Anglers can now use the Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) Web site now features
the current status of the statewide catch of yelloweye
rockfish.
This information is of interest to many, because once the
federal catch limit of this species is close to being met, the
groundfish season may close, according to the agency.
"Yelloweye rockfish is the most constraining groundfish species on
the West Coast," Marija Vojkovich, the agency's marine region manager, stated in a recent email.
"In 2008, many anglers were surprised when the groundfish season
north of Point Arena closed early because the yelloweye rockfish catch
had approached the federal harvest limit. This year, the tracking tool
should result in fewer surprises."
Yelloweye rockfish are federally designated as an "overfished"
species that may not be kept in California.
However, anglers sometimes catch the fish by accident, and this incidental take is counted towards
the statewide recreational harvest limit.
The new tracking tool is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/groundfishcentral/tracking.asp..
The tracking tool will be updated weekly as new catch information is
received and processed.
Yelloweye rockfish is a challenging species to manage because the statewide
recreational harvest limit is minimal-only 6,173 pounds of incidentally
taken fish are allowed for 2009. This species is slow-growing,
late-maturing, and can reach ages of more than 100 years. According to
the current federal rebuilding plan, the yelloweye rockfish stock may
take over 70 years to recover.
"Groundfish" includes over 80 species of marine fish, including
other rockfish, lingcod, cabezon and some species of flatfish.
For more information about groundfish fishery management and the Pacific Fishery
Management Council, the federal agency responsible for setting harvest
limits for groundfish, visit www.pcouncil.org.
For more information regarding recreational groundfish regulations and
for current in-season regulation changes, call the DFG
Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations Hotline at (831) 649-2801,
or visit the DFG Groundfish Central Web site at:
www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/groundfishcentral/index.asp.
Joe Segura, a mild-mannered reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, has covered Gotham City, er Long Beach, for 34 years. During his very, very long -- endless -- tenure, he's covered almost every beat, and he was the main writer for BeachWeek, which focused on life and lifestyles of the shoreline communities from downtown Long Beach to the Huntington Beach pier.
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