salmon closure decided

[Bill Monroe]

Decision made this morning. Central will close to coho (not chinook, sorry) fishing/keeping on Tuesday night. Between Falcon and Humbug mountain...weekend is a go for coho...Chinook still legal to keep seven days a week even after the coho closure.

[ 08-14-2003, 09:23 AM: Message edited by: Bill Monroe ]

[Mello-Yello]

That's just for Coho though, right?

[Chum King]

The fishery would remain open for all species except coho as listed in the regulations.

[Bill Monroe]

ttt

['ZZZZzzzzzz']

Thanks for the information. Good post.

Z's-

[Born to be Wild]

I know this won't be a popular statement amongst some, but I'm kinda anxious for the season to come to an end.

Too many wild coho being killed out there. A lot more than expected.

On the up side of things there appears to be a lot of wild coho out there again this year.

Yesterday a charter boat captain who was very upset told me he has been killing approx. 75% of the non fin clipped coho he has released. I questioned him on that and told him that I have been releasing mine in the water with a gaff and felt good about all but two this season. He stayed with his 75% mortality claim and told me he is using 7/0 hooks to "rip them". I suggested he might use a smaller hook as I have lost very few all season on a coyote spoon with the small hooks that come with them. He told me he has to use the large 7/0 hooks to rip 'em because of his inexperienced fishermen (customers).

I personally like this guy but don't agree with him as myself and other charters are successful with smaller hooks. He told me he is using a gaff for releasing also but apparently a large percentage of there fish are ripped by these large hooks he is using.

The charters are releasing 100+ coho on some days and the privates are releasing plenty also. We released a dozen the other night just to catch our four hatchery fish.

The hooking mortality is based on 14% but feel that number is way low considering the way a lot of fishermen are handling their fish.

93,000 coho have been estimated to have been released so far and that number could be low also.

I feel a lot more could have been done in educating the public in handling and releasing wild coho as they do in Washington.

Dan

[rainrshine]

Dan good post. I have had to let a few wild ones go that you just know arent going to make it :blush: It hard to watch them swim away only to re-surface again still bleeding from there gills. We always take as much care as we can in releasing the wild ones but some times the "wild" ones are the ones that dont want to come to the boat or just take the whole darn bait!! Rainrshine

[edsr]

Dan, you have a point. Last Sat. we watched as a near-by boat hooked a fish and then netted it brought it on board and then threw it back to release it. the boat had a high freeboard, more a crusing than a fishing boat. Dam shame they couldn't find a better way to release in the water. Even being careful we dinged one bad enough that it was bleeding when released. It was hard to keep them off.

edsr

[Born to be Wild]

ODFW Action Notice
Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Newport, Oregon August 14, 2003

The NOAA Fisheries, Pacific Fishery Management Council, the state of Oregon, and ocean recreational salmon fishers discussed by conference call today the status of the ocean recreational selective coho salmon fishery in ocean waters between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt. The following action was taken:

ACTION TAKEN: The recreational ocean selective coho salmon fishery between Cape Falcon and Humbug Mt, Oregon will close to retention of coho salmon effective 11:59 PM Tuesday, August 19.

RATIONALE: Through Wednesday August 13 the landed coho catch in this fishery totaled 76,132 coho which is 86.5% of the quota of 88,000 coho. Weather conditions forecast for early this week are anticipated to limit fishing opportunity along much of the coast, but catches are anticipated to approach the quota by Tuesday night. In order to provide ample notice to anglers, and to insure that the quota was not exceeded, the decision was made to close the fishery at the end of fishing on Tuesday, August 19. Fishing for all species except coho will remain open as described in the “2003 Oregon Ocean Salmon and Halibut Sport Fishing Regulations.” Chinook fishing continues to be good throughout the area, and should provide plenty of good opportunity for ocean salmon anglers for the remainder of the ocean season.



Eric Schindler
Supervising Biologist
Marine Resources Program
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
2040 SE Marine Science Dr.
Newport, OR 97365

541/867-0300 x252 FAX 541/867-0311
eric.schindler@oregonstate.edu

[ 08-14-2003, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: DepoeBayDan ]

[Bill Monroe]

If the wind comes up and keeps everyone off the water, it could dampen the catch, but I was told this morning they factored in the weather forecast, too, and that's what got them to Tuesday instead of Sunday night.

Done deal, Dan...they won't reopen for a day even if there are a few left...
Get 'em in that freshwater!

[Born to be Wild]

Oh I can hardly wait Bill!

Have to get you up there this year also.

Thanks!

And you're right finclipped, it has been a great season for both coho and chinook out there in the salt just as was predicted!

Dano

[Born to be Wild]

Chum King,

If the season closure Tuesday night is a day or two short of the 88,000 quota, would an additional day or two be added to the fishery before the August 24th closure? Or is it a done deal and closed for the remainder of the season?

Dan

[finclipped]

I don't think anyone can complain to much. It has been a great season, with a real boost to the entire coastal communities. The longest season since the early 90's. One positive thing about the higher catch ratio for the nates, is that it is likely there are more of them out there.

I to would like to see more education and perhaps additional rules (hook size, can't remove fish from water, etc) to limit the mortality on the coho.

[Badger]

Eric,

Could you clarify the status of this year's halibut season please, perhaps in a separate thread? I've heard rumors that there may be one or more days forthcoming, any truth to that?

Thanks,
Bryan

[CATCH AND EAT]

Dan, I have been using 6/0 top hook and 5/0 trailing hook. Have only had one fish die on me that completely swallowed the bait. I cut the leader but he was bleeding like a stuck pig out there. no saving him.


As far as releasing fish, I do my best to identify them before netting. Sometimes it is not possible but I do leave the net in the water.

[bullhead]

With good seas, Falcon can be an easy run from Garibaldi. So I assume one could head north to fish above Falcon, and return to Garibaldi...is that correct?

[Sea Jypzee]

With good seas, Falcon can be an easy run from Garibaldi. So I assume one could head north to fish above Falcon, and return to Garibaldi...is that correct?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Someone correct me if I'm wrong here, but I believe the answer is No, this is not correct. They go by where your home port, or where you launch/land from as to where the legal area is.

[Born to be Wild]

It closed between Cape Falcon and Tillamook Head on August 1.

NORTH OF CAPE FALCON:
Open Period: June 29 through earlier of Sept. 30 or 112,500 coho quota; open Sunday through Thursday each week (closed Fridays and Saturdays). Effective Friday, July 25, fishery will open to seven days per week.

Open Area: Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon. Closed in the Columbia Control Zone, and closed between Tillamook Head and Cape Falcon beginning August 1.

Originally posted by chum King:

Abalone,

The ocean between Tillamook Head and Cape Falcon closes to all salmon angling (chinook and coho) beginning August 1. Prior to August 1 it has been open under the same rules for the rest of the North of Cape Falcon area. The regulations are available at Oregon Ocean Salmon Regs.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">

[ 08-19-2003, 02:08 PM: Message edited by: DepoeBayDan ]

[Born to be Wild]

I had to edit my most. I stand corrected and you can legally run out of Garibaldi go some 30 miles north to Tillamook Head and fish coho north of there and land them in Garibaldi.

I talked with Gway Kirchner at 541/867-0300 x271 yesterday who is Eric Shindler's assistant and unlike port landings for a lot of commercial fisheries there is none for the recreational coho fishery.

A long ways to run for a couple coho however.

Dano