Fish Sniffer Magazine Volume 41, Issue 04 | Page 20

20 March 18 , 2022 VOL . 41 • ISS . 4

Pacific Angler SportFishing recently posted halibut limits for two anglers before 10am . That is a wide open bite on the SF Bay !

Photo Courtesy of Pacific Angler SportFishing

This angler holds up a nice sheephead he caught while aboard Aloha Spirit Sportfishing . The rockfish season started in March in the Oxnard area and the Aloha Spirit Sportfishing is off to a great start this season putting up great numbers of a variety of rockfish .

Photo Courtesy of Aloha Spirit Sportfishing

BODEGA BAY

Recreational Bag Limits Reduced For Some Rockfish Species In 2022

BODEGA BAY – Charter boat captains out of Bodega Bay are getting ready for the rockfish season that opens on April 1 , 2022 , followed by the salmon season on April 2 . The California Department of Fish and Wildlife ( CDFW ) announces multiple changes to recreational rockfish sub-bag limits that took effect on Jan . 6 , 2022 . The emergency regulations were adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission in mid- December to align with federal regulations for these species . Changes to the sub-bag limits within the 10-fish daily Rockfish ,

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Call for Details and Special Pricing !

Cabezon , Greenling ( RCG ) complex bag and possession limit include :

• A decrease to the statewide sub-bag limit for vermilion rockfish ( Sebastes miniatus ) from five fish to four fish

• A new statewide sub-bag limit for quillback rockfish ( S . maliger ) of one fish

• A new statewide sub-bag limit for copper rockfish ( S . caurinus ) of one fish

The RCG complex has a daily 10- fish bag and possession aggregate limit , meaning that each angler ’ s catch can be composed of any combination of rockfish , cabezon or greenling , as long as total catch remains at or below 10 fish . Subbag limits within the RCG bag limit are implemented when harvest guidelines cannot accommodate the 10-fish bag limit being composed of a single species . “ New stock assessments conducted in 2021 for quillback and copper rockfish suggest severe population declines for these two species . Also , unsustainably high catches of vermilion rockfish have occurred each year since 2015 ,” said CDFW Environmental Program Manager Marci Yaremko . “ For these reasons , new federal regulations were needed to implement reduced sport bag limits for these three species in 2022 .” Despite these changes , there are still numerous opportunities to catch other groundfish species with healthy populations in 2022 when seasons are open . Anglers are reminded that when rockfish or any other species subject to barotrauma are released , use of a descending device is encouraged to return the fish to the bottom . Please visit CDFW ’ s Rockfish Barotrauma page for more information . In an effort to better assist anglers with identifying rockfish

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The Bay ’ s Best Crew !

Excellent Sturgeon , Bass and Shark Fishing !

4005

707-342-8481 • www . crocsport . com species while fishing , CDFW is preparing new informational flyers to distinguish copper and quillback rockfish from similar-looking species , such as gopher and canary rockfish . The flyers will be available soon on CDFW ’ s Fish and Shellfish Identification page and the Marine Region Groundfish page . Anglers should check CDFW ’ s website for the current regulations before fishing for groundfish , which include rockfish , lingcod and other species as defined in the California Code of Regulations , Title 14 , section 1.91 , as changes can occur in-season . Though the boatbased groundfish fishery is closed statewide as of Jan . 1 , the fishery is open year-round for shore-based angling and spearfishing . The boat-based recreational groundfish fishery season dates and depth limits are expected to be the same as in 2021 and are as follows : In the Northern Management Area ( the Oregon / California state line to near Cape Mendocino ) and the Mendocino Management Area ( near Cape Mendocino to Point Arena ) from May 1 through Oct . 31 , take is prohibited seaward of the 30 fathom ( 180 feet ) Rockfish Conservation Area ( RCA ) boundary line . From Nov . 1 through Dec . 31 , groundfish may be taken at any depth in these two areas . In the San Francisco Management

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