While I don't do much fishing in the ocean during the winter, I have tossed a line or two for perch or walked down the jetty. Does anyone have any idea why this came about or of any discussion about it? Maybe I missed it. I see no justification in the release. It just seems like they feel like doing it so they do. No reason needed.




FISHING RULE CHANGE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
January 6, 2017


Sport fishing for bottomfish to close through March 10 off the Washington coast

Action: Close recreational bottomfishing in Marine Areas 1-3 and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line) through March 10, 2017. Reopen the coastal recreational bottomfish fishery the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October (March 11 through Oct. 21, 2017).
Effective date: Effective immediately
Species affected: Bottomfish
Location: Marine Areas 1 through 3 and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line)
Reason for action: The Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted changes to the recreational bottomfish seasons along the Washington coast as part of its groundfish biennial management cycle for 2017-18. The recreational bottomfish season is currently open year round in coastal marine areas, although rough ocean conditions in winter results in minimal fishing effort from mid-October through mid-March.
This new rule changes the coastal recreational bottomfish season from a year round season to one open from the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October. It also aligns the recreational bottomfish season with the recreational lingcod season in Marine Areas 1-3, and preserves recreational fishing opportunity in months when there has been significant participation in the fishery (March-October).
Marine Area 4B, east of the Bonnilla-Tatoosh line, will remain open year round as some recreational fishing does occur in this area during the winter. This rule change is necessary to conform to federal action taken by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
Additional information: Bottomfish includes Pacific cod, Pacific tomcod, Pacific hake (or whiting), walleye pollock, all species of dabs, sole and flounders (except Pacific halibut), lingcod, ratfish, sablefish, cabezon, greenling, buffalo sculpin, great sculpin, red Irish lord, brown Irish lord, Pacific staghorn sculpin, wolfeel, giant wrymouth, plainfin midshipman, all species of shark, skate, rockfish, rattail, and surfperches (all saltwater perch are surfperch) excluding shiner perch.
Information contact: Heather Reed

Good question Krijack.

It seems rather disingenuous to acknowledge that the winter fishery sees minimal fishing effort and then say that the closure will preserve fishing opportunity months when there is significant participation. How does that pencil out?

"Better to look good than be good" comes to mind but WDFW does clearly indicate this is driven by Federal actions.

I'm sure this closure doesn't have anything to do with the trawl industries effort to reestablish a rockfish market on the west coast...


West Coast Trawl Industry Anticipates Reestablishing Rockfish Market

"the additional fish available could provide an opportunity for the redevelopment of processing and harvesting in those areas of the coast that had been constrained by the lower ACLs for these overfished species.”

We ruined these areas by overfishing before, but now theyre recovering, so we're going to trawl them back into the fvcking ground again....

Smart with a capital S.

Even if it did have to do with the trawl fishery, why include shore fisheries, such as surf perch. And do they really think that sports fisherman harvest enough fish during the winter months to make a difference. My guess is that the incidental take in one day from such a fishery would by higher than the whole take by the recreational fishery during the same time period. Overall, the rule change seems to be arbitrary.

This means that the tribes want to establish a rockfish/lingcod fishery off the washington coast, so guess what, WDFW quickly gets on its knees and unzips the fly and then bends the taxpaying fisherman over pounds them in the bunghole and then demands payment for disrespecting them....

That's exactly what this is.

its a pretty stupid rule change that is for sure... the only time i fish for surf perch is march and april during clam tides...

I guess if they can justify closing bass and perch to save the salmon, they can justify closing surf perch to save the yelloweye...

That article also attributes the following thinking to the PFMC:

"The Council had confidence in the industry’s ability to change its gear and manage its groundfish and non-groundfish bycatch due to the trawl catch share program and fishermen’s individual accountability."

I have to wonder how the recent discussion of increasing the allowable harvest of canary rockfish from 3 MT to 50 MT ties into this while the limit on yelloweye will stay at 3 MT?

And the recent decision by WDFW to NOT implement a stakeholder submitted rule change proposal to require descender devices be aboard and ready to use when fishing for bottomfish in coastal waters?

