Latest News On Ocean Fishing Off the Humboldt Area Coast
From the Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers
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We’re finally coming out of the most extreme COVID restrictions, but with too little time now to properly plan an indoor full-size fund raiser dinner and auction. We are planning a smaller, lower-key event for Saturday, April 9. ...
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Groundswell of angler support for two-fish halibut daily bag limit in light of salmon closure ![]()
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SAN FRANCISCO – As angling pressure is expected to increase exponentially on the California halibut population due to the closure of the salmon season, there is a groundswell of support for temporarily changing the current daily bag limit of three halibut over 22 inches to two fish. The Golden Gate Fishermen’s Association (GGFA), a group of sport fishing professionals and concerned anglers dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the marine fisheries in the San Francisco Bay/Golden Gate waters of the Central Pacific Coast, is taking the lead in advocating for the temporary change due to the anticipated pressure on the California halibut in San Francisco Bay and outside the Golden Gate. It will be necessary to convince the Department of Fish and Wildlife to take the proactive measures to protect the species by changing the daily bag limit as soon as possible, and this will require anglers and fishing groups to petition the department to make the temporary change. ![]()
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James Smith, owner/operator of the charter boats California Dawn I and II out of Berkeley Marina said, “We know there is going to be an effort shift from salmon to halibut, and the majority of charter boat and six-pack captains are in favor of a temporary change in the daily bag limit to two fish instead of three. We are taking somewhat of a financial risk since anglers are used to the opportunity for three legal halibut, but we all understand the importance of protecting the brood stock. The past few spring and summers of halibut fishing have been outstanding since the species are very good at survival when the water temperatures are over 50 degrees. Halibut are a warm-water species who thrive with the right conditions, and after a few years of warmer temperatures in the bay, three-fish limits were not uncommon. They made a huge comeback due to the early El Nino years, however, the water in the bay have been cold in the high 40’s for most of this spring, and the juveniles could be affected. We attempted to broach this concern in the past north of Point Conception, but halibut were not considered a priority species, and the department’s biologists did not take a stance. During the last salmon closure in 2009, there is data to demonstrate the abundance of the species prior and the effect of the effort shift during the closure. It took years for the halibut population to recover to the point where it has been the past few years. We are asking for a reduction in the bag limit, but not the 22-inch size limit. Male halibut can reproduce at 15 inches while females reach fecundity at 20 inches. A 22-inch female could have already had a successful spawn.”![]()
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Captain Jerad Davis of the Salty Lady, a board member of the GGFA, added, “The temporary reduction was a topic at our last board meeting, and we are asking for an emergency order from the Department of Fish and Wildlife to reduce the recreational daily bag limit to 2 on a temporary basis. The effort shift is real, and although my clientele has been primarily focused on salmon, I will also have to target halibut, striped bass, or rockfish during the salmon closure.”![]()
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In addition to the recreational party boat fleet, halibut populations are affected by commercial drag boats, the growing number of commercial hook-and-line anglers who are able to use six rods, and skiff owners including the burgeoning number of kayak fishermen.![]()
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This is another example of fishermen whose livelihood depends upon a species to take measures to protect the species. Anglers interested in voicing their perspective on this issue are advised to write the California Fish and Game Commission at fgc@fgc.ca.gov or participate in an upcoming commission meeting during the public comment for items not on the agenda. There is an agenda item regarding California halibut fishery bycatch evaluation in the California halibut set gillnet fishery scheduled during the March 14-16 Marine Resources Committee meeting. The agenda is available at fgc.ca.gov/Meetings/2023.
March 6 at 6 p.m. Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, Room 203.![]()
Want to sing along with this year’s humpback whale song? Clap along with the echolocation clicks of sperm whales? Marine mammalogist Jeff Jacobsen will describe recent underwater acoustic research of species detected in recordings made off of Table Bluff for eight months. New acoustic technologies will be reviewed, and how they can be used to monitor cetaceans in offshore wind farm areas. Join us for a special lecture hosted by the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center and Explore North Coast. Questions? Email lecture@explorenorthcoast.net.
Friday, Feb 17 at Grace Baptist Church in Eureka, 7:00 - 9:00 pm.![]()
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1. Call to Order and Roll Call (Larry)![]()
2. Review and Approve Minutes from 2/13/22 annual meeting (Ross)![]()
3. Financial Report (Dirk)![]()
4. Nominations for Board (someone else please confirm expiring terms: Ross, Scott, Cliff, Lonnie)![]()
5. Election of Board Members (Ross)![]()
6. Election of Officers (Larry)![]()
7. Salmon update ![]()
8. Bottomfish update![]()
9. Halibut Update (Tim K and Tom)![]()
10. Newsletter Update (Joe)![]()
11. Discuss 501c3 vs 501c4 (Tim N)![]()
12. Annual spring fundraiser and/or other activities (Larry)![]()
13. Possible community involvement / facilities projects![]()
14. Offshore wind power update (I'm not sure we have anything)![]()
15. Nordic Aquafarms update (I'm not sure we have anything)![]()
16. Non-Agenda items![]()
17. Adjourn
I am a day late sharing this report. See the end for updated crab information. Thank you Comet Fisheries for keeping Humboldt up to date on the latest fishing news.