Halibut numbers inside 40

[OreCoastDiver]

I was just talking with Don Bodenmiller, sport halibut and bottomfish project leader for ODFW, and he said there were nearly 100 halibut landings in Newport for the first week of the season. That's inside 40 folks. He says it's the highest number of landings inside 40 that he can remember. So it sounds like you don't need an all-depth day to get your halibut.

The sampling numbers I looked at for last week showed 100 percent of those going out on charters for halibut from Newport north to the CR got their fish. On private boats about half got their halibut. Looks like we are going to have another great season.

Which makes me think of something else I want to bring up with the group: Free fishing weekend is coming up June 9 and 10. It means that you don't need a licence to fish in Oregon on those two days. I'm sure everyone reading this already has a license, but maybe you could plan on taking a non-fishing co-worker or friend out on the water. Nearly 90 percent of first timers who have a good experience fishing with a friend, buy a license the next year. Coming home with a halibut would push most guys over the edge, don't you think?

Just something to think about.

Brandon
Formerly known as I&E Guy

[Lepper]

or depending on how big/deep that halibut is, say "i'm never doing that again!"

:grin:

[Pilar]

Brandon welcome, good to see you here.

<40 fathom numbers ... LOL. You'd have better luck getting bank account numbers and blank checks. Seriously though. I don't think the usual rules about structure apply to the close in Halibut spots. Most of them I know about are sandy areas near drop offs. I don't think the fish actually hang out there. I think you are catching them as they visit that area to feed or travel through.

The increase in catch is due to increased effort, IMHO.

[fyshndad]

Originally Posted by OreCoastDiver

Which makes me think of something else I want to bring up with the group: Free fishing weekend is coming up June 9 and 10. It means that you don't need a licence to fish in Oregon on those two days. I'm sure everyone reading this already has a license, but maybe you could plan on taking a non-fishing co-worker or friend out on the water. Nearly 90 percent of first timers who have a good experience fishing with a friend, buy a license the next year. Coming home with a halibut would push most guys over the edge, don't you think?

Just something to think about.

Brandon
Formerly known as I&E Guy

Remember it may be free to fish but you still need tags

[Shark Bait]

Originally Posted by fyshndad

Remember it may be free to fish but you still need tags

From page 4 of the ODFW Regs:

.....and Pacific Halibut must immediately upon removal from the water, be recorded on the Combined Angling or Hatchery Tag in the chronological order caught, except during Free Fishing Weekend (June 9-10, 2007) when no license or tags are required.

[Hanapa'a Time]

Shark Bait beat me to it.

[flapbreaker]

If I remember right from last year you did not need to tag your halibut on the free fishing day.

[Something Good]

You do not need a license or tag but if you have a tag you are still supposed to tag your fish. I asked an OSP officer about this at the boat ramp a couple of years ago and his only response was that he would not be checking anyone's tags that day.

[Ryan Pultz]

Just dont bring your tag with you simple as that you dont have to have it. and if you dont have it you do not have to tag your fish rp

[Silver Eagle]

Just remember its only the 9th for all Depth and 10th inside 40 fathoms, so if you fish on thrusday or Friday all depth You WILL NEED YOUR Tag...Just a friendly reminder..................Ray

[codfisher]

Come On Guys,

No license or tag means simply that, No License or Tag are required, end of story. Whether you have it on your or not you do not need to tag your fish on the "Free Fishing" days. If you get checked at the dock by ODFW Fish Checker the poundage will still be debited from the quota. You get a free fish though. Quit trying to read something else into the rules, they are very clear as written.

Just my rant on regs.

Codfisher

[Something Good]

Originally Posted by codfisher

Come On Guys,

No license or tag means simply that, No License or Tag are required, end of story. Whether you have it on your or not you do not need to tag your fish on the "Free Fishing" days. If you get checked at the dock by ODFW Fish Checker the poundage will still be debited from the quota. You get a free fish though. Quit trying to read something else into the rules, they are very clear as written.

Just my rant on regs.

Codfisher

"In Oregon anglers are are not required to get a catch record card, but if they already have one they must record their catch."

Source:

http://www.abproguides.com/free_fishing_weekend.htm

I don't plan to record my catch but I wouldn't suggest potentially illegal activity to others. They must decide for themselves what to do.

[codfisher]

Something Good,

Your comments on the info posted by A&B Guides is interesting. All ODFW had to do was include that simple sentence in the synopsis and there would be no doubt about the need to record a fish on your tag for the free days. Since they did not, and since I would question where A&B got their information, since it is not written in the synopsis, I still maintain there is no requirement to record the fish on that day.

It isn't like this has never been an issue before and therefore never thought of by ODFW as needing clarification. If OSP has a problem with something in the synopsis, all they do is notify ODFW and it is taken care of the next years printing.

I am not suggesting that anyone do anything they don't want to, just don't read things into the regs that are not there. That is when the confusion begins.

Codfisher

[Something Good]

Codfisher you may be right. I just dug through the ODFW sight and this is all I could find.

http://159.121.200.129/news/2007/May/050807.asp

"During the weekend, any person can fish in Oregon waters without a license or tags. However, persons who already possess a combined tag for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut are required to use it. In addition, all anglers must adhere to species, bag limit and size restrictions, as well as equipment limitations."

I'm headed out the door right now to Newport to chase some halibut but I'll call the OSP next week to try to get some clarification.

[earlybird007]

I believe that the reason that if you have a combined tag and you do not use it you COULD essentaily exceed your season bag limit.

If you dont have a tag then its not an issue.

>>>------->

[fyshndad]

Originally Posted by Shark Bait

From page 4 of the ODFW Regs:

Ok I stand corrected thank you
I was going by what happened to me once
I caught a salmon on FREE Day and talked myself out of a ticket because I did in fact have a tag & license
The OSP allowed me to tag it without a ticket

I am happy to see the regs state Halibut are free

[Something Good]

Originally Posted by fyshndad

Ok I stand corrected thank you
I was going by what happened to me once
I caught a salmon on FREE Day and talked myself out of a ticket because I did in fact have a tag & license
The OSP allowed me to tag it without a ticket

I am happy to see the regs state Halibut are free

Hank, I think that has to do with thier rule about if you have one then you are required to use it... but you don't have to have one.

Silly ain't it.

[codfisher]

Earlybird007,

Again you are trying to read something into the regs that is not there. Your season limit is the six fish on the tag, and the free ones you can get when no tag is required. (June 9 & 10, 2007.) Remember they all will count towards the poundage quota, if they are checked by ODFW.

Codfisher