And yet we recreational fishers are seeing the elimination of a very limited opportunity under the guise of protecting a productive Spring/Summer/Fall fishery while at the same time the commercials are pushing to get back into the rockfish business using "modified" bottom trawl gear to target upper water column species.

I'm seriously considering becoming a scofflaw.

Seems to me that if the people who manage the fishery actually participated in it, then we would get better regs. Close shore-based perch fishing to protect rockfish makes sense how?

This looks a lot like "We don't want to patrol/monitor/go outside in the winter.

I'm surprised that you're surprised.

This how I have felt for years.

THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL.

How much damage to the resource is the shore bound angler likely to do during December through February? Why take away the opportunity for surf or jetty fishermen to fish on days when weather conditions permit getting out. Seems like a regulation based on "no science", rather than "best science". The WDFW swamp needs to be drained...

It's the same as tying perch fishing in Lake WA to salmon ESA. It makes it more convenient.

Rich,
I have a relative who is a member of a coastal tribe. He told me this summer the salmon numbers were so dismal that he was going to switch to bottom fishing. The only real question is how efficient they are and how many they end up taking. I have not had an opportunity to ask how he did, but will when I see him again. But be assured, they already are commercially targeting them.

This is what happens when queers are allowed, proud, and you are forced to except them.

One of the basic rules of nature is being broken.

It's just a matter of time until the ecosystems wheels fall off.

don't you understand we are creating jobs!
making 'Mercia great again!
screw the environment we need people to work!


sorry couldn't resist....

all in all it is no longer fun to be a fishermen.

isn't that the sad truth...

You guys should all stop fishing.

Go clobber those surf perch! See below:

Fishing Rule Change
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
January 12, 2017
Clarification: This clarifies that Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay are included in a rule change that closed recreational bottomfish fishing in Washington’s ocean marine areas on Jan.6. This also clarifies that surfperch fisheries are excluded from the bottomfish closure.
Sport fishing for bottomfish to close through March 10 off the Washington coast
Action: Close recreational bottomfishing in Marine Areas 1-3 (including Marine Areas 2-1 and 2-2) and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line) through March 10, 2017. Reopen the coastal recreational bottomfish fishery the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October (March 11 through Oct. 21, 2017). The winter closure does not include surfperch when fishing from the beach.
Effective date: Immediately
Species affected: Bottomfish
Location: Marine Areas 1 through 3, including Marine Areas 2-1 (Willapa Bay) and 2-2 (Grays Harbor), and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line).
Reason for action: The Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted changes to the recreational bottomfish seasons along the Washington coast as part of its groundfish biennial management cycle for 2017-18. The recreational bottomfish season is currently open year round in coastal marine areas, although rough ocean conditions in winter results in minimal fishing effort from mid-October through mid-March.
This new rule changes the coastal recreational bottomfish season from a year round season to one open from the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October. It also aligns the recreational bottomfish season with the recreational lingcod season in Marine Areas 1-3, including Marine Areas 2-1 (Willapa Bay) and 2-2 (Grays Harbor), and preserves recreational fishing opportunity in months when there has been significant participation in the fishery (March-October).
Marine Area 4B, east of the Bonnilla-Tatoosh line, will remain open year round as some recreational fishing does occur in this area during the winter. This rule change is necessary to conform to federal action taken by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
The winter closure does not include surfperch when fishing from the beach, which will continue to be allowed year round.
Additional information: Bottomfish includes Pacific cod, Pacific tomcod, Pacific hake (or whiting), walleye pollock, all species of dabs, sole and flounders (except Pacific halibut), lingcod, ratfish, sablefish, cabezon, greenling, buffalo sculpin, great sculpin, red Irish lord, brown Irish lord, Pacific staghorn sculpin, wolfeel, giant wrymouth, plainfin midshipman, all species of shark, skate, rockfish, rattail, and surfperches (all saltwater perch are surfperch) excluding shiner perch.
Information contact: Heather Reed, (360) 902-2487
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.
Persons with disabilities who need to receive this information in an alternative format or who need reasonable accommodations to participate in WDFW-sponsored public meetings or other activities may contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.gov). For more information, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/reasonable_request.html.