Fishing for Hatchery Steelhead on the upper Columbia River Begins Nov. 6
November 6, 2008
OLYMPIA – A hatchery steelhead fishery opens Nov. 6 on the upper Columbia River from Rocky Beach Dam upstream to 400 feet below Wells Dam, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.
Anglers will have a daily limit of two adipose-fin-clipped hatchery steelhead, which must measure at least 20 inches in length. Steelhead with an intact adipose fin, and those bearing an anchor floy tag, must be immediately released unharmed without being removed from the water.
Approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Services (NOAA Fisheries), the fishery targets the abundant return of hatchery fish that exceeds the number needed to meet spawning goals.
“Removing hatchery-origin steelhead and allowing a proportionally greater number of wild steelhead onto the spawning grounds will help further fish recovery efforts aimed at protecting and recovering wild steelhead populations,” said Jeff Korth, WDFW regional fish program manager. “Besides offering a great fall fishing opportunity, this fishery also will provide an economic boost to communities along the Columbia River.”
Steelhead fisheries are carefully managed to assure that natural-origin steelhead returning to the upper Columbia River Basin survive to spawn. WDFW closely monitors the fisheries, enforcing fishing rules to ensure protection of wild steelhead, Korth said. Although the fishery is scheduled to remain open through March 31, 2009, it could close earlier if the allowable incidental impact to wild steelhead is reached.
Korth reminded anglers that night closure and selective gear rules apply. While anglers are required to use single, barbless hooks and knotless nets, motorized vessels and bait are allowed. To further protect the population, anglers are strongly encouraged to keep the first two hatchery steelhead they catch, said Korth.
“During previous fisheries, most anglers have done a good job of following the selective fishing rules,” Korth said.
Additional regulations for the fisheries are available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm
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Whitefish and Cisco Sport Netting Season on Shagawa Lake, Minnesota
November 6, 2008
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Tower Area Fisheries announces the opening of whitefish/cisco netting on Shagawa Lake in St. Louis County. Opening date for Shagawa Lake will be November 8, 2008 and closing date will be November 30, 2008.
- Nets may be set after sunrise on the opening day and must be removed before sunset on the closing day.
- Minimum gill net mesh size shall be no less than 3 ½ inch net stretch measure. (Net stretch measure means the interior distance between opposite knots or corners of a single mesh of net, taken between the thumb and forefinger and applying enough pressure laterally to allow the opposite sides of the mesh to touch.)
- A Whitefish netting license is required.
- A person may use only one gill net, not exceeding 100 feet in length and 3 feet in width.
- One end of the gill net must have a pole, stake, or buoy projecting at least two feet above the surface of the water or ice.
- Gill net must have an identification tag attached near the first float of the end with the pole, stake, or buoy.
- Identification tag must be a minimum of 2-1/2 inches by 5/8 inch, permanently bearing the name and address of the owner.
- Gill nets may not be set after sunset or raised before sunrise.
- Gill net must be set and lifted by the licensee only and must be tended at least once every 24 hours.
- A gill net or any part of a gill net may not be set in any water deeper than six feet, measured from the lake bottom to the top surface of the water or ice.
- A gill net may not be set within 50 feet of another gill net.
The 2008 Whitefish and Ciscoes Sport Gill Netting Regulations can be found on the DNR Web site at http://www.mndnr.gov.
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Stone crab season opens Oct. 15 in Florida
October 16, 2008
The commercial and recreational harvest season for stone crab claws in Florida opens on Oct. 15. The season will remain open until May 16.
Stone crab claws must be at least 2 3/4 inches in length to be harvested legally, and claws may not be taken from egg-bearing female stone crabs. Recreational harvesters are allowed to use up to five stone crab traps, and there is a daily bag limit of 1 gallon of claws per person or 2 gallons per vessel, whichever is less.
