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Starting November 1st, and for the rest of this year, new restrictions have been imposed on recreational anglers and many are wondering what the rules are and whether it's going to be worth the trouble. Unless you fish with a lawyer and an ichthyologist, interpreting the rules can be daunting. Still, there is a fun fishery still available to us. I've been following the regulatory changes for about a year I'll pass on some of the details of what I've learned. The "emergency rockfish closure" this fall restricts fishing in an attempt to reduce pressure on several species of rockfish that live in deep water, including boccaccio, vermilion, cowcod, canary, and yelloweye rockfish. These are known as "shelf species" by biologists because they are found in the deep waters of the continental shelf. Most anglers simply refer to these fish as "reds" or "red snappers" as opposed to "brown rockfish" more commonly found in the inshore shallow waters. As it happens, most "red" rockfish have similar biology and habitat, and the "brown" rockfish do too, they live in the nearshore and are classified by the DFG as "nearshore species." |
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Okay, so what can we fish for this November and December? Lingcod are off limits. Same with all "red" rockfish. Nor can any rockfish of any kind be taken in water deeper than 120 feet. So what's left? A specific list of "nearshore fishes" as defined by the DFG under the Marine Life Management Act (MLMA):
So, the first thing to remember is it's illegal to fish for rockfish in water deeper than 20 fathoms, or 120 feet deep. Most skiff fishermen and all party boats are equipped with depth sounders so it shouldn't be difficult to stay within bounds. Rockfish have air bladders that expand rapidly (about 25% each 10 meters of depth) and fish brought up from water deeper than 120 feet will usually die. It's possible to puncture the air bladder - either in the mouth, or better yet, through the thin skin behind the pectoral fins - with a sharp thin-bladed knife. The air bladders will heal, but it works best in shallow water. Often small fish can be released in 30-40 feet of water without puncturing the air bladder and with no ill effects. Most Northern California rockfishers will not encounter several species on the list: scorpionfish, treefish, calicos, and sheephead. These are most common south of Santa Barbara, and there are separate regulations and seasons for that area. North of the "southern bight" we will most often tangle with the common species of mid-water fish like blacks and blues, grass rockfish, etc. JUST REMEMBER TO THROW BACK THE LINGS AND THE REDS. The emergency closures on red rockfish and lingcod will last through the end of the year 2001, when new regulations will be announced for the new year. In the next installment, I'll talk about some of the methods I've used to catch rockfish on the north coast. Part Two: Rockfishing Techniques and Tackle Part Three: Where to Catch Nearshore Rockfish Part Four: Bank Fishing on the North Coast |
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