AOTY C&R

I am surprised by the voting results thus far. But I voted No.

The example of Eel River salmon doesn't totally work because you can't even target them = it is not a C&R fishery. We're talking about fish that the DFG has determined are ok to target, catch, and release.

Man, this is a complicated issue. There are a thousand reasons both for and against changing the AOTY rules to disallow fish from C&R waters. And I don't think there is a perfect/easy solution. The current rules seem to be the best compromise for both sides.
 

We already do this for some species (e.g., only count sturgeon legal to harvest within the slot limit for AOTY, legal stripers, lmbs, etc).  Extending this to C&R species or runs is fine by me.

These are examples of following DFG rules. Not allowing fish from C&R waters goes beyond them.

We're talking about fish that the DFG has determined are ok to target, catch, and release.

I'm good with the sentiment, but I don't think many AOTY participants spend enough time on C&R waters to make much of an impact... if any. Besides, I wanted to do some C&R on the Stanislaus next year 

Why don't we allow oversized sturgeon?

-Allen

Not to 'jack this too much, but the EEL RIVER IS OPEN TO C&R FOR SALMON - just in case anyone didn't get that from the previous multiple threads about it...

I voted yes, so I won't have to wonder about it anymore when I go steelhead fishing on the Eel.  I never was going to measure an Eel salmon for AOTY...

This rule would negate some big Russian steelies, and that seems proper.

Why don't we allow oversized sturgeon?

6. No out off season, oversize or undersize (fish larger than the legal limit or smaller then the legal limit per species) may be entered. All local water rules must be followed.

I can't tell you why, I just try to play by them 

i voted no, but that's more of a gut feeling than anything else.  i'm ok with the rules as they are, but would be ok either way.  i'd prefer to be able to enter fish from C&R only waters, like cutts from heenan, or wild steelies from the american, etc. in the unlikely event i ever go after them.

if we're allowed to C&R keepable fish and count them, why not allow fish that are legal to target C&R?  Obviously not fish that are illegal to target such as salmon when the season is closed, fish caught during low flow closures, etc.  The stress would be the same on the fish either way.

i can see the point in not counting them in AOTY though - as it can take precious time out of water to get a good enough picture of the fish to count.

Why don't we allow oversized sturgeon?

6. No out off season, oversize or undersize (fish larger than the legal limit or smaller then the legal limit per species) may be entered. All local water rules must be followed.

I can't tell you why, I just try to play by them  

I know the rules.  Just planting a seed to think about ...

BTW, there have been some big uproar up in WA regarding tournaments targeting wild steelhead.  Sometimes it is just easier to avoid the contentious issues.  That and we have rules up there not allowing fish to be removed from the water if they are going to be released.  Pretty hard to get a good measurement like that.

Besides, what could be simpler than "if you can take it home and eat it, then it counts to AOTY".

-Allen

I'm game for any decision,
However I believe the AOTY is to determine the BEST ANGLER of the year, not the person who fishes the BEST WATER of the year. Where you fish and how you fish shoulden't be the issue as long as it is deemed legal by DFG. For what it's worth I release all my fish and try to cause as little harm as possible, but - sometimes fish don't survive no matter where I fish - even in C&R waters.
 
I think we should also put a limit on how many days you can fish per month - just to keep it fair for all

See Ya Soon,
Eric / Yakhopper

Oops, sorry Black Ab my bad. I thought I read something about "There will be no allowance for any catch and release fishing that targets salmon when the river or stream is closed to salmon fishing." But it seems that provision only applies to central valley salmon. And I really don't want to hijack this discussion into one about Eel salmon so I'll just shutup now.

Because we're talking about all C+R fishing, not just salmon. Ben totally nailed one of the fisheries I was considering when I voted. 

I guess to play devils advocate: we shouldn't allow any released-fish to count towards AOTY...if we're really so concerned about the fishes well-being. 

I voted no because there are CR waters like Lake Heenan.

-Brian G

I'm inclined to vote yes, echoing the sentiments of others like Eric, Allen and Mike. I CPR most of my fish too, and have worried about hurting a fish for the sake of getting a picture.   But first I'd like to know more about which waters would be impacted and what kind of disadvantage it would be for people that live in these area's.  Just wouldn't want it to be unfair to other anglers.

 
I think we should also put a limit on how many days you can fish per month - just to keep it fair for all

Next year I am only going to fish on the days that Sonny is available. I think next years real threat to aoty will be Jonesz...good luck with that guys.

It would be wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too convoluted to distinguish different areas for the proposed new AOTY rule. Suffice it to say that ALL waters that are C+R would be excluded from points accumulation for AOTY. The Pit River has C+R areas that can be fished. There is nothing wrong  with the fish or the habitat. Yet it would be excluded under the new proposed rule. So why would there be yet one more new rule? 10 new species were added last year without any vote that I know of. Unless of course it took place in the OG section which most of us have no access to. If you want to make it like NWKA just do it and let the chips fall where they may. Like BSteves said earlier this year when some of us, including me, were complaining about the new species added," if you dont like it dont play." Shit, its not even January yet and the controversies have started. Brian G has a good point. Is this all about the Eel system?

It would be wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too convoluted to distinguish different areas for the proposed new AOTY rule. Suffice it to say that ALL waters that are C+R would be excluded from points accumulation for AOTY. The Pit River has C+R areas that can be fished. 

Craig, sure I'm not saying list every body that can or cant be fished, just im not sure exactly what the impact would be, since I dont know many bodies of water that CnR only, and i'm not sure who they would impact the most.  For me, I'm assuming there is much less impact than many others up north.

If you ban C&R only fish then ban all fish that are caught and released.