Shrimping vs Halibut

[nwhunter]

I just got an email with the dates for shrimping this year starting May 14 rather than earlier in the month due to low tides. If the halibut opener opens on its normal dates for the ocean it will make for a tough decision on what to do. Sure would be nice if they would go to a puch card on halibut for reasons like this so it wouldnt be a conflict. Guys like myself get lots of money in our boat and gear for all these fisheries and then dont get to use it because WDFW sets seasons that overlap. I understand the tide issue with shrimping but hope that WDFW will consider the trickle down effect on us for halibut.

[JimmyHoffa]

It's the new way to tackle the crowding issue....open everything at once and spread everyone around.
With how much WDFW likes revenue, maybe show them how much they are losing by having people have to choose one product over another instead of both.  The halibut punch card would be a good idea just from the weather days/safety point of view.

[WapitiTalk1]

"Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."  Sorry, couldn't resist 

Back on topic.  What do the tides have to do with the shrimp fishery?  Just trying to learn something here.   

[JimmyHoffa]

good strong tide will pull a scent trail for a good distance right to your trap.  It will be a small trail, but they find it.  The weaker tides allow a dispersed cloud that fizzles kind of fast.

[WAcoueshunter]

Back on topic.  What do the tides have to do with the shrimp fishery?  Just trying to learn something here.

Strong tides = many lost pots.

[Stein]

I always thought putting shrimp on a huge tide was a bad idea.  There are many, many small boats out there since most people only get one day at it and the danger level is way too high.

Given the choice, I would probably hit halibut although you can swing both depending on where you are going fishing.

[Rick]

Halibut dates for the North coast are May 7,12,and 14.

Big Salmon and LaPush started taking reservations for moorage a week ago.

[fishngamereaper]

And the minus tides cause people to have to back onto the beach to retrieve boats, like at the misery launch in Seabeck... Its quite the show..

[JimmyHoffa]

And the minus tides cause people to have to back onto the beach to retrieve boats, like at the misery launch in Seabeck... Its quite the show..

the hood canal is a show for shrimp now regardless.  Have seen people lined up for hours trying to get the boat launched.  Saw where some people would launch early and then break out lawn chairs and camp stoves to kill the time before they went out to put the traps.

[The scout]

And the minus tides cause people to have to back onto the beach to retrieve boats, like at the misery launch in Seabeck... Its quite the show..

And port of allyn, tawonoh, union, potlatch. lots of shallow ramps in the canal

[Mfowl]

I just got an email with the dates for shrimping this year starting May 14 rather than earlier in the month due to low tides. If the halibut opener opens on its normal dates for the ocean it will make for a tough decision on what to do. Sure would be nice if they would go to a puch card on halibut for reasons like this so it wouldnt be a conflict. Guys like myself get lots of money in our boat and gear for all these fisheries and then dont get to use it because WDFW sets seasons that overlap. I understand the tide issue with shrimping but hope that WDFW will consider the trickle down effect on us for halibut.

If you have the boat to pursue ocean halibut than you can pursue shrimping options all summer long. You can also incorporate salmon and shrimp together in those areas.
I hear you on the punch card but I would like to see it for shrimp and halibut with the entire month of May available to fill your card allotment.
If the openers are on the same day my effort is on halibut since there is alot more opportunity for shrimp. If a guy has an online Canadian license he can head across from PA and potentially retain 200 shrimp/person/day. A paper over the counter  Canadian license and you can get halibut out of Neah Bay all summer long. 

[Stalker]

Get a customs form, I believe I68, and go fish halibut across the border all summer. Buy a 1 day license online, I believe $7.00, when you want to run across and don't worry about WA hali dates. Fish don't know what side of the boarder they are on.   

[lokidog]

Back on topic.  What do the tides have to do with the shrimp fishery?  Just trying to learn something here.

Strong tides = many lost pots.

 

For the, probably one of the biggest, shrimp fishery off the south end of Lopez Is, that hard incoming tide will simply pull your pots away.  Most people don't realize the power of the current pushing on 400' of line and buoys. One opening day, I rescued 18 one year when I was the last boat out there.  Every one got back to its owner.  I've had pots go 3+ miles with 15-20 pounds of weight in them.  I'm glad to see the state actually do something reasonable, for a change.  Lost pots can kill a lot of shrimp/crabs/fish before they rot away. It can also be dangerous trying to pull those pots loose out of the reefs where they often end up.   I don't shrimp the incoming tide off of Lopez any more if the current predictions are over 0.6 knots.

As far as bait trails, I think slow to moderately moving water is much better than a fast current as your bait stream will actually be wider and attract more shrimp.  Also, I think that when the tide is really cranking, the shrimp hunker down a bit.  And, if your pot moves, it will catch fewer, or no, shrimp.

[JimmyHoffa]

I was told the halibut dates this year would be May 7, 12 and 14 with the possibility of May 26 and 28 if quota isn't met for MA 3-4; and May 7,12,13,14, 26, 27, 28 and 29 for MA 5-10.

[stkflker]

Any word on shrimping dates after the opener on the 14th?