Ling Cod

[Da stump]

WSFW just posted new regulations for lings in area's 1-4. There is no minimum limit now. I personally think this is totally wrong. Ling are a big fish and when taken young they don;t have as much meat or the fantastic fight. With any ling being able to be taken it will not be long and we won't have any.
Dale

[singleshot12]

I think the charters pushed this as to limit their boats sooner.

[Duckslayer89]

WSFW just posted new regulations for lings in area's 1-4. There is no minimum limit now. I personally think this is totally wrong. Ling are a big fish and when taken young they don;t have as much meat or the fantastic fight. With any ling being able to be taken it will not be long and we won't have any.
Dale

I think your wrong there. Ling are a sensitive fish with a high mortality rate after being caught and released. In fact it should be first two ling caught is your limit no catch and release

[Dhoey07]

Well, if I pulled up a little one, I think I'd be lowering it back down.......

[spoonman]

Lingcod are quite Hardy actually, they also don't have an air bladder that keeps them to the surface after being pulled from the deep so there's no need to lower back down. Also not having a minimum size will hurt the population for those that keep smaller fish, the majority of the fisherman though will still let go the small ones and keep fishing for bigger fish since they are so easy to catch.

[Igottanewknee]

I think the charters pushed this as to limit their boats sooner.

That is going to happen any way.... 7 rock fish limit...

[spoonman]

 

[Skillet]

I'd just about guarantee the commission did this to reduce bycatch of DSR rockfish - particularly yelloweye and canary. The charters will limit a little bit faster, the sport boats will continue to be able to C&R lings until they get what they want. Overall average fish size retained will go down, meaning overall average fish left in the ocean will go up.  That skews towards saving the big females, the broodstock of the fishery.  Reduced yelloweye and canary mortality as well.

It's really not a bad rule change, imho. 

[trophyhunt]

I hope most boats throw back the smaller lungs, I know the guys I fish with won't keep the small ones. 

[Skillet]

Just curious - why do you hope they throw back the smaller fish?  If they keep the smaller ones, they won't catch the larger ones, which skew heavily female.

[trophyhunt]

Just curious - why do you hope they throw back the smaller fish?  If they keep the smaller ones, they won't catch the larger ones, which skew heavily female.

Im no bio, and I could be wrong, but I just assumed if the smaller ones lived longer it would help the population?  Almost like spike only for big game, but it's just my impression.

[WAcoueshunter]

The big ones are the spawners.  Bonk the little ones and the spawners keep spawning. 

[Skillet]

I'm no bio either, but this topic always strikes me as interesting.  In the freshwater sportfish world, killing a big spawning female will get you crucified on the message boards.  In the salt, it sounds like we are advocating for the take of the big spawning females.  Just strikes me as interesting.

[KNOPHISH]

  Reduced yelloweye and canary mortality as well.

It's really not a bad rule change, imho.

Looks like 1 Canary can be kept now in MA 1&2.

https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=1924

[Skillet]

Right on, thanks for the link Knophish