Hey Wolf-- its obvious that you didnt READ my post, so here it is again:
No Pat-- its a reaction to how things have changed. While some in Victoria may not LIKE a May 1st opening, Victoria, like Toronto, is NOT the center of the Universe. They will still have at least 4 months to get their season limit. Now how is that a hardship when you live withing 1/2 hr from a launching ramp--and dont tell me they NEED those special tides, or they wont be able to catch any halis. The rest of us who dont live in halibut country are lucky to make 3 trips a year.
Yes-- we went into meeting with a bargaining strategy that said full season, no max size, etc. But when reality reared its ugly head, the strategy HAD to change. And in my opinion and a lot of others, a 1/1 no size limit and close when TAC reached makes sense. Hard on guides-- yes, but also hard on the likes of me also. But we choose the one that suits us best.. and its NOT laughable . Its pathetic that we have to have these discussions when we all know that we need an increase in our TAC to at least 20%. On that we do agree.
When the statistical review at the SFAB showed that the options that were favoured by the SFACs would not achieve the desired harvest total, then the clock was restarted. We ended up with a start in March that will only work to shut down the late season . So who benefits from this? South Island it seems..... but what about the rest of the areas? There is little in it for them . If we follow Rockfish's comments about how important the Victoria fishery is, above others in the Province, I would suggest that you are opening up the discussion that maybe there should be AREA quotas, so that others get a decent chance to get a hali. Personally I dont want to see that, and I dont expect that you do either. The point that has been lost is that we needed a season that works for all... not just Victoria, not just guides, not just tourists, not just tinboat anglers that cant even consider going out in March. This debate is not finished by any means. But with a small annual limit apparently coming our way, a 11 month season is not realistic even if it was part of our bargaining position.
One final thing rockfish-- good on you guys for forming the South Island Anglers. But it missed the mark by not including the rest of the province. Make it relevant to the rest of the province and then it will carry a LOT more weight with DFO.