2009 HALIBUT SEASON

Northern · Nov-11-2008, 01:16 PM

Doesn't really matter, if the IPHC (100% commercial) interests steals our shitty C.R. 17,000lb quota by three quarters and moves it to S.E. Alaska, no sport fishers
(charter or whatever) are going to get any fish anyway.

But, what if the Mid Oregon Coast get's cut by 3/4, bet you'd perk some ears. Let's see now 250,000 x .75= 62,500lbs, I would take a cut of that anytime.

KeyWest · Nov-11-2008, 09:18 PM

Bernie & Tom....

We can discuss the reasoning for the Thur - Sat opening....

1) Desire to allow SOME offsore fishing 7 days a week. Salmon closed Fri / Sat - so it would be nice to be able to fish Halibut those days.

2) Desire to keep the season open longer so there would be something to fish for 7 days a week offshore.

3) Desire to put the CR days on par with the central / south coast. We will never be able to be successful in transfer of quota until we are fishing on par with the central / south coast. This is step one - same 3 day a week opener as the south coast.

I know we would like to be able to simply say "we need more quota" and it would appear. But we need to be a bit more realistic in our expectations - asking "what will it take to get more quota" and then acting upon the answer to that question. What you are seeing is a reaction to that question - "what will it take to get more quota". We attempted to extend the near-shore halibut fishing to the mouth of the CR, but this was blocked by the Ilwaco guys - not certain what was up with that but I will investigate and try to build some consensus.

But, all that said, there is a very large risk that all of our quota will be gone next year between the commercial fishing interests in Alaska and the tribal interests in Washington.

Northern · Nov-12-2008, 07:40 AM

Dean

Salmon season usually begins around the 1st week in July.
The unfair halibut allocation screw job for the C.R. wont last till that fishery picks up.
Having watched this fishery grow as large as it has over the last 10years or so, all we get from the regulators on the quota is double talk and the promise of more allocation as our fishery grows. Last season we had at least 10 trips cancel to crappy weather.
I don't see any evidence or chance we'll get more quota, it's a G.D. shell game and I'm tired of playing.

Think we had a total of 5-6 trips in the entire 08 season. Dean, I applaud your efforts to continue to reason with the creeps. I did get to tag one halibut on my card, for that I'm thankfull. As it stands now, the Central Coast catch area is fixing to leave 17,000lbs of 08 quota on the table, this even after the fire sale 2-fish day change to eat up the quota at seasons end.

How do you reason with that

Crackerjack · Nov-12-2008, 01:02 PM

That bumpersticker shit is the work of morons.
It does nothing to solve the SE Alaska halibut allocation issue. It only inflames the issue and make the commercail sector look like a bunch of greedy idiots.

Funny we don't have that kind of anomosity in South Central Alaska and all of our guides and most of the commercial fleet are local Alaska residents....hmmmmmm

I wonder if that has something to do with it.

Northern · Nov-12-2008, 08:56 PM

Frosty

We dont have any of that crap either, most charter guys fish for a living on the other side too. Guess we'll all know something in Jan.

KeyWest · Nov-12-2008, 09:18 PM

[quote=Crackerjack;1168886]That bumpersticker shit is the work of morons. quote]

What bumbersticker shit are you speaking of? Are you saying there won't be any quota transferred up north from 2A this year?

KeyWest · Nov-12-2008, 09:25 PM

Tom,

To he honest, Don mentioned that the best way to increase allocation is to throw the CR in with the south coast - fish the same season. Historically (all areas in Oregon) this is how it has been done.

But, the Ilwaco guys don't want to go along as they feel they will be totally cut out of the game unless they land into Hammond. I think we can work on some sort of compromise with LE to allow landings into Ilwaco with an OR fishing license.

But, your point about salmon opener is valid. The Thur - Sat was at the request of Mark, Gene, Chuck, Ole - in an interest in extending the season. Granted, this year salmon opened early so it may have clouded judgement. But... We are all interested in the same thing - how can we give charter guys (and ME) an opportunity to fish more days. We all want the same thing - we tend to argue over how best to achive that goal.

Don actually cautioned against making any changes pending the possible transfer of quota up north. (for those of you calling BS on the possibilty of transfer of quota who do not know Don - he is the ODFW guy responsible for the Halibut fishery in Oregon).

Dean

Northern · Nov-13-2008, 06:41 AM

Dean

I refuse to negotiate against ourselves. We all want the same thing your right.
10 years of hoping, 10 years of fish left on the table while we sit on the dock.

I don't see any movement on "their" side, that's all I'm saying.

Keta · Nov-13-2008, 07:50 AM

Dean,
The "Bumper Stickers" referred to where in Tom's link in his first post, evil bullshit!

Tom and Andy,
If you look the client base in the areas you fish I'd be willing to bet that it's at least 1/2 locals, locals like "state residents". In SE most are out of state cruse ship passengers. Some of the "hate" comes from the heavy handed cruse industry stomping on everyone that gets in their way.

The only people I'm defending are A Click the image to open in full size.

laska residents, they get the shaft almost as often as sport fishermen that that live in Oregon and Washington and choose to fish off the CR.

Northern · Nov-13-2008, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keta

Dean,
The "Bumper Stickers" referred to where in Tom's link in his first post, evil bullshit!

Tom and Andy,
If you look the client base in the areas you fish I'd be willing to bet that it's at least 1/2 locals, locals like "state residents". In SE most are out of state cruse ship passengers. Some of the "hate" comes from the heavy handed cruse industry stomping on everyone that gets in their way.

The only people I'm defending are A Click the image to open in full size.

laska residents, they get the shaft almost as often as sport fishermen that that live in Oregon and Washington and choose to fish off the CR.

Hell, I'd be happy with the shaft, at least it would be something to stick with a knife

Northern · Nov-26-2008, 07:57 AM

Here are the latest "RECOMMENDATION" on the initial catch sharing.

International Pacific Halibut Commission Staff Preliminary Catch Limit Recommendations:2009

KeyWest · Nov-30-2008, 10:54 PM

Tom,

What if we discuss what we would like to propose regarding the Halibut season. For example:

Salmon or sturgeon open, Halibut goes to 3 days per week (the off days for salmon or sturgeon). The goal being you guys have something to fish for 7 days a week. That is, if you and the other charter guys can live with this sort of in-season adjustment. Of course in May - it's a crap shoot. If halibut is open 7 days a week and closes before salmon opens... Well...