Alberni Sockeye Limits

[eaglemaniac]

Fishery Notice

Category(s): RECREATIONAL - Salmon

Subject: FN0277-Sockeye: Areas 23 - Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet Daily Limits

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Effective 00:01 May 01, 2005 until further notice the daily limit for sockeye
salmon in Area 23 is two (2).



The 2005 pre-season forecast for Somass Sockeye is for a below average return
of 500,000 sockeye. At this runsize under normal conditions the expected sport
catch is approximately 45,000 sockeye. In light of environmental conditions
that occurred in 2004 and the long term forecast for similar conditions in 2005
the daily bag has been reduced to two sockeye to provide an opportunity for
increased escapements through May and June.



Fishing plans are currently under development with the commercial sector and
local First Nations that would reduce their harvest rate from 2004 levels
through the end of June with the intent of increasing escapement levels.
Throughout this period escapement, catch, abundance data and environmental
conditions will be closely monitored. The first in season run reforecast will
take place in the last week of June and provide direction for management
initiatives into July.



For more details, contact the nearest office of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.







Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0277
Sent May 12, 2005 at 1501


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Edited by - Eagle Maniac on 05/19/2005 19:03:59

 

[Eagle Eyes]

if it means a continutation of the run, then im down for 2 fish a day under the conditions that

a- it's actually enforced, more sockeye get poached then in any other saltwater fishery i think ive seen on the island.

b- the natives arent allowed to decimate the run in the river

 

[eaglemaniac]

You make some excellent points Eagle Eyes. Anyone who has spent enough time on this fishery knows there are the odd recreational factory boats out there. You see them every year. And as far as the fisheries telling the natives how many fish they can take, I have not seen any indication of that of late. Who this limit really effects, are the fisherman that want to spend the money on gas tackle etc. To provide some quality fish for there familys with a reasonable expectation of success. Hopefully by July they will put the limit up to four per day, so it will make it affordable for most to make the trip. It seems to me that increasingly alot of the locals do not bother with the fishery as it's more cost effective to just buy twenty fish at five bucks each from the natives. No feather ruffling intended. Just my observations.

 

[Kildonan]

I remember a time in the 1970's in Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet when none of the sporties bothered fishing for the things. I recall a guy saying to my old man, "hey, let's fish sockeye" and he just laughed at him. Now it's such a BIG part of the sports fishery in Port. Interesting how things change. I wonder what impact the lower retention limits will have on the tourist $$$ flowing into the Alberni Valley?

 

[Steelheadman_04]

i dont see a problem of decreasing the limit from 4 - 2/person if the runs going to be smaller , but then the indians shouldent be netting much at'll, there already netting in the river and getting sockeye, there netting the early runs, and they shouldent even be netting this early in the season, cause they're netting steelie kelts aswell. as far as im concerned they are goin to cause the end of the fishery in port alberni then point there fingers at the white man , then we'll have to pay for fish rehabilitation. thats my 2 cents atleast......

 

[Eagle Eyes]

trust me your not the only one sharing this viewpoint steelheadman...

 

[bigchrome]

I did not think that natives had legal right to sell there fish, from what I last heard it is food fish and not to be sold. I also thought that they are required to leave a certain percentage of the river open at all time, never have a net completely across the river. Sockeye on the Fraser is suppose to be in danger from pollution, the water temperature being to warm and being over fished. Apparently a very small percentage of fish would have spawned successfully last year. I think that all sockeye fishing should be shut down for a year or two even for natives. Does anyone even know if there is a hatchery that produces sockeye??
I remember seeing sockeye in the rivers late this year, (too late for normal spawning periods because of low and warm water levels) makes you kinda wonder what’s going to happen to the runs.
On a good note, I believe that the Port Alberni Hatchery is suppose to increase there steelhead numbers by another 25,000 which is good for us steelheader’s. Kept 2 steelhead this year and felt bad when I did, would hate to see more rivers close.

Steelheadman, I had a white ethnic male fish beside me this year using bait in a bait ban area on the river. It’s not all natives, it guys like that in general that wreck it for everyone.
I should have sent him floating!


bigchrome

 

[salmon9]

I think there are many factors for why salmon/steelhead populations are endangered. It's not just one group or another that is solely responsible for low stocks, we all need to take responsibility. I think we need to look at this from a perspective of identifying that spawning habitat, fishing pressure or open ocean survival rates are important and stop bashing specific groups. Salmon populations were not endangered until us europeans settled here.

 

[Red Monster]

It's not PC to blame the folks with nets across the river, so let's blame what's happening today on the Europeans who came hear a few centuries ago when life was perfect. I get it. In fact, we should blame all imperfection of life on those old Europeans, for today and for enternity. And the European descendants? Do we automatically blame them too?

Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."

 

[salmon9]

Red Monster, have you been to the northwest in the fall (specifically Hazelton, Moricetown and the Nass Valley during July, August and Sept)? There is a heavier native fishery there than the south coast. Nets and spear fishing on the Skeena and it's tributarys, nets and fish wheels on the Nass, etc. If the low stocks on the south coast is because of the native fishery tell me why the north coast salmon stocks are in much better shape?

