Halibut study in Neah Bay, looking for volunteers

[Wetwoodshunter]

FULLY BOOKED SORRY

I am writing to let you know that the Makah Tribe needs volunteer anglers to test traditional Makah halibut hooks.  The research, funded under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program, is to investigate if we can improve the design and fishing performance of the traditional Makah halibut hook (called a čibu·d) for catching halibut.  In a previous study funded under the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program we showed that hand-made brass čibu·d significantly reduce bycatch as compared to circle hooks in recreational halibut fishing (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016578361630323X).  However, the čibu·d also significantly reduced catch of halibut.  Our hope is that recreational anglers will choose to use čibu·d in the future to reduce their impacts on rockfish and other non-target species, but in order to convince them to use the čibu·d and to keep using them we need to improve catch rates of halibut.
 
We have made design improvements to the brass čibu·d we fished in the last study and are testing three other materials to compare fishing performance.  At the end of the study we will compare the best performing čibu·d to a 16/0 circle hook.  The experiment will be conducted with 8 anglers fishing from a recreational charter fishing boat.  In order to operate the experiment we need volunteers to fish the hooks.
 
All fishing will be conducted from Neah Bay.  My research permit requires that all live halibut in good condition be released and that any halibut that are killed be provided to the Makah Senior Center.  Any bycatch can be retained and will be given to volunteer anglers who want to have fresh fish.
 
We need volunteers on June 28 – 30, July 5-7, July 13-14, July 17-19, July 27-28 (these days are only if needed if earlier days are canceled), and Aug 9-13 with the 12th and 13th as make up days if we do not get enough sets on August 9-11.

If you or any of your friends would like to go let me know at joe.petersen@makah.com. Please let me know the date you are interested in participating, whether you would like to bring any family, friends or coworkers with you, and your phone number so that we can contact you.  We will provide more information when you email us.
 
I hope you will be able to participate. We had some great participation two years ago from Hunt-WA members. Lets get some more of you out here and have some fun.

Joe Petersen

[TomT]

Email coming....

[Wetwoodshunter]

  saw the email I'll shoot you a confirmation tomorrow

[robodad]

Email sent, after the 7th of July works for me !

[fishngamereaper]

I don't know a lot of rec guys that use circle hooks anymore for hali. Is this study more of an evaluation of use for long lining gear.

[Wetwoodshunter]

I don't know a lot of rec guys that use circle hooks anymore for hali. Is this study more of an evaluation of use for long lining gear.

No, the study is geared towards bycatch reduction in the sport fishery. It's more informative we have no intentions of trying to change fishing practices in the future. Volunteers will be catching halibut with a rod and reel with these hooks. We're recording which ones work better and my permit allows for us to catch 300 halibut. 

As far as circle hooks in the sport fishery, lots of rec anglers use them. I use them exclusively for halibut, you don't loose fish. Try Gamakatsu 8/0 offset circles. The big fish was landed on a 8/0 circle during the sport fishery in my Arima.

[Wetwoodshunter]

July 13th and 14th are now full. 

[TomT]

Thanks Joe. Looking forward to it!

[Brushcrawler]

If anyone is on the fence - this is a very cool project. How else are you going to catch a halibut on the original halibut hook?

[CLARKTAR]

I'm more curious about the study design (sampling desgin) and analysis...

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[washingtonmuley]

email sent

[TomT]

For anyone still on the fence, I just got back from two days of halibut fishing with Joe and the rest of the crew and can enthusiastically say that it was a lot of fun! 

I know for sure they still have dates in August, but get in touch with Wetwoodshunter and get signed up.  Where else can you get a halibut trip on the ocean in one of the most beautiful places in the world for the cost of driving out to Neah Bay?

In all, the volunteers caught nearly 50 halibut in 2 days.  And how interesting it was to catch them on a design the Makah tribe historically used.   I was skeptical when I saw the design, but we indeed caught halibut only, as none of the other fish species were able to get hooked on the design (at least in the 2 days I was out there).   

Thanks Joe, it was awesome!

[Wetwoodshunter]

August 11 is now full, we have 2-4 spots open on the rest of the days.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Thank for you responses. We are now fully booked on all days.