Geoduck,
Thanks for your posting, here's my comments to WDFG.

To WDF&W

I am a (former)shallow water Puget Sound rockfish angler and would question the logic of changing the ling cod season to later in the year, to protect Puget Sound rockfish without seeing documented justification.

Ling cod are normally in shallower water in the spring. The current May-June season in Puget Sound waters occurs normally at the end of the spawning and nesting season for Ling Cod.

My experiences in shallow water fishing, 30 feet or less, is that currently the rockfish population in Puget Sound is very low and has been for several years.

In areas that once held rockfish, it is unusual to catch one, while the same areas now have fairly healthy Ling cod populations.

If rockfish are taken incidentally, it is possible to release them unharmed in shallow water.

Since larger Ling cod move to deeper water after spawning, any incidental rockfish taken at these greater depths are likely not to survive being released due to to internal injury to the swim bladder and other organs, which occurs due to decompression from being taken from two atmospheres or deeper. (about 60 feet).

Moving the season to later in the year may compound the rockfish population problems rather than improve them.

Unfortunately sport and commercial fishing for has resulted in the dramatic decline of rockfish populations in Puget Sound.

I gave up my commercial bottom jigging license and testified at a hearing that resulted in the closure of commercial rock fishing in Puget Sound many years ago. Even at that time, the rockfish population was going into a decline from over harvest by sport and commercial fishermen.

If anything could help bring rockfish populations back to Puget Sound, it would be regulations that set a limit on the depth that these fish may be taken from.

I seem to recall that there was some sort of limitation on sinker weight use a few years ago to help in salmon fishing management.

Closure of commercial dragging in known rockfish habitat, if not in effect should be.

Active education of shallow water catch and release techniques on rockfish may do more than closing the seasons or limiting retention.

This would in my opinion be more effective that eliminating any retention. The current 1 rockfish limit does not encourage fishermen to seek rockfish. Allowing retention of 1 rockfish at least allows an fish to be legally retained if it is injured by being brought from depth.

Sincerely,

Doug Wilson