February 2017 Alaska Board of fish meeting

February of 2017 may seem like a long ways off.  But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE mark this time on your calendar.  The comment deadline is February 9, 2017. 
http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/regulations/regprocess/fisheriesboard/pdfs/2015-2016/2015-2016_meeting_schedule.pdf

I have had this "talk" with many of you that I have fished with.  It is absolutely critical to get comments and proposals in on time and to attend the meetings when you can.  If we can fill the room with a dozen folks and have good well thought out proposals it may open up fishery opportunities for us that will at minimum pay off of for three years beyond that. 

I am still contemplating what agendas need to be changed.  I think elimination of the King conservation zone for non motorized vessels off Whiskey Gulch, and deep creek is one.  A more radical proposal might be supporting an extra set of time for non-motorized craft on the Kenai River for the Middle and Upper rivers.

Another easier one is the King salmon daily limit being the same as the possession limit.  A lot of folks dont follow it anyways and its ridiculous that we can't technically go down and catch a limit of kings on Saturday and then not be able to keep fishing on Sunday without first having frozen them or preserved them in some other way. 

I am sure with more minds working on this, we can come up with a bunch of proposals that will make the Cook Inlet waters more friendly for us kayakers.  Mine are only suggestions and I am not married to any of them.  But I think it would behoove us to start thinking about it.  My experience is it won't take much for us to get a few regulatory changes.  They let folks like non-motorized get away with a lot of changes as long as it doesn't cut into the other users access.  Of course the extra non motorized days would...eliminating the king conservation zone for shallow water halibut doesn't as an example. 

I think Prince William sound is in 2018.  I have a few thoughts there as well.  At some point and time I will ask the mods to move this to the elders forum.  I don't want our discussion public as it could lead to organized opposition.   

Just keep it in the back of your mind and if you want to participate, let me know.  Please don't post too radical of ideas here as we are just now getting the bal rolling and there are groups that have people who scour the forums in preparation...especially sports vs fisherman.  Just for the record, commercial fishing paid for my education and it pays my salary now.  So I am very moderate in my beliefs. 

Unless something changes I should be able to attend in Feb and work on change proposals in the mean time.   Keep me in the loop. 

The meeting is inn 2017...not 2016, but the proposals need to be submitted in late 2016 to mean anything.  I have some pretty good pull on the oard with a few friends that know the process better than I.  But NOW is the time to start the discussion.

I agree, if we can get on the same page it will be beneficial in the long run.

[emoji106]great though, great ideas Kardinal_84. Count me in..

Great ideas, you've got my support.

You know I'm in, Rudy. When it comes time to write up formal docs, I can contribute time and expertise.

You know I'm in, Rudy. When it comes time to write up formal docs, I can contribute time and expertise.

Thats right...Dr. White.....

Sounds like a winner.  Just need to get a consensus so we aren't fighting each other.  A unified front with a well researched proposal is a slam dunk.  I frickin HATE this process but we have a winning group here.  We need to be smart and pick three or four proposal and get it done.  I know you know someone who also has good connections for lobbying.

Woohoo....with everyone's input, this is going to work.  I just know it.  People are really going to freak and take notice but we have a lot on our side...environmentally sound, healthy, etc.  I even plan to tone down my reports to make sure we can add the challenge and the "ineffectiveness" of powered vs unpowered as part of the plan.  We know what BS that is but hey, ya gotta do what ya gotta do!!!!!   lol. 

Just keep me in the loop and I'll book a flight to be there I think this is the least I could do for all the help you given me.

I can gladly and honestly vouch for the ineffectiveness of kayak king fishing. I really gotta start going with somebody that knows what they're doing!

Low sky...me too...and I've been doing it for 4 years. Hell...I even bought Kardinal drinks one time and got no ocean  joy...

IF the meeting is a year away, how soon do you need to file any proposals or motions ?    Are they due a couple weeks or months prior?

Might be a good idea to work the ideas before the summer season - I know my schedule - between fishing, biking, camping, fishing, and fishing, travel and fishing will be a bit hectic.    Oh, and work, maybe.

2016 is the cycle for Aleutians and Chignik area I think.

2017 will be a feisty year for south-central. 

It's a great call AKRIDER.  I think proposals might be due as early as April this year. 
See: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.main

I'll research this further.....

ARGH...the deadline was today.  I did get a simple proposal in.  Live and learn. 

Tell me what you think.  I think amendments are allowed if we can get to the board members prior.

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AAC: 5 AAC 58.022 (A) KING SALMON (iii)

Issue:

Board of Fish,

Please consider an exemption, for non-motorized vessels, from the rule that states:

"(iii) in the salt waters south of the latitude of the mouth of the Ninilchik River (60_ 03.99' N. lat.) to the latitude of Bluff Point (59_ 40.00' N. lat.), and within one mile of shore, a person may not, after taking a king salmon 20 inches or greater in length, fish for any species of fish on that same day as specified in 5 AAC 58.055(e);"

The reason is safety. There are a small but dedicated group of anglers who choose to fish Cook Inlet from more traditional non motorized methods such as drift boats and kayaks. The days are often limited by weather and the unique fishery off of Lower Cook Inlet where this regulation applies is one area where halibut can be targeted closer to shore. Allowing halibut harvest after a king has been retained allows for maximum opportunities to fish the tides and maximizes safety for those wishing to participate in a more economical and environmentally friendly methods.

The terrain and geography of the area often create calmer waters near shore while areas further offshore have unfishable waters. The fast currents of Cook Inlet on many days restricts the number of hours that are fishable. Both waves and current action are significantly reduced near the shorelines allowing for a safer fishery for non-motorized vessels.

My personal motivation is to expose my 11 year old son further to kayak angling. Having him for only half of the time, my opportunities when combined with weather often limit the opportunity to fish. This requested rule change would allow for greater and safer participation in the world of non-motorized sport angling.

The impact to the resources would be negligible. The limits would remain the same. If a king is caught first, switching over to halibut gear minimizes the likelihood of a king being hooked. Though effort from non-motorized platforms could increase, by their nature, the catch per unit effort off of non-motorized platforms are likely far below those off of powered vessels.

The current number of non-motorized anglers I would estimate to be less than 30 that currently utilize this area via non-motorized means. Though growing, it will continue to be a very tiny fraction of the total effort in the area for the foreseeable future.

Solution:

(iii) in the salt waters south of the latitude of the mouth of the Ninilchik River (60_ 03.99' N. lat.) to the latitude of Bluff Point (59_ 40.00' N. lat.), and within one mile of shore, a person may not, after taking a king salmon 20 inches or greater in length, fish for any species of fish on that same day as specified in 5 AAC 58.055(e) Non-motorized vessels are exempt from this provision.;