Hali"s? How to save them??? Non Yak...

Interesting,

 I did not expect this topic to go anywhere or generate such a discussion, Butt, it's a good one and

 Maybe can generate some idea's that we can submit to somebody...

 I'm surprised with all the closures and limits on so many species that the powers that be haven't done something about our over plummeted hali's...

 Looks like this topic needs to be moved.......

With no salmon this year whats left of the 99 year class should pretty much get wiped out.  Bummer.

A season would be much more effective at protecting them than a limit reduction. 

This all sounds very interesting. Can we have some education from our fish teachers? The bumper halibut popn around at the moment is the Class of 99? When would be the best time to have the season and what would be the purpose? To protect them while they're making the class of '09?

Are there any links you folks could point us to if you don't want to write an essay? 

when marv and i were at oyster on saturday we talked to the dfg surveyor kirk.  I related my concerns about the halis and he said that he had spoken to the head hali biologist.  he stated that the numbers that he is collecting will go towards their assessment of the fishing.  they make estimates based on man hours attempted or something like that, and that if people dont provide accurate information it will only make things worse.

he also stated that the hali biologist expects this to be another banner year for halis. 

personally i dont see any reason to keep more than 2 halis and for sure nothing over 27 inches.  no point in that as a 24 inch hali already gives near 4lbs of killer fillets.

i tend to believe what kirk says as he's a pretty nice guy and is a fisherman himself.

What type of rigs do you guys recommend for catch and release Butt hunting?  I know a lot of guys run a treble hook and that can't be good when fishing live bait...

Artificials, barbless, what is the concensus?

I wouldn't mind a season or report card to me they are just fun to catch. Drink beers while your hali fishing is my favorite thing to do.

  I think that I may favor slot limits on hali. I'm not up on the science of the matter. It probably would be better if for at least part of the season (varied from year to year, or whatever), that we put back those "30# plus" ones to breed.All the big halis are female.Maybe every other year. Ultimately it would mean that we get to bring home more big fish.

  I think that I may favor slot limits on hali. I'm not up on the science of the matter. It probably would be better if for at least part of the season (varied from year to year, or whatever), that we put back those "30# plus" ones to breed.All the big halis are female.Maybe every other year. Ultimately it would mean that we get to bring home more big fish.

I agree on a slot limit for Halis and Strips too.  There is no real reason for keeping big fish only for bragging rites or just plain marketing fish.  We all know that there are less and less big fish being seen these days.  Talk to the old guy that fished like 20 years ago and he will tell you that the quality of big fish is not there anymore.  Plus you can tell the taste difference. 

Large halibut produce much more eggs than smaller halibut. So it would make sense to release the XL sized females.
Here’s a link:  http://sfep.abag.ca.gov/pdfs/species-community/Species_and_Community_Profiles.pdf   
Quote from page 144.
"During the spawning season, small (55.9-61.0 cm long) California halibut produce approximately 300,000 eggs every 7 days, whereas large (>114.3 cm long) halibut produce about 1 million eggs per day.”

That is a BIG difference in the number of eggs produced in small halibut versus large halibut.


Side note: It says large adult halibut prey on hornyhead turbots. Which baitshop carries hornyhead turbots? Hahahaha!

Thanks for the link Sin.

These are some great ideas concerning the well being of halibut populations.  Last year I got some awful looks from surrounding shore anglers when I was catching and releasing keeper hali's.  Heck, I was the only person I knew of who would do such a thing.  I love these fish and would hate to see them get slammed again this year.  Nice to know I'm not the only one.   

Hello Everyone!

I don't get a chance to post much, but I'll share my opinions on halibut.

I have been halibut trolling for quite a few years now and believe the resource needs protection.

The ideas for restricting season and size limits are valid, but I think there are some factors that many of you may not have considered.

I believe that the internet and forums much like this one, are partly responsible for the destruction of our fisheries.  Without much thought or knowledge, the masses or "the fleet" can descend upon a productive area and effectively rape the fish.  Most of this "fleet" would be spread throughout the bay, but with almost real time reports, the pressure has become focused.

Why do we feel the need to post such detailed information?  I have seen people posting a report from one site on another, increasing the number of people reading a report.  Fish caught 2" from this marker at 25', outgo tide, 32" leader, 2.5 mph (gps), green label herring on owner ssw and owner treble. I believe that reports should be vague.  All we really need to know is that halibut are in the bay and biting.  We should be able to figure out the rest.


Last season, I witnessed the effects of posting.  With a few successful reports came the crowds, as the reports shifted so did the crowds. I think as members of a fishing site, we should all be a little more responsible with the fishing report posts. Let people learn how to fish!

On catch and release.  I think its great if you decide to release your catch.  But please remember, not all the fish you release will live.  Many will die even though you see them swim off.  If you are truly concerned about a fishery, maybe consider only catching and releasing up to your legal limit. I think it is impossible to calculate catch and release mortality, but I would guess it's higher than a lot of people think.  In theory, a catch and release angler has the potential to kill many more halibut than an angler stopping at 3 legal fish a day.

Just some things to think about.

Tok

Interesting,

 I did not expect this topic to go anywhere or generate such a discussion, Butt, it's a good one and

 Maybe can generate some idea's that we can submit to somebody...

 I'm surprised with all the closures and limits on so many species that the powers that be haven't done something about our over plummeted Hali's...

 Looks like this topic needs to be moved.......

OK, here's something to think about, not many people talk about it (know about it?) but the MLPA will include the SF bay system, it's slated to be the last area addressed, which should put it a couple years off,


So yeah, absolutely, I'm in favor of some management now, instead of a closed up bay later on.

If the MLPA ever tried to close the entire bay there would be an open revolt. But I am in favor of limits now for the halibut. I have seen report after report last year of limits taken bt the same people over and over. You just can't eat all that fish. Well you could I suppose but you would have to freeze a hell of a lot and you are only supposed to have how many limits of halibut in possesion, two?

I don't think you can overemphasize the impact of party boats. I went on party boats when I lived in So Cal. They kept/killed every single fish every single time. It didn't matter what kind of fish it was or what size it was. I never saw an exception to this. If it came in the boat it went in a bag. People would keep barracuda and I would ask them if they ate them and the people would say no. I would ask the people why they were keeping them and they would shrug.

The pressure on the Halibut last year was intense. I don't see how the Halibut could handle several seasons on that pressure.

You can't change the forms for the rules only apply to regulations of Fish and Game.  People are always gonna be fishing day after day or when ever as much no matter if charter boat, commercial fishing fleet, boater or even kayaker.  Like I said I'm down with slot limit just like sturgeon before situations can be considered........

If the MLPA ever tried to close the entire bay there would be an open revolt.

 

.......drastic measures like making an area a protected sanction no fishing zone for couple of years.