Proposed Emergency Reduction CA Halibut Limit

[Skyhook]

It seems the CDFW had listened to the concerns of recreational anglers during the Halibut Fishery Webinar that was held in 2021. A fellow board member sent me this link recently.

Proposed Emergency Reduction CA Halibut Bag Limit
The proposed changes mention all the concerns that were voiced by attendees, and it includes the specific suggestions that were proposed by those that fish San Francisco Bay. The key part of the statement acknowledges that closures of the Salmon fishery have impacted halibut numbers. This is especially so during cold water "La Niña" years.

The proposal asks for the IMMEDIATE reduction in the halibut limit from the current three fish bag limit (Northern Cal) to a two fish limit. It also urges the Commission to forego the normal review process, the results of which would come too late to reduce the impact on halibut this season. The proposal was dated about a month ago. Hopefully they will act quickly.

The meeting to consider the proposal was on the Fish and Game Commission's agenda for this past Tuesday morning. If anyone attended in-person or through teleconferencing please let us know how things turned out.

 

[billzerkeley]

I absolutely despise greed in humanity. Once I get a whiff of someone's selfishness, they are forever on my $hitlist. Whenever you hear stuff like "fishing is not like it used to be," 9 times out of 10, greed is the driving force behind that. There's a scene from The Matrix that paints a perfect portrait of humanity. It, ESPECIALLY, applies to most fishermen.

Do you really need to go back to the same spot the next day to fish after you land a 50-lb. halibut? I mean, I know you're a bit fat, but, can you really eat 30 lbs. of fillets overnight? Are you in a "survival situation?" If so, apologies. And to all the fishermen who boast about their catches to complete strangers and forcefully show everyone the fish they have caught, whether it's 15, 30, or 50 fish, I kindly give you something you've never had in your childhood: approval and a pat on the back. Well done, son. Good job of unnecessarily depleting whatever resource is left on earth you greedy bastard.

As far as the daily bag limit for halibut, I think it should be 1 a day. Not like it even matters because Fish & Wildlife never enforces anything. Ask yourself, when was the last time Fish & Wildlife showed up to your spot to check fish and perform pole counts? Those useless P.O.S. are only worried about crab and sturgeon poachers. There are still idiots stealing fish using more than 2 lines at Paradise to this day.

The only fishermen I respect in life are the ones who showed me how to catch the fish, not the photo of the fish. Here's one to you, Glen. Cheers.

 

[TheFrood]

As someone who fishes because they enjoy fresh fish, I could never understand the attitude of "Well, it's not illegal so I'm going to catch and keep my full limit even though I KNOW most of it will go to waste."

Never understood the "Have to take something home, no matter what" attitude either.

 

[MienAce]

Agree there are some stupid greedy people that don’t/can’t think about the future.
The spot that I’ve fished, there’s only one DFG come and check ONCE a year and never see again, and it’s the same kid every year.

 

[jungfisher]

It's mostly stupidity. I see people keeping baby sting rays that have no significant meat. They can't be that poor and starving. They have food banks all over. I saw DFG give someone a ticket for an undersize calico at shelter island once....Someone asked me if they could keep an undersized halibut from there pier because they thought rules don't apply on a pier. Maybe CA should start requiring a license to fish from piers too along with mandatory education. Florida's license structure is confusing at first but makes sense now. All piers require either a state saltwater license or if it's run by a concessionaire, they can a charge daily/weekly/monthly fee to fish or a "walk" fee to sightsee.

 

[Ken Jones]

The no license requirement on a pier is due to three assumptions: (1) A great many pier fisherman are from the poorer economic classes (including many subsistence fishermen); (2) Studies have consistently shown over the years that pier fishermen catch a small number of fish compared to private boaters and those on Sportfishing boats; (3) Anglers on piers are limited to two rods, a rod and hoope net, or two hoop net. Fishing from the surf (which requires a license) allows you to fish with as many rods as you want. It's a trade off. Basically the same on boats although there have been many more restrictions added to anglers on boats, everything from rods/reels to types of hooks and reduced daily keep limits on many fish. Number two has been the main argument on why the MLPA process largely left the piers untouched (and I was there).

Do people cheat? You bet? Does the DF&W do a good job of catching the cheaters? No, not really. Is there more cheating on piers than on the beach or in boats? In some cases yes because so many newbies first fish the piers. But, their cheating is often related to lack of kowledge (although that's not a valid excuse). As far as actual cheaters it happens everywhere but it is often more evident on the piers (since there's no place to hide). A friend who was head of a kayak association once admitted as much and he was as mad about the cheating as was I. Once of the goals of PFIC has always been to teach and hopefully at times convince people to be ethical anglers. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

 

[Brock Norris]

I agree with most of what is said ,but down south here I'm checked by wardens almost every time I'm out on my boat ,its ok except they basically are investigating taking way to much time . I'm always legal and release more than i keep ,even have been checked in parking lot at belmont pier, they need to go on the pier to check size and limits .Not a fan of fish hogs.Hopefully new regs will help build stocks for the future thanks

 

[billzerkeley]

But, their cheating is often related to lack of knowledge (although that's not a valid excuse).

One million percent disagree. Sure, there are some newbies who don't know the rules. That is kind of forgivable. But, when you see people rocking baitcasters and conventional reels and cheating, chances are, they are not new to the game. A lot of the cheaters I see here in Northern California use high-end gear. I've seen a poacher plug and keep an illegal fish using a Shimano Conquest on a 3rd rod at Paradise. If F&W took away his setup, I guarantee that P.O.S. would think twice about using 3 lines again.

