On September 12, 2008, an experimental fishery application submitted by RFA-OR/Oregon Anglers and Prowler Charters in Bandon was passed unanimously by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) in Boise ID. It will be a test fishery to determine scientifically if fishing seaward of 40 fathoms targeting yellowtail rockfish using special gear can be allowed with a bag limit of 15. The proposed gear is designed to minimize impacts on canary and yelloweye rockfish. If successful, this could go into regulation in the near future for all recreational anglers... View full text
 

Join us for a fun tournament with trophies for abalone and nearshore rockfish, on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at Ocean Cove Campground on the Sonoma County Coast, north of Jenner at 23125 Coast Highway One. Ocean Cove Campground is at mile marker SON 38.0. (Check in begins at 7 AM. Check-out by 1 PM.)           

        The public is welcome - this free dive tourney is in memory of the late, great Randy Fry - the avid abalone diver, fisherman, competitive spearfisher who dedicated his efforts to the rights of anglers and divers. This team event draws competitive spearfishermen and trophy abalone hunters from all over the state. Will this be the year that you score a big ten inch abalone? Entry fee is $35, with trophies awarded to team categories. This event includes a raffle, silent auction and hot lunch. We have reserved a group campsite and encourage participants to join us at Ocean Cove Friday evening. Individual sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are plenty of sites available at nearby state parks.

The RFA is sponsoring exempted fishing trips aboard charter fishing vessels in deepwater areas of the ocean in conjunction with the Golden Gate Fishermen's Association (GGFA) which represents the charter industry in northern California. The purpose of these trips is to develop new fishing opportunities for the entire recreational sector. If we can show that this fishery reduces bycatch of overfished species such as canary and yelloweye rockfish, the data we collect can inform future management decisions by the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
            Anglers can keep the rockfish they catch on these trips, and all trips will have full observer coverage. The on-board samplers will record the location of the areas fished, identify the species caught and take measurements of their size and weight. The "exempted fishing permit" issued by the PFMC allows us to fish throughout the year in the area seaward of the 150-fathom line. This area has been off limits to recreational anglers since 2003. Anglers will be limited to two hooks, and required to use a 30-foot drop leader with a float at the top, in order to keep the hooking gear off the bottom. The target species of the trips will be chilipepper rockfish and other mid-water species.
            Vessels participating in the project include the Telstar in Fort Bragg (707-964-8770), the Queen of Hearts (650-728-3377) the Hulicat (650-726-2926), and the New Captain Pete (650-726-6224) in Half Moon Bay, the ProFishnt (707-463-3618) in Bodega Harbor, Patriot Sportfishing in Morro Bay, and the El Dorado (415-298-3948) in Emeryville. For more info about these unique trips, contact (707) 357-3422.
 

The California Fish & Game Commission voted to have a consistent recreational crab opener throughout the state at its September meeting. For many years, the counties of Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte have opened up weeks after the opener in the region south of Point Arena. The early opener will provide some much-needed fishing opportunity for the recreational sector on the north coast. RFA's Jim Martin testified at the meeting in favor of the new opening date, the first Saturday in November, which this year will fall on the 1st. The decision is pending final approval by the state's Office of Administrative Law. 

The California Fish & Game Commission will take public comment on the proposed Marine Protected Area regulations for the north-central coast region in Santa Rosa in October. The RFA and many other fishing associations are requesting changes to the preferred alternative proposed by the Blue Ribbon Task Force. If adopted, the Blues' proposal would cause a 20 percent effort shift in the abalone fishery, without any conservation benefits, threatening the resource and the fishery. We are requesting five minor changes, which, if adopted, would create only a 5 percent effort shift in the abalone fishery.  Without these changes, we predict that the effort shift in abalone landings in the region will negatively impact the resource and have serious management implications under the DFG's abalone fishery management plan. We especially need abalone divers to register their support for these changes. Mark these dates: your public participation at the Commission is crucial: October 2, 2008 (Thursday, 10:00 a.m.) at the Flamingo Resort Hotel, 2777 Fourth Street in Santa Rosa.  Read letter from RFA