Please note that the time has changed from 3:10 to 2:10 PM for the Commission meeting on Feb 8!
Please show up so we show how important our Neah Bay Fishery is to us.
See you there.


This is the absolute last time you can comment on our ocean proposals-Friday Feb 8. at 2:10 PM at the Natural Resources Building - 1111 Washington St SE Olympia WA 98501, First Floor, Room 172

Written comment time has passed and now personal testimony is all that can be done-at this last proposal meeting.

I know that this is a Friday but we need to show we are not in support of unwarranted closures due to twisted data. The WDFW Commissioners all work for free and have to take off work too, for this meeting, so should you if you do not want to see any Closures in Neah Bay!

Please meet us there and wear your PSA, CCA, or any sportfishing attire to support our positions.


Reasons why I replied to these-if you agree, feel free to use them.

We know why these and possibly who is probably putting these together for Neah Bay and they do not fish. The MA 4B closure didn't pass and it looks like a way to shut down our oceans piece by piece. This is unfair to the sportsfishers, families, and also to the economy of Neah Bay.

#63 Shrimp 200 Yes Build a non existant fishery-as inside fishery maxes, will provide a possible new fishery. There is no recreational pressure on this fishery now and could be to expensive with 80 shrimp current daily limit

#64 Cast net yes-catch your own bait for tuna fishing with a cast net-provides bait for other ports with none available

#65 Cabezon size limit- No- Marine area 4 has a lot of cabezon yet. Remove area 4 from size limit. Seems to be a push to shut down Neah Bay again little by little. Cabezon are a by-catch fish as they are custacean eaters and never will be a targeted fish as they do not commonly bite fishing lures. They are an occasional catch. Data cannot be used to show 20-30 rockfish caught for each lingcod/cabezon.


#66 4A Fish protection-No-85% is already under closure and protection. This is a closure on the small boat fishery. The ocean fishery is still very healthy and the 4B test fishery of 2011 showed a large amount of rockfish caught caught in the straits and there are far more rockfish fish in the ocean than the straits.

#67 Tuna Limit-No-No reason to put a limit just to put on a limit. This could start a limit on Albacore.

#68 Reduce MA 4B Lingcod size to 22"-no-22" is to small of a fish with no meat. This is counter productive to bring down the catch size. By keeping it at 26" it keeps the sizes bigger. We broke MA4B off from the ocean a long time ago for bottomfishing and it is managed with the ocean fishery MA4.

#69 Reduce Lingcod season in MA 4. No- there are plenty of lingcod and if rockfish conservation is a concern then removing more lingcod will be more productive, thus requiring expansion. Studies show that even MPAs/Fishing closures will not let rockfish repopulate if lingcod are present. Data cannot be used to show 20-30 rockfish caught for each lingcod/cabezon. Rockfish are targetted using small shrimp flies and grub, where lingcod lures are much bigger.


PLEASE ATTEND


Feb 8. 3:10 P.M.

2013 – 2014 Sportfishing Rule Proposals – Briefing and Public Hearing
Department staff will brief the Commission on the upcoming Sportfishing rules and regulations for the 2013-14 season. Staff Report:



Craig Burley, Fish Management Division Manager, Fish Program
PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

Please note that the time has changed from 3:10 to 2:10 PM for the Commission meeting on Feb 8!
Please show up so we show how important our Neah Bay Fishery is to us.
See you there.

Hope it went well.

How did it go?

I felt that our postion was well represented by PSA, Poggie Club, and CCA members against the Rockfish Closures at Neah Bay. I think Jamie Glosgow of WFC was the only one that spoke in favor of Neah Bay Proposals.

We represented that the catching of so many rockfish per lingcod data used for the proposals was data that could not used. Different methods are used and we oppose the proposals.

We brought forward that the scientific background of the commission would not support the type of data used to pass these proposals.

I feel pretty confident that these will go nowhere.

Also add that the Makah Tribe sent a representative who testified against the proposed additional restrictions as well as did a representative from Olson's Resort in Sekiu.

It was also pointed out that there is no data to support the proposed restrictive changes and that some proposed rule changes were not recommended to go forward for that very reason.

Mike Jamboretz of Jambo's Sportfishing and Tom Burlingame of Excel Fishing Charters also spoke against the proposals and provided anecdotal testimony about rockfish numbers as well as their ability to target ling using large lures thereby minimizing contact with non-target rockfish in those waters open to them (less than 120 feet) contrary to the information provided by the proponent.

My thanks to those who showed up to testify and for the report on the meeting.