CDFW Considers CaliHali Limit Reduction

Shared on our local hali page, just saw that the email went out as well.

https://cdfwmarine.wordpress.com/2023/04/13/cdfw-considers-reducing-california-halibut-bag-and-possession-limit-in-northern-california/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Good! I hope this happens. Better to be pro-active about this.

Two halibut is plenty amid a growing population of fishermen. I'm going to write a letter before the May 17th meeting encouraging barbless hooks as well.

Good.

I’m all for this.
With the salmon closure and new RF regs, the halibut are going to get hammered by fishermen this summer.

Not to mention YT clowns catching over their limits.

2 is enough for me. That's the most I've caught in a day anyway. The slaughter I see is from the Party boats with photos of decks carpeted with halibut. The Lovely Martha and others have been getting limits lately. Limits for 6 is 18, limits for 12 is 36, etc.. It doesn't seem sustainable, at least not in the Bay.  If the limit gets changed to 2, will they be tossing back 23"ers for larger fish?

i think charter boats should be issued a quota. Salmon, Hali, everything. its insane.. They catch more halibut in a week than probably all kayak fishermen combined in the season (technically year round but im talking march-sept) lol

This probably won’t be popular but how about a season? May 1st through December 31st seems reasonable.

I think they should leave the halibut limit at 3 in the ocean and make it 2 in the bay. The success rate seems a lot lower in the ocean, and when that once-per-season hot bite happens, it would be nice to have the higher limit.

In any case, last year, I was surprised at the number of boats that were fishing commercially for halibut in SC. A lot of days, I’m sure they’re taking the majority of the fish…

Like these commies?  https://youtu.be/VaDK2Lh9ab4?t=240

Instead of lowering the limit I’d like to see a punch card.  18 a year seems reasonable.  Up here it’s a very small number of people who take 50+ a year, and our fishery hasn’t even had its first known calihali caught yet this year.  Too much freshwater in the bay.

Change the Halibut limit to 1.  Change the Ling limit to 1.  Cut the RF limit in half to 5. 

I think they should leave the halibut limit at 3 in the ocean and make it 2 in the bay. The success rate seems a lot lower in the ocean, and when that once-per-season hot bite happens, it would be nice to have the higher limit.

In any case, last year, I was surprised at the number of boats that were fishing commercially for halibut in SC. A lot of days, I’m sure they’re taking the majority of the fish…

What happens if you fish for hali in the ocean then come back into the bay with limits. You're gonna have some issues

Calihali are expanding their range north.  In Oregon the limit is 25 flatfish per day, which includes calihali.  So you could legally catch 25 in one day. 

Like these commies?  https://youtu.be/VaDK2Lh9ab4?t=240

The kayakers sound like tools too since they “make money off their youtube videos”

Lower to 2 is fine with me or 2 south of Pt Arena seems more than fair since we have a shorter rockfish season and have had a shorter salmon season last couple years plus there is way less pressure up here since we also have a pacific halibut fishery