AOTY 2017 Rule Change Proposal #2 - Greenling removal & replacement

The reason we selected greenling as our potential "drop" species compared to the others is that it has appeared to be the least popular of the rocky-bottom species on our coast.  How many of us specifically target greenling outside of tournaments where they count as points?  How many of us catch greenling when fishing for the other rocky-bottom species?

Another couple things I want to mention in my support for replacing greenling with flatfish.  First, is the potential opening of the petrale sole fishery next year.  Sure it's not "official" yet, but this could be a brand spankin' new fishery for us to explore and the word from Pac halibut anglers is there are a lot of petrales out there on the halibut grounds.  This is also a species that ranges all the way south to the Coronado Islands, so it's not merely limited to the far northern ports.

Second, the starry flounder fishery will also potentially be open year-round at all depths in 2016.  Again not a sure bet, but if this comes to fruition, it's yet another fishery that would be available to us when the RCG season is closed.

Maybe this potential switcheroo is meant for 2018, or after a "test" year with the petrale and starry flounder fisheries being open.  After all, if neither of these proposed regulations are implemented, then we'd be stuck with fishing starries in the RCG seasons and our only real viable flatfish fishery would be sand dabs, which I think is what attributed to the category's low popularity in previous years.  I just saw some awesome potential with the proposed 2017 regulations and wanted to throw it out there to see what the community thought.  But if we want to stick with greenling, then I'll respect the community's voice.  Thanks for voting everyone.

Petrale opening is a done deal.  It might not be "official" but it's happening and there is no interest in stopping it from any corner anywhere.

Petrale opening is a done deal.  It might not be "official" but it's happening and there is no interest in stopping it from any corner anywhere.

Sweet  .  Regardless of their AOTY-ness, this is a fishery I am very eager to explore.

Petrale opening is a done deal.  It might not be "official" but it's happening and there is no interest in stopping it from any corner anywhere.

Sweet  .  Regardless of their AOTY-ness, this is a fishery I am very eager to explore.

Went out on closing day of pac hali season and couldn't keep them off.  There's lots of them and they are good eats.

Keep greenling and add flatfish.

Keep greenling and add flatfish.

we are concerned that it would throw off the freshwater/saltwater balance.

Right now AOTY is comprised of:
8 Saltwater Species
8 Freshwater Species
4 Anadramous species

Don't want to skew the balance too much one way or another so that coastal fishermen necessarily have an advantage over inland competitors.  We've actually got a pretty good balance now where everyone has a shot.

Keep greenling and add flatfish.

we are concerned that it would throw off the freshwater/saltwater balance.

Right now AOTY is comprised of:
8 Saltwater Species
8 Freshwater Species
4 Anadramous species

Don't want to skew the balance too much one way or another so that coastal fishermen necessarily have an advantage over inland competitors.  We've actually got a pretty good balance now where everyone has a shot.

Keep greenling and add flatfish.

And separate spotted bass and smallmouthn problem solved

Keep greenling and add flatfish.

And separate spotted bass and smallmouthn problem solved

How do you propose that we solve the SMB/SPB hybrid problem? 

Keep greenling and add flatfish.

And separate spotted bass and smallmouthn problem solved

How do you propose that we solve the SMB/SPB hybrid problem?

Ask them to start wearing condoms? Of all the people bitching about interracial couples, never thought it would be you....

Keep greenling and add flatfish.

And separate spotted bass and smallmouthn problem solved

How do you propose that we solve the SMB/SPB hybrid problem?

Scrolling through the SMB/SPB entries, it appears nearly all the hybrids come from Berryessa.  Damn you Berryessa!

Joking aside, pretty much any "strange" looking smallie or spot could be interpreted as a hybrid, and unfortunately there are a plethora of waters in the state that contain both species.  This is why we merged the two together in the first place.

Keep greenling and add flatfish.

And separate spotted bass and smallmouthn problem solved

How do you propose that we solve the SMB/SPB hybrid problem?

Scrolling through the SMB/SPB entries, it appears nearly all the hybrids come from Berryessa.  Damn you Berryessa!

Joking aside, pretty much any "strange" looking smallie or spot could be interpreted as a hybrid, and unfortunately there are a plethora of waters in the state that contain both species.  This is why we merged the two together in the first place.

Yup. Back when the two species were split, any big SMB with a SPB characteristic/s was challenged (perhaps rightfully so). I guess we could split them again, but only accept SMB from waters where SPB are absent....which is a pretty small number of waters.

Add squawfish instead.

Add squawfish instead.

+1. I have no problem catching those.


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Add squawfish instead.

As much as I would enjoy seeing CA's largest native freshwater predator on AOTY, I think you, me, and NoSoup would be the only ones voting for it.