More information regarding the recreational harvest of stone crab claws may be found online at MyFWC.com/marine/recreational/recstonecrab.htm.Â
Commercial stone crab regulations and licensing information is also available online at MyFWC.com/marine/Commercial_Fisheries_Information.htm.
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Flounder Limit of 10 Fish Enacted in Alabama
September 29, 2008
For the first time, Alabama anglers are now restricted in the number of flounder allowed in the daily creel limit. Barnett Lawley, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, signed the new saltwater fishing regulations, which contains a 10-fish daily creel limit on flounder, as well as increases in the minimum size limits on triggerfish and amberjack.
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Before, there was a 12-inch minimum size limit on flounder but no creel limit.
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“For a variety of reasons, there has been a shift in fishing effort from offshore species to inshore,” said Vernon Minton, Director of the Marine Resources Division. “To ensure flounder are not overfished, especially during the vulnerable times when the fish are migrating in and out of Mobile Bay, we felt a creel limit was the appropriate measure. A 10-flounder limit is still a liberal creel.”
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The regulations also increased the minimum size on triggerfish to 14 inches fork length and on amberjack to 30 inches fork length to comply with federal regulations that went into effect Aug. 5.
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Commissioner Lawley also signed a regulation that removes the prohibition of the use of nets to catch mullet in Mobile Bay and Bon Secour Bay north of the Intracoastal Waterway from the day after Labor Day to Oct. 31.
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“In years past, the food value for mullet wasn’t worth much,” said Chris Blankenship, Acting Chief of Enforcement at Marine Resources. “Now, the price of food mullet is about equal to roe mullet. The removal of this restriction allows net fishermen more access to mullet for the food market.”
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Blankenship also reminds anglers that all fishing licenses expired on Aug. 31. Fishing licenses for the 2008-2009 season went on sale Aug. 27.
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The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.
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Fishery Managers Reopen Columbia River Chinook Season in Oregon & Washington
September 22, 2008
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Better than expected returns of Columbia River chinook salmon prompted fishery managers from Oregon and Washington to reopen the season below Bonneville dam starting Saturday.
Effective Saturday, Sept. 20 until Dec. 31, 2008 or further notice, anglers will be permitted to keep chinook salmon caught between the Warrior Rock-Bachelor Island line above the mouth of the Lewis River upstream to Bonneville dam. The Columbia remains closed to retention of chinook salmon below Warrior Rock-Bachelor line out of concern for Lewis River wild chinook, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Fishery managers from the Oregon and Washington departments of fish and wildlife made the decision to reopen the season at a joint state hearing Thursday after reviewing reports from biologists that upgraded the upriver bright run size to 212,500 chinook from the preseason estimate of 164,400 chinook.
Prior to the run upgrade, the fall chinook salmon fishing season below Bonneville had closed on Sept. 16.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer the additional opportunity in a year when we didn’t think we would have it available to us,” said Steve Williams, assistant administrator for the Fish Division of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It wasn’t something that we anticipated going into the season. We thought we were going to be tighter than this. There was no plan to get us through to the end of the year, and here we are offering a one-fish bag limit below Bonneville until the end of the year. That’s a really good thing.”
Under the rules adopted at Thursday’s hearing, anglers may keep up to two adult salmon and/or steelhead in combination, but only one of those fish may be a chinook. Retained chinook do not have to be fin-clipped. However, any coho salmon or steelhead must be adipose-clipped in order to be retained, as prescribed under permanent fishing regulations. Adiplose-clipped coho and steelhead may also be kept in the Columbia River below its confluence with the Lewis.
Anglers should be prepared for in-season changes and check for the latest information, which is available on the ODFW website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/reg_changes/columbia.asp, or through the ODFW telephone hotline at 1-503-947-6000. In-season fishery modifications by the states of Oregon and Washington are also posted at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/OSCRP/CRM/action_notes.asp.
