Cabezon Retention Closes on August 16th

"Retention of cabezon will be prohibited for all boat-based anglers beginning 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 16, 2019.

"Oregon's recreational boat bottomfish fishery is rapidly approaching the cabezon quota of 16.1 metric tons for 2019, making it necessary to prohibit the retention of cabezon from all boat-based anglers. Fortunately, cabezon have an excellent survival rate of 93% when quickly discarded alive at sea. They do not have a swim bladder, and therefore do not suffer the same effects of barotrauma as rockfish.

"This cabezon restriction does not apply to shore-based anglers.  Anglers fishing from the shore will continue to have the opportunity to retain one (1) legal sized cabezon (16 inches or greater) as part of the five (5) fish marine bag limit.

"Updates to the sport bottomfish fishery will be posted here: https://myodfw.com/sport-bottomfish-seasons"

I am disappointed that they didn't update the quota usage for July before announcing the cabby closure.  Because it didn't open for retention until July 1, YTD data isn't much help, but if we are headed for the quota by August 15, it must mean we following the 2017 curve and that means July was a huge effort month.



but if we are following the 2017 curve, then what is the explanation for Nearshore Rockfish (NSRF)?



catch rate on NSRF is going to track with angler trips just like cabezon, and if July was a monster month for effort, these could have already blown right through the quota.  so maybe they are playing with the quota groups for rockfish to get around this (merging Nearshore and Blue/Deacon back together for the rest of this year?).

the 2020-2022 Groundfish presentation includes the concerning NSRF catch/quota data but no explanation for why it isn't a problem.

https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/docs/2020_GF_presentation_2019_08.pdf

Thanks for the document link Roger. ODFW is still claiming cabezon numbers are declining. I'm not sure I believe them. I've been catching more & bigger Cabs for the last two years. I'm pretty sure I didn't suddenly become a better cabezon angler. http://oregonconservationstrategy.org/strategy-species/cabezon/

My understanding is that the commercial retention of Cabezon is open all year, with a 2 month quota of 1,000 pounds. If numbers are declining, ODFW should close the commercial & recreational seasons during spawning (late October to mid April) & reduce the commercial catch quota. https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/regulations/commercial_fishing/gfregs/index.asp#Nearshore2

(C&R foul hook in June)

The Oregon Commercial Nearshore Fishery Data Update: 2018
Cabezon: 59,164 live lbs. + 5,472 fresh lbs. = 29.31839642732 metric tons

Recreational quota: 16.1 metric tons (I'm guessing most cabs on the rec side are caught from commercial charter boats).

The Oregon Commercial Nearshore Fishery Data Update: 2018
Cabezon: 59,164 live lbs. + 5,472 fresh lbs. = 29.31839642732 metric tons

Recreational quota: 16.1 metric tons (I'm guessing most cabs on the rec side are caught from commercial charter boats).

Paul-

I'm still trying to understand why they split the total Oregon quota the way they do.  But I do accept that during the year, they don't seem to ever shift any quota between Rec and Com, each side gets what it gets and adjustments to seasons only applies to the side that is out of quota.

totals for these species:  314MT for Com, 546MT for Rec. 



slide is from this presentation:  https://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/commission/minutes/18/12_Dec/EX%20H_PDF%20FILES/Presentation.pdf

I'm pretty sure it's about the money. There's quite a bit of money made in the Asian market for live cabezon & commercial charters don't want the BRF quota to be lowered for the same reason. That's why I don't like being lumped in with a commercial fishery.

According to the Pacific Fisheries Management Council website (https://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/stock-assessments/by-species/cabezon/), the last evaluation of cabezon population status was done in August, 2009. When we were at that meeting, I seem to recall that another survey had been conducted but the results of that survey wouldn't be implemented until 2020. Do you recall that Rodger?

If ODFW really cared that much about the cabezon population status, they would close the commercial season during spawning. It's probably not the Bios' decision. They'll make recommendations, then keep their mouths shut unless they want to spend some time in bureaucratic purgatory.

