Seeking input for Rockfish Regs, 2/26 Mtg

[Mark Mc]

As was already posted, there's an ODFW meeting in Newport on Thursday night. Does anyone have any input regarding rockfish regulations? Or other ideas? I'd like to suggest to ODFW that they be open to two things: (1) working with sportfishers to get better data on rockfish/lingcod populations, and (2) working with sportfishers on alternative gear such as release methods for canaries / yelloweye, and gear that can help avoid these aforementioned reds. Please post here or e-mail me with any input. Thanks!

Also, I can take a few riders from Corvallis if anyone wants to join me. Meet at the SW Corvallis Safeway parking lot (hwy 20 & 53rd).

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The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) will host three public meetings to discuss and gain input on groundfish regulations for the 2005 and 2006 fishing seasons. Comments received at the meetings will assist ODFW staff with development of preliminary options for recreational and commercial regulations for 2005 and 2006. These options will be presented at the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meeting in Tacoma, Washington, March 8-12.

For the first time, PFMC has begun a two-year management cycle for groundfish. Therefore, ideas presented from the public at these meetings will form the basis for management options for the entire 2005-2006 regulatory framework for groundfish species.

General topics for these meetings include:
· 2005-2006 Commercial and Sport Groundfish Regulations
· Nearshore Management
· Management of Overfished Species
· Implementation of Tested Gear as Management Options
· Regional Management
· Additional options and topics from the public are welcome.

For additional information on commercial fishing options, contact Mark Saelens, for information on sport fishing options, contact Don Bodenmiller, ODFW in Newport, (541) 867-4741.

[stick flicker]

I would like to ride over with you if you are still planning on going. Just need a time. What are you driving?

[Mark Mc]

StickFlicker, check your e-mail. Thx...MM

[Pilar]

Mark, thanks for attending this meeting. A couple thoughts for you.

1) Why is the *Rare* and in trouble Yelloweye so often caught?
2) Same question for Canary Rockfish.
3) What impact has the changes to the trawl fishery had on the bycatch and 'red' rockfish impacts?
4) Does it make any sense to share data on places where these fish are encountered and methods that result in 'red' rockfish catches with the fishery managers? If we do share this info it will most likely result in those areas being closed or 'managed'.
5) What is the impact on these fish of the previous *release* (float away dead) stategy we used in past years?

[corrirod]

My questions would be:

--Where are they finding the declining numbers? I would like to know if they are seeing a decline inshore and offshore, or just one or the other? Based on their testimony last year it appeared as though the depleted areas were the ones farther offshore, or in areas more likely to be fished by commercial entities. I guess I just want to know where the data has been collected that NEEDS to be used to determine the 2005-2006 season? I've caught more reds the last 2 years than the entire previous 5 years.

--Are there other techiques that could be used to reduce mortality? Lighter tackle for slower retrieves? Pilar suggested weight restrictions to keep off the bottom? Or perhaps more marketing on techniques for reviving these fish? Unless they close the whole ocean, which isn't out of the question, there will still be bycatch of those reds so we should do our best to keep the mortality rate down.

--Is it possible to just reduce the number of weekly fishing days vs. shutting down for the season? Maybe 3 days a week it's open with only one weekend day open?

I'll try to think of some more before you leave this afternoon.

Thanks for attending Mark.

[Mark Mc]

John, for #s 1,2,3, & 5, yep...I get it.

For #4, that sounds like a question that we need to deliberate. First of all, when I say "work with ODFW to share catch / stock information" it doesn't necessarily mean locations. It could, or it could not. I get what you are saying though. However, you have to admit that areas like Stonewall Bank, Perpetua / Heceta Bank, & Astoria Canyon are already very well known by the fisheries managers / biologists.

The irony that I'm concerned about, which you allude to in #1 & #2, is that we are seeing some fisheries / species being restricted when it appears to us that the populations are OK, especially when it comes to lingcod. So if the fishery managers were open to using REAL data (not telephone sampling of folks who wouldn't know one red from another) to determine which stocks are at risk, I would think that this would be a huge improvement at not only the decision-making, but also the public's (our) acceptance of those decisions.

Rod... yep I understand your list. I especially like your thinking on closures - "reduce the number of weekly fishing days vs. shutting down for the season? Maybe 3 days a week it's open with only one weekend day open?" Very good thinking out of the box. Yes they could counter with the "difficulty of enforcement / staffing" concern; that seems to be a standard trump card these days.

Anyhow, thanks guys; keep the ideas coming!!

[ 02-26-2004, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: Mark Mc ]

[Pilar]

Rod, good point on the weight restriction. That still leaves downrigger fishing though. Most of the red fish I get while bouncing/dragging the bottom for Lings. Staying up off the bottom slows down the catch rate on red fish, IMHO.

Having said that ... we still catch a few on the downrigger 1/2 way down while trolling for kings. I have a hard time believing that a fish that is so easy to catch and apparently more abundant for the past 2 years is in trouble off our coast on the close in reefs.

As Rod said, what science is being used to determine abundance and where are these data being collected? Is there any possibility that our reefs have not been surveyed at all or the data is for somewhere south of here?

[corrirod]

So Mark, what did you find out?

I came up with another idea this morning that might help reduce the mortality of reds. Here is the regulation I think they should enact:

Allowable Fishing Devices for Bottomfish:

</font><ul type="square">[*]<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Only Mickey/Mini Mouse, Scooby Doo, or Donald Duck fishing poles are allowed.</font>[*]<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">No more than 4 lb. test monofilament line.</font>[*]<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">And no more than 2 size 8/0 barbless single shank hooks allowed.</font>[/list]<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">
What do you think? :tongue: :grin:

[puffins crew]

Rod, ROFL!! What about my Zebco 77?? It is every bit as stout as my daughters snoopy pole! :grin:

[ 02-27-2004, 05:57 PM: Message edited by: puffins crew ]