WDFW Halibut Catch Esitmates Method

[kingfisher1]

Here is how WDFW estimates the halibut catch. A lot more of us fisherman out on the water than I would have guessed.

Hi Aaron-
The math used in estimating the coastal halibut catch for the recreational fishery is not much simpler that what you suggest. For the week of June 4 and 6; 1,776 anglers caught 1,584 fish at 22.5 pounds per fish for a total of 35,724 pounds.

In order to estimate the pounds of fish caught in Marine Areas 3 and 4 (Neah Bay and La Push), the WDFW Ocean Sampling Program (OSP) counts all recreational boats as they leave port each day and then sample as many boats as they can to maintain a consistent sampling rate throughout the day. Samplers measure as many halibut as possible as they are counted to estimate the average weight of the fish. The number of fish caught per person is applied to the number of boats leaving the port to determine the catch estimate.

While samplers are not always able to sample every boat or measure every fish they do have a very high sampling rate especially during the halibut season. It is very important that WDFW provides accurate catch estimates and assurance that the state halibut fisheries in Washington do not exceed the annual quotas established by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC).

I hope that helps.

Heather Reed
WDFW
360-249-1202
Heather.Reed@dfw.wa.gov

[Elkfins]

We didn't encounter any WDFW samplers at the Big Salmon boat launch during the 2nd Opener in May this year. I was surprised by that. Because of the nature of the quota system, I fully expected to see someone at the launch checking and measuring like the do at just about every launch in the Puget Sound.

steve

[Mo]

They use this method for Salmon in Westport also. I don't think it's very accurate, but...

[WaveDancer]

Here's what I can tell you that I have seen first hand in La Push.

Just after the sport fleet leaves to fish, about 9am ish, the fish checkers start counting EMPTY boat trailers. They know where they are kept, so the boat launch isn't the only place they look.

For example, on the opener in May they had counted 170 some trailers and I can tell you first hand there were more trailers in LaPush than I have ever seen. They were parked everywhere, and this was by far the largest turnout I have ever seen at LP.

How they assign people per boat and boats transported to port by water, I have no idea, but they have a pretty good idea how many boats are fishing that day.

My biggest problem is the charts they are using for weight of halibut.

Almost every fish I have weighed the last two years using a semi reliable scale is at least 15-20% below the chart.

There are some exceptions, but for the most part they are few and infrequent.

The chart numbers are force fed to the WDFW by the PFMC so that is were the problem lies. If we want it fixed, it's going to happen at the federal level.

WD.

[lingcod todd]

I have been seeing the same thing, almost all of the fish I caught this year weighed less than the chart said (we are getting ripped off!) I had several fish that taped in the mid to upper 50’s and only weighed just over 40 pounds.

[outtadablu]

That difference is probably built into the chart so that they can be positive they will never go over the quota, even if it gets close. And if push came to shove, on "exceeded quota" they can whipout there trusty built in buffer and cover their ass, which is the ultimate goal of any gov't. employee.

[Chasin' Tail]

Originally Posted by lingcod todd

I have been seeing the same thing, almost all of the fish I caught this year weighed less than the chart said (we are getting ripped off!) I had several fish that taped in the mid to upper 50’s and only weighed just over 40 pounds.

Same with us. Its been off as much as 20% and as little as 12% on every fish we weighed/measured... That adds up to a lot of thousands of pounds when spread across the whole sport fishery.....