HALIBUT IS NOT CLOSED ANYWHERE IN ALASKA

Capt. Rob · Oct-19-2009, 01:06 PM

B.S. and I don't mean Blowing Snow.
The limits on Halibut are determined by the federal goverment.
Special interest groups are rewarded by politicians that support them.
Southeast Aalaska has the same halibut limit as anywhere else in Alaska.
The exception is that an angler can only catch one halibut in a guide boat but can still catch two per day.
This has to do with restricting guides not anglers.
We do put our clients on alot of big fish and increase the amount of fish they take home.
We don't have a strong lobby.
The commercial fishermen have seen the IFGs slashed as well.
The winners of all of this are the fish buyers with increased market share.

doughnut · Oct-19-2009, 03:09 PM

Whats going on with the IFQ for lodges and guides? Status update?

Tues · Oct-19-2009, 03:12 PM

This thread was started in April, 2008. Just say'n....

Capt. Rob · Oct-21-2009, 07:40 AM

According to NOAA on Thursday, It looks like no IFQs for Guide / Lodges. They're may be a limitted entry but that too is still under review. His thought was that the last year's decline in sport fishing might be enough to delay the decision until next year. He added that he would have a better handle on this in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know if I get any news with redeeming social value.

doughnut · Oct-21-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Rob

According to NOAA on Thursday, It looks like no IFQs for Guide / Lodges. They're may be a limitted entry but that too is still under review. His thought was that the last year's decline in sport fishing might be enough to delay the decision until next year. He added that he would have a better handle on this in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know if I get any news with redeeming social value.

Well, good news for the Newer Guides and Lodge owners right? Gees, its like they are strangling the sport fishing in SE.

Thanks For the info Rob!

Crackerjack · Oct-21-2009, 09:46 AM

There is no IFQ program on the table for sport caught halibut at all.

There is a limited entry program that has been proposed, comments made, and will have a final rule published in about 30 days so that it will be able to be enacted in 2010. This plan will issue limted entry permits to guides who qualified. Qualification means you had to fish, more than 10 trips in 2004 or 2005 and the continued to fish up until the year prior to implenetation. That was 2008. So if you did all that you can get a permit. Some of them will be transferable and some will just go away when the "owner" leaves the business.

The bag limit for halibut will be:

one halibut any size in Southeast Alaska - from Ketchakan, Sitka, and on up to Juneau

two halibut any size in Southcentral Alaska - no annual limit - from Valdez, Seward, Deep Creek, Homer, Kodiak

Still two fish any size for sportfishermen that are on private boats everywhere in Alaska...For now....

doughnut · Oct-21-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crackerjack

There is no IFQ program on the table for sport caught halibut at all.

There is a limited entry program that has been proposed, comments made, and will have a final rule published in about 30 days so that it will be able to be enacted in 2010. This plan will issue limted entry permits to guides who qualified. Qualification means you had to fish, more than 10 trips in 2004 or 2005 and the continued to fish up until the year prior to implenetation. That was 2008. So if you did all that you can get a permit. Some of them will be transferable and some will just go away when the "owner" leaves the business.

The bag limit for halibut will be:

one halibut any size in Southeast Alaska - from Ketchakan, Sitka, and on up to Juneau

two halibut any size in Southcentral Alaska - no annual limit - from Valdez, Seward, Deep Creek, Homer, Kodiak

Still two fish any size for sportfishermen that are on private boats everywhere in Alaska...For now....

One Halibut per day, right?

Thats what I mean, these guys spend a ton to go fish in SE. They spend while they are there etc. I dunno if telling a guy he can onlycatch 3 Halibut on a three dayer is a big Motivator. Seems like its getting tougher for the Sport Fishing guys. Which is my concern, because all the $$$ that sport fishing brings in to AK.

Also, sound like it sucks for guys who got into the biz say, in 06'

Crackerjack · Oct-21-2009, 03:10 PM

Totally sucks for anyone who got in after 2005, although they can and probabaly will buy or lease a permit to stay in business. It has been a long nasty fight in Se Alaska. I really feel for all the affeected parties - the rec anglers who come up for their trip of a lifetime, the charter guys, who have really only been following the rules they were given and even the longliners, who are really just trying to make a living too. these are small communities, often isolate from the road system so when there is a fight like this, it can cause a lot of strain.
In my humble opinion, the process that allowed all this to happen is really to blame. With all that said, lots of fishermen come to SE and if they can keep three decent halibut and some salmon and other bottom fish they are still going to take home a bunch of fish for the freezer.
We are getting quite a few who used to go to Sitka coming up our way becasue of the larger bag limits, which in time will put us in the same situation....

Capt. Rob · Oct-24-2009, 06:43 PM

Well, that is almost correct. The Bag Limit in Southeast is and has been two halibut per day. Only one of which can be caught on a guide boat. A few of us built lodges where the fish are instead of where the people are then commute to the fish. Our halibut fishing is within 3 minutes of our dock. This makes it more affordable because fishing self guided is way doable.
Capt. Rob
Woxof Lodge