Should we move to a punch card system for bottom fish

[trophyelk6x6]

SO been fishing LaPush, Neah, Sekiu and dealt with WDFW and the tribes and the quota and the opener dates and the WTF other crap?  Why not a limited time for doing a quota? A quota for each person like notching our tags and recording on our cards? Giving us a time frame to fill our halibut at least over a month or so and F... these one day here and one day there openings?  Why do they do that?  I could miss the crap tides or miss the LaPush bar closing or?     Give me and my family a month or two to plan a vacation, rent the nice places to stay at a camp ground and enjoy vs having an all out assault on a one day opener where you cant find a place to park or camp. Don't you think the small communities would benefit more? I would guess the overall numbers of fisher people in these communities would increase, spread out the season more.
The fishing experience and enjoyment would better for all. THOUGHTS?.

[JimmyHoffa]

So, switch from daily limit with scattered seasons to a continuous season with a punchcard.  I would think the quota would be met as quickly maybe faster.     I could see where if a guy was limited to two fish a year, he might be cycling people out there kind of like playing guide to get his buddies their punchcard fish before quota was met.
Maybe a youth halibut season.

[Wetwoodshunter]

This has been discussed at length through WDFW. There is a good chance if the state went to a tag system it would be one tag per person until the tags are sold out.

[JimmyHoffa]

This has been discussed at length through WDFW. There is a good chance if the state went to a tag system it would be one tag per person until the tags are sold out.

If the tags were sold online, I could picture some guy with a huge list of WILD-IDs for all his family, extended family, neighbors, neighbor extended family, etc.  Probably sell out in an hour.  WDFW computer crash.

[Mfowl]

This has been discussed at length through WDFW. There is a good chance if the state went to a tag system it would be one tag per person until the tags are sold out.

I'd be for this but why not issue 2 tags with your license when you purchase it. Or issue tags for each marine area. Keep the 1 fish/day limit and give us freedom to fish through May. Crowding us in to a few measly days a year is a joke. This would more accurately identify just how many fish the sportees catch in a season and even open additional opportunity. I would also be in favor of stiffer penalties for those who are caught abusing such a system.  I'd also be in favor of a system like this for shrimping as well. 

[Alpine Mojo]

WDFW already jams us with over 100 pages of fishing regs.  How much more micro management is enough for you?

[trophyelk6x6]

I sure don't know the answer but I am tired of WDFW setting up seasons for their ease of regulating them.  Pack everyone in and get the quota met and its over. It's not about the experience. Hood canal shrimping, 9am to 1pm and that's it.  Pack em in, fly the plane over and count the boats and assume full limits with an average of 3 per boat and there is the science of management. Fish counters at the ramp or dock getting 40% of the people at best and there is the science. 

[Buzz2401]

There is no easy answer we have to many people after to little resource.  Put a tag system in place and quota will be gone in one day.  Its not WDFW's fault that there are 10's of thousands of people that like to recreate.  Reconsidering the Boldt decision might help some but not enough to really make a difference.

[Mfowl]

There is no easy answer we have to many people after to little resource.  Put a tag system in place and quota will be gone in one day.  Its not WDFW's fault that there are 10's of thousands of people that like to recreate.  Reconsidering the Boldt decision might help some but not enough to really make a difference.

Why would the quota be gone in one day? It's not gone in one day with the current system, why would that change? A tag system and an open period to fish would enable more opportunity for Charters and lesson the headaches of all or nothing days like we have now. As mentioned by the OP, the science behind monitoring the quota for both shrimp and halibut is flawed at best. If you were required to report your tag(s) after filling it like you are with a deer tag there could be an opportunity for a WDFW cash grab on a surplus basis. 

[JimmyHoffa]

If the number of tags equaled exactly the quota, then I think what you suggest could be done.  If tags could just be bought like one per license and not matched to quota, then I would assume everyone that got a tag would try to fill it as fast as they could, before emergency closure.  In that case, I would think the season would be very short before a shutdown.

