New BC Halibut Regs

[Strrykerr]

Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Fin Fish (Other than Salmon)

Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN0077-Halibut: All Tidal Waters - Further to FN0044 - Changes to the Recreational Fishery

Further to Fishery Notice FN0044:

In order to manage within domestic halibut allocations, the following changes
will be implemented in the 2008 recreational fishery:

Coastwide
---------

March 1 to 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 3.
April 1 to May 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 2.
June 1 to Dec 31: Daily limit of two. Possession limit of 2.

Areas 121, 23 and 123
---------------------

April 1 to Dec 31:

• No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in that
portion of Area 121 seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.000 minutes
north latitude and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes west longitude and continues
southeasterly at a bearing of 116 degrees true to a point at 48 degrees 28.327
minutes north latitude and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes west longitude. [12
nautical mile limit]

April 1/08 to March 31/09:

• Electronic licence conditions will be expanded as follows:
"no person who is not a Canadian resident may fish for or retain halibut under
this licence in Areas 121, 23 and 123."


Variation Order Nos 2008-80 (close time) and 2008-81 (quota).


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Bill Shaw 250-756-7152 and Gary Logan 604-666-9033

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0077
Sent February 21, 2008 at 14:01
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

[tomictime]

fun, while it lasted..

[OuterLimits]

That blows!

[havnfun2]

will be interesting to see how this will play out say if i go to canada but a lic. then fish out of neah bay, will the canadian CG or fisheries check the cooler in my truck in the USA?

[Green Machine]

Tomic:

Is this in our area and out on the Highway?

Green Machine

[5 Salt]

So you have to step onto Canadian soil and buy a paper license each season - no big deal.

[Cornfed]

Originally Posted by Green Machine

Tomic:

Is this in our area and out on the Highway?

Green Machine

It is not on the highway out of Nootka. This applies to area 121 and 23 and 123...basically the piece of water directly out from Uclulet, Tofino, ALberni...etc.

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish...astalmap_e.htm

[Cornfed]

You want to see what they really think of us. Here, check this out:
http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum/...asp?FORUM_ID=2

Check out the topics titled:
NON RESIDENT VESSELS ENTERING CANADIAN WATERS
UPDATE ON NEAH BAY CHARTER WEBSITE
E-LICENSE CHANGES NEAH BAY

They want to start a war over this. I have never seen so much American bashing in all my life (aside from the middle east and in Berkeley, CA jk).

If they want to start making regulations and limiting the American catch...fine. See if I go to Canada and spend my money there. What a joke: We have to go to Nootka and spend loads of cash just to catch our own Columbia River fish. It's great, isn't it? (SARCASM INCLUDED)

[fishinmagician88]

Start a war? Not at all...more like protect our resources. This isn't trying to stop people like you from coming up and staying in a place like Tahsis or something...it's trying to stop those Neah Bay charters who put $0 into our economy yet **** our halibut...and don't check in with customs...so they are fishing their illegally....I'm looking forward to when the enforcement begins this summer!

[tracker]

So its one halibut, and three lings and some rockfish. The only thing is you have to have a license you buy across the border. I still see nothing here about having to deal with customs. The biggest part is that you will not have the massive amounts of charters as stated leaving Neah Bay each day catching bunches of halibut. Most of those customers will not be willing to go get the license across the border. There will be a few though. So the Neah Charters are on deaths bed. Maybe appropriately! But the sportfishermen should be just fine. Get your passport or if living in Washington, get your special drivers license. Did I miss anything? The closure area they speak of is the same?

[tracker]

As long as you dont land in Canada you will be fine with fishing in their waters and coming back to US.

[Cornfed]

Originally Posted by fishinmagician88

Start a war? Not at all...more like protect our resources. This isn't trying to stop people like you from coming up and staying in a place like Tahsis or something...it's trying to stop those Neah Bay charters who put $0 into our economy yet **** our halibut...and don't check in with customs...so they are fishing their illegally....I'm looking forward to when the enforcement begins this summer!

What enforcement??? I didn't know horses could swim. There is nothing to look forward to as far as enforcement. The charters out of Neah Bay have fished legally in the past and they will continue to do so. Most of the sport fleet has fished legally and will continue to do so. I'm not quite sure why you're so excited about enforcement??