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DEC Adopts New Freshwater Fishing Rules for 2008-2010 Seasons
September 16, 2008
Changes to Become Effective October 1, 2008
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced the finalization of changes to freshwater fishing regulations for the 2008-2010 seasons. These new regulations will become effective on October 1, 2008, and enhance fishing opportunities for anglers across New York.
“New York continues to provide some of the nation’s best fishing opportunities, and these regulation changes are intended to enhance angler satisfaction, while also protecting New York’s precious fishery resources,” Commissioner Grannis said. “During our public comment period on the draft regulations, DEC received many helpful comments from anglers and other stakeholders, with some suggestions incorporated into the final changes announced today. We look forward to continuing together to protect our fisheries and improve fishing opportunities.”
The new regulations are the result of a two-year process which included careful assessment by DEC staff, discussions with various angling interest groups, and a formal public review and input process. DEC proposed draft regulations in February 2008 and initiated a 45-day public comment period which ended in April.
Several of the recently adopted changes apply to all waters in New York, while others apply to specific waters.
Statewide Angling Regulations:
- Prohibit the act of chumming with fish eggs in order to reduce the harvest of female fish specifically for purposes of taking eggs and using them as a method to aggregate and concentrate fish.
- Define a “tip-up” as any device used for fishing through the ice that has a signaling device attached, except a bobber or other floating object on the water, that will visually or audibly signal a strike. This will provide clarity on what devices fall under the category of tip-ups for ice fishing
- Prohibit the sale of trout eggs in order to prevent the harvest of trout for the purposes of selling eggs in tributary fisheries by anglers.
- Establish a species-specific list of fish that may be used as bait fish to minimize potential adverse introductions of certain fish outside of their native ranges; clarify and define what bait fish are acceptable for use.
Trout and Salmon Fishing Regulations:
- Establish a three-fish daily creel limit with a 12-inch minimum size limit for trout in Beardsley Lake in Montgomery and Herkimer counties, Kyser Lake in Fulton and Herkimer counties and Stillwater Reservoir in Herkimer County, to foster production and subsequent catch of larger size trout in waters capable of growing large fish while providing sufficient protection for these quality fisheries.
- Create a three-fish daily creel limit with a 12-inch minimum size limit for trout in the ponds contained within the Massawepie Conservation Easement Area in St. Lawrence County (Pine, Boottree, Town Line, Deer and Horseshoe) and Tamarack Pond in St. Lawrence County to provide for trophy brook fishing opportunities while protecting heritage-strain brook trout populations.
- Institute a five-trout creel limit, with no more than two trout longer than 12 inches on the Lansing Kill in Oneida County, to protect larger trout and maintain a quality trout fishery.
- Extend the catch-and-release section of West Canada Creek in Herkimer and Oneida counties in order to expand the area with this angling opportunity, increase the number of fish available to anglers and spread out anglers on West Canada Creek that seek catch-and-release fishing experiences.
- Extend the current Apr. 1 - Oct. 15 catch-and-release season on the West Branch St. Regis River in St. Lawrence County to all year, thereby increasing angling opportunity.
- Eliminate the special regulation requiring catch-and-release fishing for trout on Allen Pond in St. Lawrence County and replace it with a three-fish daily creel limit and 12-inch minimum size limit. This will provide sufficient protection to the quality trout fishery while allowing for limited harvest.
- Create a catch-and-release, artificial-lures-only regulation in Wheeler and Clear Ponds in the Town of Webb in Herkimer County to reduce harvest as part of an ongoing heritage-strain brook trout evaluation study.
- Establish a special regulation for kokanee salmon in Glass Lake in Rensselaer County with a three-fish daily creel limit and 12-inch minimum size limit in order to reduce harvest and protect the kokanee salmon population.
- Establish a special regulation for Ellicott Creek in Erie County in order to provide anglers the opportunity to harvest trout within Amherst State Park.
- Remove the special regulation for lake trout on Woodhull Lake in Herkimer County as surveys have indicated that the lake trout have no limitations on reaching larger sizes and a special regulation is not
warranted.