[Mfowl]

If it were my choice, I'd have an ocean tag (MA's 1-4) with a 3 halibut allotment. Then an inside waters tag (MA's 5-10) with a 3 halibut allotment. Keep it at 1 fish/day and let us fish at our leisure through the month of May. Report on them just like you would a deer or crab catch card. You can put 10 halibut on your punch card as it is but you could only get so many from the ocean given the days available. When the season is done and tags are reported WDFW could assess the harvest and sell surplus tags for whichever areas are available or add/subtract for the following season. Stick it to those caught violating the system with stiff fines! Same with shrimp, allocate a limit for each MA and allow us to fish on our terms. Log it on your card, report it online. Stick it to the violators who get caught. Beyond that not every tag issued means a dead fish. You still have to catch them, some guys will, some won't. I've certainly been on both sides of the fence.

[gotshot]

I am a beginner to halibut and such but more often tha not I don't get my Halibut that is why it is what it is. If everybody got a month to get their 3 halibut it would be fished out.

[2labs]

Why are people even suggesting this! Do not give this State an inch!
More control that's what you want?
Halibut are easier to catch than farm raised trout!  Fish where fish be!

[snake]

Out of all the things someone could ask for... WTF.  How about asking for some of our fishing opportunity back.  I'm pretty sure i'll be telling my grandkids about how we USED TO be able to fish puget sound and the Tribs.

[2labs]

  spot on Brother!

[JimmyHoffa]

I would guess if the state ever went to that system, fish would require special permit drawings.  You get OIL fish.

[Mfowl]

What's less about a different reporting system and more freedom to spend your time on the water?

[2labs]

Yea, boat rides are fun!

[JimmyHoffa]

What's less about a different reporting system and more freedom to spend your time on the water?

I've wondered about the safety aspect before.  But they seem to have the make up day scheduled for missed quota.  Yet, the bigger boats seem to still get enough fish to not need the make up day.

[gotshot]

Why are people even suggesting this! Do not give this State an inch!
More control that's what you want?
Halibut are easier to catch than farm raised trout!  Fish where fish be!

Well being 58 yrs old and pretty much starting from scratch I will likely get too old to find the fish.

[2labs]

South west corner of the "C" 500 to 600 feet down thump the ball twice, fish on!
Tip o the day!

[Wetwoodshunter]

I would willingly pay $35 for a halibut tag to be able to have a longer period to catch my fish. If we could buy two tags a year ($70) that would be ideal to me, I would just hold out until I landed a 50-70 lb fish. I wouldn't even target halibut anymore just have the ability to keep them if I ran into one fishing for something else which seems to happen a lot.

As of now though I can just hop over to Canada and go whenever I want. A non-res Canadian fishing lic is only like $100 and the limit is 5 a year I think, can't quote me on that.

[2labs]

Swift sure BC. Really good non res. deal!

[Wetwoodshunter]

Swift sure BC. Really good non res. deal!

It is, you just need to get your lic actually in Canada they don't let you do the online ones for that area. You can however get online ones for the area across from Port Angeles. Quite a few of my friends fish up there nice fish, although it's hit and miss.

[kidkodger]

South west corner of the "C" 500 to 600 feet down thump the ball twice, fish on!
Tip o the day!

Not everybody has the boat or skills to fish those areas.  Inshore and straights halibut can be hard to find.


I would prefer a tag system too.  There was a time when I kinda enjoyed rodeo combat fishing, but not anymore.  One reason i think it won't happen is the impact on protected species due to a prolonged effort, especially in the ocean.  Also they tried that on sturgeon on the Columbia to try and save the fishery....and now there is no retention below the dam or any other estuary in the state.

[2labs]

Then fish for Sea Bass and ling! They taste better anyway!

[huntnphool]

Why are people even suggesting this! Do not give this State an inch!
More control that's what you want?
Halibut are easier to catch than farm raised trout!  Fish where fish be!

 lol, but it's the liberal way!

 Screw the system up so badly that you have people asking for the all mighty government to step in and solve the problem.......the problem that they created.

 Amazing......Alinsky must be LHMFAO!

[gotshot]

South west corner of the "C" 500 to 600 feet down thump the ball twice, fish on!
Tip o the day!

Thanks but heading to Sekiu Memorial day weekend. I'll just look for the boats.