I'm pretty sure it's about the money. There's quite a bit of money made in the Asian market for live cabezon & commercial charters don't want the BRF quota to be lowered for the same reason. That's why I don't like being lumped in with a commercial industry.

According to the Pacific Fisheries Management Council website (https://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/stock-assessments/by-species/cabezon/), the last evaluation of cabezon population status was done in August, 2009. When we were at that meeting, I seem to recall that another survey had been conducted but the results of that survey wouldn't be implemented until 2020. Do you recall that Rodger?

If ODFW really cared that much about the cabezon population status, they would close the commercial season during spawning. It's probably not the Bios' decision. They'll make recommendations, then keep their mouths shut unless they want to spend some time in bureaucratic purgatory.

yes, there seems to be new cabezon data on slide 6 in the new presentation (52.8% of unfished biomass) but it only indicates an increase from 47MT to 52MT, which seems trivial.  I was expecting our cabezon quota to double based on the last stock assessment being done in 2009.

I did get clarification on the NSRF, the quota for these is managed over a larger area (Rec in CA, OR, WA plus Nearshore Commercial) which means our initial target quota is not a hard number, it depends if other areas have excess, so if NSRF quota gets used up, they can just close retention of them but leave open the other rockfish species.   Black rockfish and cabezon are managed based on an Oregon only quota, when we run out of one of those, it's bad.

yes, there seems to be new cabezon data on slide 6 in the new presentation (52.8% of unfished biomass) but it only indicates an increase from 47MT to 52MT, which seems trivial.  I was expecting our cabezon quota to double based on the last stock assessment being done in 2009.

Black rockfish and cabezon are managed based on an Oregon only quota, when we run out, it's lights out for our us.

I don't see the slide you're referring to.

Rec getting 76% of the BRF & over 81% of the Blue/Deacon quotas with < 36% cab quota irritates the hell out of me. Commercial charters should also be in their own category, IMO. I almost started a rant, but deleted it.

here is slide 6 from the 2020-2022 Sport Groundfish presentation, what isn't clear is whether this is based on the new assessment or old one:



I'm focused on total quota and keeping groundfishing open all year, I guess cabezon are just a novelty fish for me, I've still never been able to retain one, all of mine have been caught before July 1.  On the other hand, I can catch lingcod in lower CoosBay in every month of the year and there can be some really big ones in there during the winter months, in addition to hard winter crab. 

here is slide 6 from the 2020-2022 Sport Groundfish presentation, what isn't clear is whether this is based on the new assessment or old one:

I'm focused on total quota and keeping groundfishing open all year, I guess cabezon are just a novelty fish for me, I've still never been able to retain one, all of mine have been caught before July 1.  On the other hand, I can catch lingcod in lower CoosBay in every month of the year and there can be some really big ones in there during the winter months, in addition to hard winter crab.

Though my direct observation over the last 2 years is localized & anecdotal, ODFW's continuing lack of research clarity (no footnoted references in their presentations) makes me very skeptical of the validity of their numbers & quota allocation decisions.

Most of the rec quota is tied to BRF & Blue/Deacon. I fish for food as well as fun & those rockfish are best eaten fresh: they don't freeze, smoke, or can that well.

Cabezon is one of our favorites & keeps well when bled, gutted & frozen whole with clean (no chlorine) water. They'll also keep fairly well for 2-3 months with a good vacuum seal. I never waste meat by filleting cabs. They're best cooked whole on the BBQ, imo. That way, we can pick all the meat off, including the head. The dog also likes the eyeballs & cooked skin.
https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/groundfish_sport/management.asp

Anyone know where to find the commercial & rec numbers on lingcod?

Anyone know where to find the commercial & rec numbers on lingcod?

All that data is in the PFMC briefing books on groundfish management.  I haven't gone digging to find it but it should be in  March or April 2019 materials.

Anyone know where to find the commercial & rec numbers on lingcod?

All that data is in the PFMC briefing books on groundfish management.  I haven't gone digging to find it but it should be in  March or April 2019 materials.

Here's something (download): https://www.pcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Lingcod_2017_Complete_Final.pdf