 

[Longjohnplatinum]

This reminds me a lot of what's been going on at the Redondo pier, every. single. day. The same group of guys catching what seems an unlimited amount of mackerel

 

[Sulla]

The simple reason DFG doesn’t patrol piers is money. They could catch law breakers all day to till Sunday on the piers but those same people catching over limits or small fish not only don’t pay fines, they either end up in jail ( costing the state money ) or doing some type of “community service” ( which also cost the state money ) . Consequently every law breaker they catch ends up being a net cost to the state instead of a financial boondoggle. That’s why they’re always harassing surf fisherman and boaters because they have the bucks to pay their salary’s . . . It’s cynical but true.

 

[John Fish]

When I am on the Pier, You better walkaway from me If your gonna keep shorties or out of season fish. I will mention size and season to people I think might not know. But will call people out that purposely keep shorts or out of seasons. Not trying to start fights so will say something like, Hey there’s no meat on that 20 INCH HALIBUT”
So others can hear also. That usually does it!
Or I might just help them measure it and sorta quickly just toss it back “ AH SHOOT “ALMOST”… I usually fish for 6-8 hours off a pier so try to keep it kinda natural. And hope it rubs off. Of the keeper mentality!
I do fish with a lot of retired people on fixed incomes that depend on these 3-4 months of fishing to supply them for 8-9 months. A 22 to 26 inch California Halibut will yield about 2-6lbs dressed. 27-32 inch yields about 6-12 lbs dressed respectfully. And most will only catch in this slot(mostly). My biggest was a 36inch, and the hook popped out when it was landed. Holy Moly! 😄Was the look on my face. I worked as a Conservationist in Humboldt for a bit, from plants to ocean. We need to save it for the youngster!

 

[Ken Jones]

The simple reason DFG doesn’t patrol piers is money. They could catch law breakers all day to till Sunday on the piers but those same people catching over limits or small fish not only don’t pay fines, they either end up in jail ( costing the state money ) or doing some type of “community service” ( which also cost the state money ) . Consequently every law breaker they catch ends up being a net cost to the state instead of a financial boondoggle. That’s why they’re always harassing surf fisherman and boaters because they have the bucks to pay their salary’s . . . It’s cynical but true.

Actually there are no stats that back up your argument that pier fishermen receiving fines pay less frequently than those surf fishing or on a boat. Rare if ever is a person put in jail for breaking a fishing regulation and as for community service, that should be doing some good for the community.

 

[Sulla]

Actually there are no stats that back up your argument that pier fishermen receiving fines pay less frequently than those surf fishing or on a boat. Rare if ever is a person put in jail for breaking a fishing regulation and as for community service, that should be doing some good for the community.

Of course LE is not going to provide or even look for stats to verify their dirty little secret. As for being put in jail that would happen when said offenders do not show up to court causing the ensuing warrant (which is my whole point ). All of this cost the state money instead of filling the coffers. You can choose not to agree but to me it’s a plain as day. And I do agree with you that community service has some value for the community but it does not generate revenue to offset the cost of enforcement

 

[TheFrood]

Of course LE is not going to provide or even look for stats to verify their dirty little secret. As for being put in jail that would happen when said offenders do not show up to court causing the ensuing warrant (which is my whole point ). All of this cost the state money instead of filling the coffers. You can choose not to agree but to me it’s a plain as day. And I do agree with you that community service has some value for the community but it does not generate revenue to offset the cost of enforcement

From first-hand observation I've seen all types getting ticketed. Not sure what you mean about a dirty little secret. Sometimes if a person is cooperative and seems to have made an innocent mistake I've seen them educate and just give a warning. I've also seen them ticket people for a bucket of undersize dungeness taken inside the Golden Gate right under the sign saying that taking dungeness was prohibited (egregious violators). Lots of bias out there but the majority of DFW enforcement I've encountered were also sportsmen and concerned with the reason for limits and regulations, etc, rather than just issuing tickets.

 

[Sulla]

From first-hand observation I've seen all types getting ticketed. Not sure what you mean about a dirty little secret. Sometimes if a person is cooperative and seems to have made an innocent mistake I've seen them educate and just give a warning. I've also seen them ticket people for a bucket of undersize dungeness taken inside the Golden Gate right under the sign saying that taking dungeness was prohibited (egregious violators). Lots of bias out there but the majority of DFW enforcement I've encountered were also sportsmen and concerned with the reason for limits and regulations, etc, rather than just issuing tickets.

I agree 100% that most DFG are friendly responsible sportsman that are very professional. My main point and observation is that I’ve spent lots of time on piers, walking the surf, and fishing party boats and some private boat fishing. I have seen egregious violations consistently while fishing piers compared to the other types of fishing. I honestly don’t think I’ve EVER seen DFG walk a pier or if I have it’s been so long ago I have forgotten. I’ve seen them walking beaches that were incredibly inaccessible and sweating up a storm to do their job ( by the way by far the most encounters I’ve had with DFG have been on the beach). I’ve seen them waiting on the dock to check all party boaters and their catch as well as going from private boat to private boat diligently enforcing code. Why ignore piers then? Are the fish illegally taken there any less valuable? I do understand that you don’t need a license to fish a pier and maybe that’s a parti a reason!, but it shouldn’t be.

 

[jungfisher]

I've seen dfg at shelter island multiple times and saw them ticket someone there. I've seen them on OB pier too. No one is going to jail over a dfg fine. I'm guessing you don't have any first hand experience with the california court system. They would most likely get to pay the fine on a payment plan. I have a feeling you didn't know that was a thing.