suppose.

kamloops · 06-19-2006, 05:27 AM

Flapbreaker

The area holds vast h$#$#@t habitat. The problem with some areas is getting the bait down past the by-catch, both good and bad. But the answer to your question is yes.

CATCH AND EAT · 06-19-2006, 08:47 AM

Spencer, there are more fish up here than any sportie would ever realize. Lots of untapped areas that we have not even tried yet because we get stuck in our ways. Like those that fish the CC area you just have to explore and find the fish.

Please pardon our frustration up here on the CR with the quota. The wheels grind slowly and it is none of the sporties fault that this happens. The national council and ODFW just cannot seem to get things together and then there is WDFW with their head in the sand pretending there is not a quota problem.

With the efforts that kamloops along with many others has made we did recieve a stippen of additional fish in August but that quota will not last long with the fishing being limited to 4 days a week for salmon.

I personally do not wish to offend or alienate anyone from the CC area fisheries, just know we are kinda testy up here with this quota deal.

OceanBlue · 06-19-2006, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Just an honest question here. I've heard that the area that is fished for Halibut out of the CR is relatively small. Can it sustain a larger take year after year? If so then I don't see why they don't increase the total alotment. If it can't then the fishery would be self limiting I suppose.

The question of sustainability was one of the first questions I asked of the Marine Resources Program when this problem first came to my attention. The answer is no, that is not part of the reasoning behind not increasing the quota for CR. It has everything to do with historical effort (very minimal) and the fact that the subarea is shared with Washington - hence the neccessity for states to coordinate regulations & contribution to the quota.

Therefore it is political and very, very emotional. :depressed: