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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend August 11, 2005 Offshore cabezon fishing again halted early By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune Offshore sport-fishing for cabezon closed abruptly Wednesday night in Oregon for the year after ocean anglers caught enough of these large sculpin to reach a state-imposed harvest cap. This marks the second straight August that cabezon fishing was halted in mid-season under state quotas enacted two years ago to curb the perceived over- fishing of groundfish species until studies reveal their relative health. With the same cabezon quota of 15.8 metric tons set for 2006, Oregon’s marine fishing managers are mulling whether to ask the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to cut next year’s cabezon season from year-round to January through July. That way, an 11th-hour closure would not creep up on ocean anglers for a third straight year if catch rates mirror the past two years. Also, the seven- month season would allow the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to extend the season if any of the quota remained after July fishing. "I think right now that’s the only alternative, as long as the (quota) framework stays the same," says Patty Burke, the ODFW’s marine resources program manager in Newport. Advertisement Last year’s cabezon season closed Aug. 18 after the quota was reached. Recreational anglers in charter and private boats can still fish for black rockfish, lingcod and other popular species caught in Oregon's near-shore fisheries. The marine aggregate limit, however, was trimmed from eight a day to five a day last month to slow down the black rockfish catch, which is inching toward a potential mid-season closure if the 332 metric-ton quota is reached, ODFW marine spokesman Brandon Ford says. Through July, preliminary ODFW catch estimates place the black rockfish catch at 219 metric tons, Ford says. For the rest of 2005, ocean rockfish anglers who catch cabezon must release them unharmed, Ford says. Survival rates of released cabezon should be excellent because these bottomfish do not have swim bladders that hamper catch and release survival of deep- water rockfish. Under the rules, however, cabezon remain a legal part of the five-fish marine limit for underwater spear fishermen as well as those fishing off rocks and jetties. Marine biologists estimate that on-shore anglers annually catch about 0.9 metric tons of cabezon, usually a rare bonus catch for jetty-casters. "That really isn’t significant, when you look at the overall harvest cap," Burke says. Last year’s ban included shore anglers, who successfully lobbied the commission last October to keep their fishing opportunities if the recreational ocean fleet exhausted theirs, Ford says. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail Offshore cabezon fishing again halted early ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s