 

[Steelheadman_04]

well crist was goin out sproat yesterday, and the indians have there set nets stagered throughout the big pool above the bridge, its so hurtin the fish dont stand a chance anymore, and yeah food fish my a@@ themindians make more in acouple months then most people make working, the indians take their fish off the island and sell them to fish buyers in vancouver. and salmon9 the reason i think the fish stocks on the nass n skeana are still large, even with lots of fishing pressure is because the systems are much larger and theres many more tributaries than the stamp somass......, i dont know much about the mainland rivers so if im wrong please correct me, im just guessing the nass n skeena are larger from what ive read and seen on t.v
well im out, steelheadman

 

[Alexievich]

Greetings Bigchrome,

I have to disagree with your "never across the whole river" comment. More than once I have sat at the papermill dam pool and watched boats pound their oars at the top of the pool the scare fish down for 15-20 min and then boat number two drags their net as far around the pool as there is enough depth to not ground the boat.

Last year I booked two days of "official" vacation to fish for sockeye and wouldn't you know it, it was the first week they lowered it to two fish. No problem I thought, I guess there aren't enough fish. So anyway, after catching my limit in 15min, i thought I would watch a "food fishery harvest". The one net load took out enough fish to fill the bed of an F150 and then to fill one of their boats to just-about sinking.... thats a lot of fish for food; especially when you do it just about every day.

I'm not just picking on one group, I attack everyone that deserves it equally ... like how come every hook I find in the Campbell River system still has a barb on it?

There are bad apples and bad orchards everyhwere. I just want to still have enough fish in the future to share the experience with my kids. Two fish a day is better than no fish at all.

just my three cents worth
Alex

... "high water" is when you can fish from your car.

 

[Mr. Dean]

Touché!!.

Some like it rough...
Others just puke!.
Mr. Dean

 

[Red Monster]

I don't think the laws we have are being enforced, and this makes it easy for some folks to fish illegally.

I'd be happy if all the laws were enforced for all people. And I think stricter laws should be passed and enforced for buying or for selling illicitly caught fish. But I'm not holding my breath <img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>



Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."

 

[Red Monster]

I don't think the laws we have are being enforced, and this makes it easy for some folks to fish illegally.

I'd be happy if all the laws were enforced for all people. And I think stricter laws should be passed and enforced for buying or for selling illicitly caught fish. But I'm not holding my breath <img src=icon_smile_angry.gif border=0 align=middle>



Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."

 

[bigchrome]

Good Day: Alexievich

I never said that they never had their nets across the whole river I said
“I also thought that they are required to leave a certain percentage of the river open at all time, never to have a net completely across the river.”
Meaning that they should never have a net across the entire river

I agree netting the rivers is wrong

Not saying that I don't agree with the food fish numbers that are taken or what they (some) do with them. That is all out of my control and I can only do my part to conserve.

I 100% agree with Red Monster tougher penalty's, and I was not blaming Europeans

I am not saying that all or some First nations do not abuse there fishing rights. I was just making a point to Stealheadman_04 that the list is long blame natives its a ton of fishermen.

I was fishing a river this year and a kid got busted by CO's for using bait in bait ban area. Next day same kid using bait again, fines must be small (dont know never had one) or his money grows on trees

I am all for conservation as my dad works at a hatchery. I see how upset he gets when they lose a large females, just from transporting them do to stress. (must be bad out there) I think we know how bad it's getting

if I crossed anyones lines
not my intention

Bigchrome

There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.


bigchrome

 

[bigchrome]

Good Day: Alexievich

I never said that they never had their nets across the whole river I said
“I also thought that they are required to leave a certain percentage of the river open at all time, never to have a net completely across the river.”
Meaning that they should never have a net across the entire river

I agree netting the rivers is wrong

Not saying that I don't agree with the food fish numbers that are taken or what they (some) do with them. That is all out of my control and I can only do my part to conserve.

I 100% agree with Red Monster tougher penalty's, and I was not blaming Europeans

I am not saying that all or some First nations do not abuse there fishing rights. I was just making a point to Stealheadman_04 that the list is long blame natives its a ton of fishermen.

I was fishing a river this year and a kid got busted by CO's for using bait in bait ban area. Next day same kid using bait again, fines must be small (dont know never had one) or his money grows on trees

I am all for conservation as my dad works at a hatchery. I see how upset he gets when they lose a large females, just from transporting them do to stress. (must be bad out there) I think we know how bad it's getting

if I crossed anyones lines
not my intention

Bigchrome

There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.


bigchrome

 

[Dirtdog67]

Just today, buddy say's " Do one trip a year, get my 20-30 and call it quits-(shake head) Natives-whites it's the most poached fishery on the island.dirty

 

[Dirtdog67]

Just today, buddy say's " Do one trip a year, get my 20-30 and call it quits-(shake head) Natives-whites it's the most poached fishery on the island.dirty

 

[Alexievich]

Definitely agree that the real problem is poachers, of ALL back grounds.

... maybe I should add to my inventory, lets see:
- rod
- flies
- bear/poacher spray
- small fish bonker
- large poacher bonker

yeah, that would help.

BigChrome, I was not trying to attack you just sharing what I've seen.

I hope to see you all on the river. Man was it ever high Thursday. Anyone get any of the early run fish?

Cheers,
Alex

... "high water" is when you can fish from your car.