Black Bass and other warm-water species:
- Extend the winter catch-and-release-only black bass season in Suffolk and Nassau counties to provide additional angling opportunity.
- Reduce the creel limit on walleye and sauger in Lake Champlain to “3 fish in combination” to better protect walleye and sauger stocks and provide continuity between New York and Vermont regulations.
- Modify the creel limit and size limit for muskellunge and tiger muskellunge in the border waters of the Delaware River and West Branch Delaware River, to provide a consistent regulation with the State of Pennsylvania.
- Remove American eel from the list of fish that can be spearfished in order to reduce fishing-related mortality for American eels.
Great Lakes and Tributary Regulations:
- Restrict the use of weight on the line, leader, swivels or artificial flies in the Salmon River fly fishing-only area in order to reduce snagging of trout and salmon.
- Refine the allowable fishing tackle that may be used in the special regulations fly fishing catch-and-release areas on the Salmon River in Oswego County in order to offer an unimpeded traditional fly fishing xperience.
Bait Fish Regulations:
- Prohibit the use of bait fish in waters such as the Henderson Lake in the Town of Newcomb in Essex County, and in the Giant Mountain Wilderness Area in order to prevent more non-native fishes from becoming established which impairs the ability to restore native salmonids.
- Prohibit the use of bait fish in Wheeler and Clear Ponds in the Town of Webb in Herkimer County in order to protect these reclaimed brook trout waters from non-native fish introductions.
- Add the ponds and streams in the Raquette-Boreal Wilderness Area to the list of waters that restrict the use of bait fish in order to minimize the potential of introducing competing species to these sensitive brook trout ponds.
The complete list of fishing regulation changes can be viewed on the Department’s website. Comments received from the public are categorized and reviewed for substance, and then staff responses to those comments are compiled. A summary of the “Assessment of Public Comment” is available on the DOS website at www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register.htm.
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Public Meetings Scheduled to Discuss Rule Proposals for 2009-10 Sportfishing Season
September 12, 2008
OLYMPIA - Four public meetings have been scheduled to discuss rule proposals for the 2009-10 sportfishing season in Washington.
Those 25 proposed rules, which would affect various freshwater and saltwater fisheries around the state, are available on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/rule_proposals/ . Printed copies of the proposals are available by contacting WDFW’s Fish Program at (360) 902-2700.
The public meetings will begin at 6 p.m. and are scheduled for:
- Sept. 24 - Cowlitz PUD, 961 12th Ave., Longview.
- Sept. 25 - WDFW’s Mill Creek Office, 16018 Mill Creek Blvd., Mill Creek.
- Sept. 30 - WDFW’s Spokane Office, 2315 North Discovery Place, Spokane Valley.
- Oct. 1 - WDFW’s Ephrata Office, 1550 Alder St. NW, Ephrata.
During the meetings, the public can discuss the proposals with WDFW staff or submit written comments. Comments also can be submitted by mail to WDFW Rules Coordinator Lori Preuss at preuslmp [at] dfw [dot] wa [dot] gov or 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA, 98501. Comments mailed to WDFW must be received by Nov. 6.
The public also will have an opportunity to provide testimony, as well as written comments, on the proposed rule changes during the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission’s Nov. 7-8 meeting in Olympia. Check the commission’s website (http://wdfw.wa.gov/com/comintro.htm) for the specific day and time.
The commission, which sets policy for WDFW, is scheduled to vote on the final sportfishing rules package during a meeting in February 2009.
Sportfishing rules currently under consideration include:
- Replacing the non-buoyant lure restriction with a new anti-snagging rule (only one single hook, fish must be hooked in the mouth; applies to all species except it only applies to salmon and steelhead in a portion of the mainstem Columbia River);
- Changing the daily limit of salmon and steelhead in the mainstem Columbia River to two salmon or two steelhead or one of each;
- Prohibiting the use or possession of live aquatic animals for bait in freshwater;
- Changing the opening day of fishing on some streams;
- Creating a new Marine Protected Area near a reef at Saltwater State Park.
