Hali-But - Weigh in now for 2004 regs.

[OceanBlue]

MEETING NOTICE

2004 Recreational Halibut Fishery

October 8, 2003

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold three public meetings to hear public comments regarding proposed changes to the 2004 Pacific halibut recreational fishery for Oregon. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) is considering several changes for the 2004 fishery. The proposed changes are attached.


The meetings will be held:

Tuesday, October 21
7:00 p.m.
Oregon Dept. Fish & Wildlife
4907 E. 3rd St
Tillamook

Wednesday, October 22
7:00 p.m.
Room 30
Hatfield Marine Science Center
Newport

Thursday, October 23
7:00 p.m.
N. Bend Public Library
1800 Sherman Ave
North Bend

If you have any questions, please contact Don Bodenmiller, Project Leader for Oregon Pacific Halibut fisheries, at (541) 867-0300 extension 223.

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE PROPOSALS FOR MODIFYING THE PACIFIC HALIBUT CATCH SHARING PLAN FOR THE 2004 OREGON FISHERY

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife held a public meeting on September 3, 2003 to discuss proposed changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for Oregon fisheries. Based on the meeting comments, and other public input, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) consider adopting the following options for additional public comment.


1. Increased flexibility in adopting the Spring and Summer all-depth open dates from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain.

The Spring fishery (May through July) would continue to be managed under the “fixed day” concept. The “fixed” days will continue to occur on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The fixed season dates will be established preseason and will occur in consecutive weeks starting the second Thursday in May, with exceptions to avoid adverse tidal conditions. If, following the “fixed” dates, quota for this season remains unharvested, a second opening will be held. The fishery will be open every other week on Friday and Saturday except that week(s) could be skipped to avoid adverse tidal conditions. The potential open Fridays and Saturdays will be identified preseason. The fishery will continue until there is insufficient quota for an additional day of fishing. Any remaining quota will be added to the Summer quota.

The Summer fishery (August through October) would no longer be managed under the “fixed day” concept. The fishery will continue to be structured for Friday and Saturday openers, and will open on the first Friday in August. The fishery will be open every other week on Friday and Saturday except that week(s) could be skipped to avoid adverse tidal conditions. The potential open Fridays and Saturdays will be identified preseason. The fishery will continue until there is insufficient quota for an additional day of fishing. Any remaining quota will be transferred to the nearshore fishery (presently inside the 30-fathom curve).

Rationale: During both 2002 and 2003 insufficient “back-up” dates were established preseason and quota was left unharvested in 2002 and is likely to be left unharvested in 2003. Many factors contributed to this situation, including improved salmon fishing opportunity, and adverse weather during the Spring “fixed day” fishery. This proposal adds potential open days to avoid this situation in 2004.

2. Nearshore fishery depth limit

If the recreational groundfish fishery is constrained to depths within the 40-fathom curve or shallower, the outside depth of the nearshore Pacific halibut fishery, presently open inside the 30-fathom curve, would be adjusted to match the outside depth closure of the groundfish fishery.

Rationale: Enforcement

3. Nearshore fishery retention of Pacific halibut

It would be illegal to have Pacific halibut taken in the nearshore fishery (presently constrained to inside the 30-fathom curve) on board a vessel that is outside the open area.

Rationale: Enforcement


4. Combine central coast subareas during the Spring all-depth fishery

Combine the two sub-areas in the Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain area during the Spring all-depth fishery.

Rationale: If the proposal to increase flexibility to the central coast all-depth fisheries is adopted (proposal 1), participants at the public meeting suggested that having a separate sub-area from the Florence north jetty to Humbug Mountain was not necessary.

5. Extend duration of South of Humbug Mountain fishery

Last year the Council adopted an October 31 ending date for the fisheries south of Cape Falcon. In the Federal Register, the area south of Humbug Mountain was not included in the season extension.

Rationale: Housekeeping

[Mark Mc]

What do y'all think of the locations/times of these meetings? How many folks who live / work in the valley or Portland area will be able to attend?

Seems like one suggestion right off would be to request a meeting in the valley somewhere.

[CAPT KUJO]

I will be personally going to 3 meetings as the BLACK ROCKET's ability to market sport fishing in Oregon. We have been able to attract fishermen (and women) from out of State to spend their money at the Oregon Coast. Please come join me...and get your 2 cents in on the "colorful dog and pony"

CAPT KUJO

[blubeast]

OB... thanks for the notice of the meetings.

I plan on attending the Newport meeting. I remember last year several folks made suggestions on this board about ways to make the sport fishers have a better chance of catching fish.

I'd welcome your comments and will try to get them included into my talk to the committee.

[Popeye]

bluebeast....I'm going to be elk hunting, and won't be able to attend this time. My question is....Where are we going to be able to catch any kind of quota inside the 40 fathom line???? They may as well just shut it down

[blubeast]

Popeye... exactly my concern. Thanks for the comment.

Anyone else have questions/comments? Earlier when the bottomfish limitations were issued there were lots of comments to the effect " had I known I'd have spoken up"... well as OceanBlue has said many times before... here's your chance.

If you can attend.. do so... if not please provide your suggestions to those of us who can attend.

[Miss B Haven]

I read this different, that they would still have the deep water halibut open days/quota. They would adjust the wide open shallow water (year round basically) from 30 fathoms in to 40 fathoms in. That would align the shallow halibut and shallow rockfish depth lines to a single point.
Should give the shallow Halibut guys some new ground somewhere.

[Fishplay]

I'll be at the Wed 10/22 meeting in Newport. See you there Bluebeast.

Burgers and Rouge Ale afterwords or before?? Earliest I could be there is 5:30.

Hope to see some others there also!!

[blubeast]

Not entirely sure Mel.

If I remember the prior groundfish rules imposed for next year, I thought all bottom fishing outside the 40 fathoms line was closed. Correct????? :whazzup:

Rule #2 above merely adjusts the 30 fathom rule to coincide with the new 40 fathom limit.

So if I remember the 40 fathom rule correctly, this would exclude any fishing at the Chicken Ranch and even possibly the Rock Pile depending upon exactly where the 40 fathom line is drawn.

Maybe someone who remembers those ruling can help clarify.

[ 10-16-2003, 07:55 PM: Message edited by: blubeast ]

[OceanBlue]

http://www.ifish.net/cgi-local/ultim...;f=21;t=003041

Hopefully this will answer your halibut concerns with relation to the groundfish issues - See the bottom of the thread.

[blubeast]

I was still confused based upon the info in the above link regarding the PFMC's closure... so at OceanBlue's suggestion, I contacted Don Bodenmiller of ODFW for clarification. Below is his reply since it clears up some my questions:


"As I understand the regulations, the all-depth Pacific halibut sport fishery WILL BE OPEN to all-depths on authorized dates (to be set early next year). No groundfish species can be retained on those deep water halibut trips (rockfish, lingcod, etc.).

The rockpile will be closed to groundfish during the June-September period, but open to halibut on authorized dates. Also, it will be open to salmon fishing during the authorized season (to be set in March and April).

I hope this helps."

Don Bodenmiller
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
2040 SE Marine Science Drive
Newport, Oregon 97365
(541) 867-0300 ext. 223

[Sea Jypzee]

hmmm, working till 6 on the 22nd....may just grab a quick bite to snack on then head on over to the meeting if I get off work on time.

[OceanBlue]

Reminder

[OceanBlue]

Bump - Did anyone go last night? Any reports?

[Sea Jypzee]

I couldn't make it...had a trauma meeting in Corvallis for work and got home late tonight.

[ 10-22-2003, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: Sea Jypzee ]