REPORT -2024 Nearshore Rockfish Season Survey

The Non-Motorized Vessel Petition Workgroup met with CDFW staff and the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) Groundfish Advisory Subpanel (GAP) member this week to discuss the upcoming rockfishing regulation.  CDFW informed us that they currently plan to require a descending device for rockfishing anglers and propose alternate months between less than 20 fathom (<20F) and greater than 50 fathom (>50F).  They are currently running a model to analyze how many months could be allowed for <20F nearshore rockfish season.  I think we would likely get 4-6 months of nearshore season in 2024.  Also, CDFW has too many urgent issues, to review our petition properly before the teleconference meeting on March 14, 2024. 

They asked us what our preferred months for nearshore rockfishing. Please complete the following survey to rank April – December by end of this month (January 31, 2024):

https://forms.office.com/r/L95939cw2L]https://forms.office.com/r/L95939cw2L]https://forms.office.com/r/L95939cw2L

Quote from CDFW: “Our groundfish team is working under a very compressed timeline to develop the regulations for 2024. As you know, the Fish and Game Commission plans to consider adoption of the 2024 regulations at a special teleconference in March, which is an unusual and unprecedented event in and of itself. Usually, changes to groundfish regulations happen only every two years. These regulatory actions span from the spring through the fall and entail a number of public comment opportunities, but the changes needed for 2024 are out of the ordinary, and we are focused on getting the new rules effective in April to allow spring fishing opportunities statewide.”


Thank you for all your support and participation.

Non-Motorized Vessel Petition Website: https://paul95255.wixsite.com/non-motorized-vessel

Non-Motorized Vessel Petition Coordinator, Paul

Done ✅

What do you all think is the best month?

Hey Johnny good to see you. I was at the meeting with the biologist who is drafting these regs. He says they are open to continuous or staggered nearshore months. They suggested around 4-6 months is the negotiable range.

For me personally, the ideal would be May - October continuous nearshore. Least swells and wind, and still catches a good chunk of big ling season (fall-winter). If that's not possible, then maybe May - July and Sept-Nov. Again that's just my personal preference.

In any case, I'm encouraged by how willing the CDFW was to hear our points and work with us to hopefully get us a decent season in 2024.

Done.  Ranked May through September as preference.

Big thank you to Paul and the others involved in this. I voted April to Oct. weather can get iffy in Nov and Dec.

Done
Way early this am....
Just remembered to chime in.

What do you all think is the best month?

For Big Hali in SC?  I'd go with July... specifically July 5th, 2021 and July 8th, 2023 

Thank you for all your replies.
Currently, we have 63 responses and I will close the survey on January 31, 24:00.

Paul

Done.

I prioritized Nov/Dec, then April - Sept. I think there are more "nice" days later in the year. Sure, storms come through, but the nice days are nicer later in the year.

Also, later corresponds with crab season - I like some thing to do while waiting for the crabs.

In my local area, later in the fall the better
imho
vote submitted

I submitted mine backwards. The biggest lings spawn in the winter plus like the option with crabs. Halibut is spring, summer for me.

I submitted mine backwards. The biggest lings spawn in the winter plus like the option with crabs. Halibut is spring, summer for me.

Just PM me your email address, and I can remove it for you to resubmit.

Paul

I plan to summarize the results per each management area and submit them to CDFW and PFMC.  Also, I will post the result at this site on February 1st.

Paul

I plan to summarize the results per each management area and submit them to CDFW and PFMC.  Also, I will post the result at this site on February 1st.

Paul

Thank you for your efforts here! 

Question - is the 20 fathom line/points determined yet?  Thanks!