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Shrimp Baiting Season Opens Sept. 12 in South Carolina Waters
September 8, 2008
The 2008 shrimp baiting season will open at noon Friday, Sept. 12 in South Carolina waters.
Recreational shrimpers who purchase a shrimp baiting license can legally cast their nets for shrimp over bait during this season. Shrimp baiting season will remain open until noon Tuesday, Nov. 11. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) opens the shrimp baiting season annually on the last Friday on or before the 15th of September each year.Â
The practice of shrimp baiting has remained basically the same since the current laws were passed in 1988. The season lasts 60 days, resident licenses cost $25 and non-residents licenses cost $500. The catch limit is 48 quarts of shrimp measured heads-on (29 quarts heads-off) per boat or set of poles per day, and each boat is limited to a set of 10 poles.Â
DNR biologist Larry DeLancey, whose research group has been sampling along the coast, says the 2008 season outlook should be “again fair, depending on the weather. There are relatively good numbers of shrimp in some areas, but size distribution looks smaller than last year. This year, at least early in the season, shrimpers may find better numbers in rivers, than later down in areas closer to the ocean, as many areas remain very salty despite recent rainfall.”
License sales in the shrimp baiting fishery peaked at 17,497 in 1998 and have declined steadily leveling off at about 10,000 for the past two years.  Post-season mail surveys conducted every year since 1988 indicate that recent total catches have been about 1 million pounds per season (heads on) after peaking at over 3.6 million pounds in 1997. Despite the decline in total catch, catch per trip has remained relatively stable, averaging about 20-22 quarts per trip since 2001. The stable catch per trip suggest that shrimp abundance has remained relatively good, but few permits and shrimping trips is resulting in a lower overall harvest.  According to Marine Resources Division Assistant Deputy Director, David Whitaker, “The decline in license sales and effort may be linked to the decrease in shrimp prices over the last few years, with recreational fishermen preferring to buy shrimp rather than catch their own.”Â
Shrimpers should be aware of laws regulating mesh size when choosing a cast net for the fall baiting season. The law went into effect in 2002 requiring that no cast net may be used for shrimp baiting that has mesh smaller than one-half inch on each side, or one inch in length when stretched. The legislative change in mesh size only refers to shrimp baiting and does not affect recreational shrimpers who are not casting over bait.
Captain Chuck Dial with DNR Law Enforcement Division in Charleston advises baiters not to have bait or poles in a boat that is in the water before noon on Friday, Sept. 12.
Report violations of saltwater recreational and commercial fishing laws by calling the Coast Watch hotline number (1-800-922-5431) toll-free, 24 hours a day.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
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Oregon Sport Anglers May Keep Two Halibut
September 8, 2008
NEWPORT, Ore. – On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14, anglers may keep two Pacific halibut each day in the sport halibut fishery off the central Oregon coast. However, the all-depth halibut fishery will be closed on Friday, Sept. 12.
 “We had some challenging ocean conditions this year that kept anglers in port during several of the all-depth weekends,” said Don Bodenmiller, sport halibut project leader for ODFW. “The two-halibut-a-day bag limit will allow Oregon anglers a chance to make up for lost time, providing the weather allows.”
Sunday, Sept. 7, is the last scheduled open day at all depths under the existing rule with a daily bag limit of one Pacific halibut. There currently there are no additional open days scheduled after Sept. 14. Any further openings will be announced after catch estimates are evaluated and if sufficient quota remains.
The summer central Oregon coast all-depth halibut fishery was previously scheduled to be open every Friday-Sunday until the combined spring and summer season all-depth quota of 372,346 pounds was taken or Oct. 26, whichever came first.
More than 49,000 pounds remain available for the central Oregon coast (combined all-depth and nearshore fishery inside of 40-fathoms) – from Cape Falcon (30 miles south of the Columbia River) to Humbug