Cordell Banks closed to fishing off CA coast

[Nofish]

Mark Mc probably cut his teeth on this place...I hope it doesn't mean that this sort of thing is going to start happening off the OR coast. Kind of scary... Here's the press release:

Department of Fish and Game
NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 04:023
February 23, 2004

Contacts: Tom Barnes, Marine Region, (858) 546-7167
Carrie Wilson, Marine Region, (831) 649-7191

Cordell Bank Will Close to Most Recreational Bottom Fishing
For Remainder of 2004

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) announced today that as of March 1 recreational fishing on Cordell Bank (off Marin County) will close for rockfish, lingcod, and associated species. This action is necessary to help reduce incidental landings of canary rockfish and other overfished bottom-dwelling fish species.

Cordell Bank habitat supports a large population of many species of rockfish. In particular, the bank has been identified by the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Groundfish Management Team (GMT) as a “hot spot” for canary rockfish and other overfished groundfish where catch rates of these species can be high. Since it is not possible to specifically target some rockfish species to the exclusion of others, recreational fishing will be closed at all times for rockfish, lingcod, cabezon, greenlings, California scorpionfish, California sheephead, and ocean whitefish.

This is not a new closure. In 2003, Cordell Bank was also closed as fishing was allowed only in waters less than 20 fathoms (120 feet) in depth, which effectively prohibited fishing there because the Cordell Bank does not rise above 20 fathoms. For 2004, however, the allowable nearshore fishing depth was increased to 30 fathoms (180 feet) during six months of the year. Because areas of the Cordell Bank are shallower than 30 fathoms, a special closure for this area must now be implemented to prevent excessive catches of canary rockfish, lingcod and several other overfished groundfish that would likely occur if the area remains open. Without this action, scientists predict that anglers may reach fishing quotas for canary rockfish early, which would then trigger early season fishing closures along the Central California coast.

The primary fishing ports that are within travel distance to Cordell Bank are Bodega Bay and the San Francisco Bay Area. Numerous other nearshore fishing grounds along the mainland coast and around the Farallon Islands will remain open during 2004 and are accessible from both of these port areas, providing an alternative to fishing trips that otherwise might have been directed to Cordell Bank. Fishing opportunities for salmon, sanddabs, crabs, and other species will remain open in this area.

A similar action for commercial fisheries will be considered through the normal in-season management process at the next meeting of the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

[Mark Mc]

Now Bob, why would you say that?? Oh, way back THEN? Well OK I'll admit I made a few trips there.

In between charter boat fishing, we would do hook & line commercial for rockfish (esp. Oct - Jan) The big-load days for us would involve bocaccio or yellowtail or chilipeppers. The bocaccio & chilis would be pretty deep, like 60 to 80 fathoms, so we'd use 30 to 50 hooks on a rod, 50 to 70 hooks on a handline. When they really bite, it's every hook. Then about halfway up the whole mess starts to float. So when it hits the surface, this whole choo-choo train of fish bobs up like a submarine surfacing. The yellowtail are generally up higher, so we'd use a shorter (20 - 25 hook) rig, and try to pull them faster & make another drop.

Oh by the way, this was 20 - 25 years ago.






[ 02-25-2004, 08:01 PM: Message edited by: Mark Mc ]

[Threemuch]

Pay heed guys, this is like closing stonewall for us.

[Mark Mc]

Kurt, the thing is... everything was closed outside of 20 fathoms last year anyways (i.e. Cordell has been shut down for over a year). For some strange reason they made this redundant regulation about Cordell, probably because it's such a fishy place & they didn't want people to think they could fish the high spots. Like, people are still confused as to whether they can fish Noonday Rock / Fanny Shoals.

BTW..I hope nobody is offended by the photos. I know of drag boats that caught in one day (actually in one tow!!) as much poundage as I caught in 10 years. Our hook & line thing was peanuts. If you ever get to Fort Bragg, go into Fort Bragg Marine (Tommy Ancona's store) and look at the photos of the Tarantino loaded with 90,000 pounds of bocaccio.

P.S. Kurt, check your e-mail..thx, MM

[ 02-25-2004, 10:43 PM: Message edited by: Mark Mc ]