So let me get this straight: You Canadians don't want any Americans to fish Canadian waters unless we are staying in Canada and spending money there, right?

Tracker - There is no difference in the customs. It has not changed. I am currently confirming with CBSA so I know the official rule, but I have been told by customs before...If you don't touch land and you don't throw anchor: you don't have to report. There is something to do with a 12 mile - right of passage rule. If this is the case, I would get a CANPASS.

There is an additional closure area aside from the Swiftsure closure area. it is at the west side of 121. I didn't fish there anyway. The possession limit has decreased and the daily limit is one before June 1st, 2 after June 1st.

A couple more discriminatory regulations and you will see a lot less Americans traveling north to fish, but I suppose you would like that?

[Cornfed]

Originally Posted by fishinmagician88

Start a war? Not at all...more like protect our resources. This isn't trying to stop people like you from coming up and staying in a place like Tahsis or something...it's trying to stop those Neah Bay charters who put $0 into our economy yet **** our halibut...and don't check in with customs...so they are fishing their illegally....I'm looking forward to when the enforcement begins this summer!

One more thing...if you want to protect your resources: GO AFTER THE *******! They have 88% of the TAC. According to the IPHC Blue Book, the US, took 1% of the total. Seems like you time would be better spent going after them. Just my

[BARCHASER]

I trailer my boat up to Ucluelet every summer. Since I dont have a big boat I dont run down to Big Bank, but we do get Hallies on South Bank, not as good as Big Bank but they are there. Area 123 is closed but does anybody know if there are any Halibut holes in area 124? The south edge of 124 is pretty close to Ucluelet.

I've been trailering my boat to Uke since the late 80's. I havent noticed any American bashing either on the shore or on the water. The only thing I've noticed is the marina at Island West was only 30% full last summer and I went there twice. Back in the 90's the place was wall to wall U.S. guys. The Manager of Island West was complaining about the lack of U.S. guys.

[tracker]

I have been told that there are limited times that the Canucks do come out to swiftsure and check people. I have not seen it but have been told about it. I have seen the Washington guys way offshore headed to who knows where. We were 30 plus off and headed in. They did stop a boat after us, but he made a turn likely when he saw the enforcement coming. He got stopped. I just waved at them when I went by! The big thing is that you have to run across the border, get your license and come home. You dont have to leave a penny there other than the cost of the license. It dont cost anything but the fuel. There is a store about 1 mile inside the border that sells the licenses. Dont buy a snack and nothing was accomplished by these regs. It is very rare that there are canadian boats where I am fishing.

[Sitkaspruce]

Guys

It is not that there is any war between US and Canadian sportfisherman, it is just that the IPHC has just played around with the #'s and determined that we, as BC sportfisherman, have taken too many halibut. Our limit is 12% and the IPHC says we are taking to many. This has PO quite a few people, as the population is stable and there is no conservation worries, so why are we being cut back. Yea I know, blame the commercials, but they have been cut back too, but not enough if you ask me..

There is a deep feeling on mistrust with our Deparment of Fishries and Oceans and the government as a whole and we feel that we are again getting the short end of the stick and because we are an easy target, we get the the short end of the stick. Most of the outrage is over the amount of catch that is being taken by the Neah Bay charters and there is no way to check how much they actually catch. And also becuase it is a "Canadian" resourse, as looked at by IPHC, all those fish count against the sport fish catch in BC. And what does BC and Canada get out of it....$7.50 or so for a one day licence. Also it is rumoured that the guides also catch their limit and pass them onto the clients from each charter. All this adds up. It sucks to be told that we have to curtail our catch, yet there is no or very little enforcement when it comes to the Swiftsure Banks and Neah Bay. Again, easies to just pound on the inshore fisheman. And lastly, a lot of small towns rely on those who come to fish in BC waters, whether from BC, Alberta or the US, and buy fuel, food and all other things that make a fishing trip fun. The fear is that if this unregulated fishery out of Neah continues, that the small towns will suffer, either from reduced fishing oppertunities or from all the US people just running out of Neah, especially if it is cheaper.

There is some very zelous people in BC right now, who are very PO about what is happening with the fish, whether it is the halibut regs, the farm fish killing our pinks by the thousands, the FN fishery or the 130000 chinooks taken in the Alaska Pollack fishery as by-catch, with most (40%) coming from BC and Washinton/Oregon rivers. We are finally starting to wake up to what is happening to the fish in our waters as we have had it so good for so long. It will only get worse before it gets better.

