Changes to 2017 marine bag limit.

Love the App idea for research and "know before you go". I agree with you 100% Craig. I haven't picked up the paper regs in several years for this very reason, in that it is outdated as soon as its printed!

In order to play their game, my solution has been to sign up for the ODFW release feeds. It is somewhat customizable so you can select what zones or information you want notified about. I got an email and read the changes about the groundfish and descender device as soon as it was implemented. This has come in super handy several times where there have been changes that would have got me in trouble. Particularly cases in point would be how FLUID the regs for Salmon and Sturgeon are!

It does feel like its a game of cat-and-mouse in that ODFW is "out to get us" by tricking us up on complicated and frequent reg changes. After all... they don't get enough monies through licensing fees already, so they have to do it through FINES! Right? Then again...Leveraging the internet for latest information available is the normal culture shift of today. ODFW isn't the only one. Like it or not, that will be a tough sell for that to change.

Cali does just about the same thing. I get the online regs also & don't usually fish the inland waters because of the shifting rules & arcane bureaucratic language. I agree - for whatever your gig is, you gotta watch the regs. If I see something I'm interested in but don't understand, I'll call them up & ask. I'd say about half the time the person I talk to doesn't get it either.

The regs app is a great idea. I have just gotten back into fishing and the problems deciphering the current regs from the newly updated regs is a real problem for me. An app that is updated based on changes is perfect for me. Keep it simple. Also, I agree, what is the point of printed regs if they are out of date pretty much at printing? It's hard enough just understanding the regulations themselves for me. Much less keeping track of the unprinted changes.

As some of you may have seen/heard about a few new regs that will go into play for 2017, here is the link I am referring to. 

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2016/12_dec/120216b.asp

Does anyone here have anything to offer in support of continued printing of paper copies of the regs, as I cannot think of any reason for them, as we are required to go online (or call them) to be in compliance when we go out on the water anyways.
 

I agree - it seems like a wasteful use of resources & taxpayer money. They may be doing it for the advertising bucks; can't think of any other good reason. I wonder if there is an actual production cost/ad revenue benefit?

Got this from ODFW via email today:
 

New 2017 Recreational Bottomfish Season Regulations 12/16/2016

NEW-Descending Devices Mandatory
Any vessel fishing for, or possessing, bottomfish in the ocean must have a functional descending device onboard, and use when releasing any rockfish outside of 30 fathoms.  Functional descending device means one that is ready to be used.  There are a variety of commercially available descending devices, ranging in price from $5 to $60. Additionally some anglers have developed homemade devices. More information on rockfish recompression and descending devices can be found at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/recompression/index.asp

Bottomfish Season Structure
The recreational bottomfish (groundfish) season is scheduled to be the same as the last several years, with fishing allowed at all depths January 1-March 31 and October 1 –December 31. April 1- September 30 will be restricted to fishing shoreward (or inside) of the 30 fathom regulatory line. The seasonal depth restriction is in place to limit impacts to yelloweye rockfish. Cabezon will once again be open July 1- December 31 with a 1 fish sub-bag limit. Bag Limits or Sub-Bag limits: Marine fish (rockfish, greenlings, etc) remains at 7 fish per day.

Sub-bag limits
•   NEW—6 black rockfish; out of the 7 fish marine bag, no more than 6 may be black rockfish
•   NEW—4 blue/deacon, China, copper, or quillback rockfish combined
•   1 cabezon, during open season (July 1- December 31)
•   NEW—Removed the canary rockfish sub-bag limit; part of the regular 7 fish bag limit... due to the conservation measures by all fishery sectors for the last 14 years, canary rockfish was declared rebuilt in 2015 based on a federal stock assessment. This allows for additional harvest.  ODFW will continue to monitor catches of canary rockfish to make sure the Oregon recreational quota of 75 mt is not exceeded.  For reference, the quota in 2016 was approximately 12 mt.
•   Lingcod remains 2 fish per day
•   Flatfish species, other than Pacific halibut, remains at 25 fish per day. Notes skates and rays are not “flatfish”, they fall under the 7 fish marine bag limit.

To assist anglers with these bag and sub-bag limits ODFW has updated the handout titled “What can I keep and how many?” available for download by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2hTBPVd. It is intended to be a visual aid to assist anglers.

Length Limits
Lingcod minimum length = 22 inches
Cabezon minimum length = 16 inches
NEW—Greenling minimum length – removed

Additional information can be found on the ODFW recreational bottomfish webpage http://bit.ly/2hKS2ZK or by calling the Marine Resources Program at 541-867-4741

Coos Bay and Winchester Bay now open for recreational crabbing Coos Bay and Winchester Bay now open for recreational crabbing
Dec. 9, 2016   
      
SALEM, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announce that additional areas have been added to the ocean and bay recreational crab fishery along the southern Oregon coast. The recreational crab fishery is now open from the north jetty of the Umpqua River (including Winchester Bay) south to the California border. On the north coast, the recreational crab fishery is open from Cape Lookout north to, and including, the Columbia River.

The area between Cape Lookout and the north jetty of the Umpqua River will remain closed to ocean and bay recreational crabbing due to elevated levels of domoic acid detected in the viscera of Dungeness crab. The closure includes popular recreational crabbing spots in Siletz Bay, Yaquina Bay, Alsea Bay, and the Siuslaw River.

Changes to the status of the ocean commercial fishery in the region between Cape Blanco and the OR/WA border will be considered next week upon completion of additional domoic acid testing from the Newport area, and in consultation with the commercial crab industry and the Washington and California Fish and Wildlife agencies.

It is recommended that crab always be eviscerated prior to cooking. Evisceration includes removing and discarding the internal organs and gills. Despite the closure, crab and shellfish products sold in retail markets and restaurants remain safe for consumers because these products were not harvested in areas closed for biotoxins.

Domoic acid or amnesic shellfish toxin can cause minor to severe illness and even death. Severe poisoning can result in dizziness, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea. More severe cases can result in memory loss and death. Shellfish toxins are produced by algae and originate in the ocean. Toxins cannot be removed by cooking, freezing or any other treatment.

For more information, call ODA’s shellfish safety information hotline at (800) 448-2474 or visit the ODA shellfish closures web page at https://www.oregon.gov/ODA/programs/FoodSafety/Shellfish/Pages/ShellfishClosures.aspx

Contact: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Steve Rumrill (541) 867-0300 ext. 245