I know for a fact that everyone is welcome to come fish in BC and I believe that what you have been reading is mostly rants about what has been going on for years and we have just started to realize it.

Barchaser and everyone else

The area you fish is still open, just make sure that you buy a paper licence and do not get one from the internet. Area 121, 123 and 23 are closed to e-licence (internet) holders only. This is to stop the Neah Bay clients from not having to enter Canada. Yea, I also know that they just have to run to Victoria, buy a licence and then go back, but at least they might stop and smell the flowers before heading back

Cheers

SS

[Cornfed]

Originally Posted by Sitkaspruce

Guys

It is not that there is any war between US and Canadian sportfisherman, it is just that the IPHC has just played around with the #'s and determined that we, as BC sportfisherman, have taken too many halibut. Our limit is 12% and the IPHC says we are taking to many. This has PO quite a few people, as the population is stable and there is no conservation worries, so why are we being cut back. Yea I know, blame the commercials, but they have been cut back too, but not enough if you ask me..

There is a deep feeling on mistrust with our Deparment of Fishries and Oceans and the government as a whole and we feel that we are again getting the short end of the stick and because we are an easy target, we get the the short end of the stick. Most of the outrage is over the amount of catch that is being taken by the Neah Bay charters and there is no way to check how much they actually catch. And also becuase it is a "Canadian" resourse, as looked at by IPHC, all those fish count against the sport fish catch in BC. And what does BC and Canada get out of it....$7.50 or so for a one day licence. Also it is rumoured that the guides also catch their limit and pass them onto the clients from each charter. All this adds up. It sucks to be told that we have to curtail our catch, yet there is no or very little enforcement when it comes to the Swiftsure Banks and Neah Bay. Again, easies to just pound on the inshore fisheman. And lastly, a lot of small towns rely on those who come to fish in BC waters, whether from BC, Alberta or the US, and buy fuel, food and all other things that make a fishing trip fun. The fear is that if this unregulated fishery out of Neah continues, that the small towns will suffer, either from reduced fishing oppertunities or from all the US people just running out of Neah, especially if it is cheaper.

There is some very zelous people in BC right now, who are very PO about what is happening with the fish, whether it is the halibut regs, the farm fish killing our pinks by the thousands, the FN fishery or the 130000 chinooks taken in the Alaska Pollack fishery as by-catch, with most (40%) coming from BC and Washinton/Oregon rivers. We are finally starting to wake up to what is happening to the fish in our waters as we have had it so good for so long. It will only get worse before it gets better.

I know for a fact that everyone is welcome to come fish in BC and I believe that what you have been reading is mostly rants about what has been going on for years and we have just started to realize it.

Barchaser and everyone else

The area you fish is still open, just make sure that you buy a paper licence and do not get one from the internet. Area 121, 123 and 23 are closed to e-licence (internet) holders only. This is to stop the Neah Bay clients from not having to enter Canada. Yea, I also know that they just have to run to Victoria, buy a licence and then go back, but at least they might stop and smell the flowers before heading back

Cheers

SS

Thanks for your input SitkaSpruce. From what it sounds like, the American bashing has been coming from a few select people on the south side of Vancouver Island. I feel strongly about an issue when someone attacks the place you call home and lays blame on a specific group of people (US sport fishermen). I understand why people are PO but could do without the discriminatory comments directed towards us. This issue will pass and things will go back to normal hopefully by the beginning of hali. season. I love coming up to Canada and hope to continue to do so.

Tight Lines.

[Duckie]

Just an FYI. We've been checked by Canadian law enforcement last summer at Canadian Swiftsure. This was in late July. I couldn't believe it, but they came via a fast RIB with twin Mercs and it was a 2-man crew. We were boarded, our catches and paper licenses checked, and even hooks were inspected since we were salmon fishing. We were in compliance and all was pleasant and polite.

[tomictime]

..some thoughts...

first, Greenmachine, we fish 125, and 25

On the new posession limits, My initial input was 3 was better than 2...I do think this new policy will have negative impacts as people will cull fish and kill the big fecund females....bummer..

I think the Neah based into Canada charter impacts (harvest) are over estimated and overstated, by both sides. WA has enough trouble figuring out what we catch...and if nobody noticed the Neah charter business is not exactly thriving, on any fishery or dimension. Some of the BC guys should consider that Neah bay is not exactly a garden spot for tourism., or Sekiu for that matter - although for diferent reasons.

Getting a paper license is no big deal..maybe cause I get one every year..to fish on the mixed stocks of WCVI..

..and that's what we are fishing on from Winter Hbr on down to Swiftsure, mixed stocks. Can and WA have AK to thank for many of our ills, but not all.

On balance I have been treated VERY well and with GREAT hospitality in BC...but....

Finally, WCVI is not the easiest of places to fish, add in an at parity or worse exchange rate, $4 + gas , ferry fees 2 hour rentry waits at the border, a vocal few who do not want us there (I parked for years in Zeballos next to a guides pickup with a "**** on USA decal"...and you have some pretty spendy fish, hence the near deserted spots mentioned...but the hot spots will stay hot and crowded...

JD

[OuterLimits]

Well said Tomic!

[fishinmagician88]

I don't think it's really a personal attack on the US Cornfed...or at least not from my point of view. It's more of an attack on the Neah Bay charter operators...which, in my opinion, is deserving in many aspects. I have many friends from the US...but most definitely don't believe the neah bay crowd should be running to our waters and taking our halibut.

Let's hope it doesn't get to the point of Florida...where they will sink your boat if you are fishing where you "shouldn't be" fishing.

[Sitkaspruce]

Originally Posted by tomictime

..some thoughts...

first, Greenmachine, we fish 125, and 25

On the new posession limits, My initial input was 3 was better than 2...I do think this new policy will have negative impacts as people will cull fish and kill the big fecund females....bummer..

I agree with this and as a group, most would like to see a quota per year say 10-15 hali. Also how many halli will survive being pulled up from the deep and then a hook riped from it mouth as it is "too small"

I think the Neah based into Canada charter impacts (harvest) are over estimated and overstated, by both sides. WA has enough trouble figuring out what we catch...and if nobody noticed the Neah charter business is not exactly thriving, on any fishery or dimension. Some of the BC guys should consider that Neah bay is not exactly a garden spot for tourism., or Sekiu for that matter - although for diferent reasons.

How many charters run out of those areas? The way I heard, there was about a dozen or so, but I personally do not know

Getting a paper license is no big deal..maybe cause I get one every year..to fish on the mixed stocks of WCVI..

..and that's what we are fishing on from Winter Hbr on down to Swiftsure, mixed stocks. Can and WA have AK to thank for many of our ills, but not all.

I agree Tomic. We also need to work together to combat the commercial Alaska Fishery, which has the biggest impact on all our fisheries. But they are not the only ones.

On balance I have been treated VERY well and with GREAT hospitality in BC...but....

I hope that it continues for you and all who come up to fish. You all are welcome up in my neck of the woods. I will have a cold one and some stories to pass around

Finally, WCVI is not the easiest of places to fish, add in an at parity or worse exchange rate, $4 + gas , ferry fees 2 hour rentry waits at the border, a vocal few who do not want us there (I parked for years in Zeballos next to a guides pickup with a "**** on USA decal"...and you have some pretty spendy fish, hence the near deserted spots mentioned...but the hot spots will stay hot and crowded...

We have just been hit with a "Carbon Tax" of 2.5 cents/L which will start when summer comes into season and this tax will increase to 7 cents by 2010. It is to get people to stop driving vehicles that burn gas and take public transportation. This will effect everything, including ferries.
The fish will get more expensive, but as I tell my kids and clients, I cannot put a price on something I enjoy, so we suffer through.
As for the guides truck, I guess he does not realize who pays his dinner ticket. I wonder if he is still working?


JD

I hope this helps a little and does not scare off people who would like to experience some of the best fishing the west coast has to offer.

Cheers

SS

[BARCHASER]

Sitkaspruce, thanks for the clarification. Since I turned the big 60 a few years back, I'm a little slow! But I got it now, the closure does not apply to a paper license.

[sportbridge]

The new regs are not really going to effect much for us guides up here but I can see the meat fisherman...releasing small fish to keep two larger fish...not much we can do if they are paying to catch and release....then keep.
I can see a slot limit next...