Port Orford 8/28

This is probably the easiest overview I've seen. I keep a copy of it on my phone just in case I have any questions.
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/regulations/sport_fishing/docs/what_can_i_keep_how_many_2017.pdf

Oregon Fish and Wildlife makes it damn hard to be a responsible fisherman when they publish different regulations in different places. The written 2017 publication that is currently being distributed places no sub limit on blacks. The link the written regs send you to makes no mention of a change in the limit on blacks. Again, I'm not arguing that the limit is not six just wish they would be more clear so that people can avoid overlimits and the accusations of poaching.

Oregon Fish and Wildlife makes it damn hard to be a responsible fisherman when they publish different regulations in different places. The written 2017 publication that is currently being distributed places no sub limit on blacks. The link the written regs send you to makes no mention of a change in the limit on blacks. Again, I'm not arguing that the limit is not six just wish they would be more clear so that people can avoid overlimits and the accusations of poaching.

I think we all can agree that it's difficult for sure. To be honest I am not sure why they even print the regulations any more since they're basically outdated by the time the ink has dried. Unfortunately it just means we have to check the regulations online or call before going fishing. I can recall the same thing nearly ruining a Salmon trip to the Trinity river man years ago, they changed the regulations/season right before our trip. Had we not checked the regulations we would've been in trouble.

I am grateful to everyone for pointing out the corect limit so I can avoid any issues. This is a beautiful place to fish! To keep everyone happy I'll be fishing today in an undisclosed location and keeping an undisclosed number and species of fish.

I wanted to mention that I grew up there in the 60's and 70's and you never used to see very many people fishing the cove except mostly from the rocks. It's kind of disappointing to see ten kayaks out in the cove on a weekday. It makes you wonder how long it can last. If you go to enjoy Port Orford, at least spend some money in the town. It's a shadow of its former self with timber and fishing mostly gone now. The people there could seriously use some of your tourist dollars.

A lot of those kayaks are south coast tours and they are getting the tourist dollars.

Eat at the Wild Oaks BBQ joint. It's new within the last 3 months or so, guy relocated there from humboldt. The smoked mac and cheese is especially good

A lot of those kayaks are south coast tours and they are getting the tourist dollars.

Eat at the Wild Oaks BBQ joint. It's new within the last 3 months or so, guy relocated there from humboldt. The smoked mac and cheese is especially good

Not on Tuesday - the tour didn't have a trip last Tuesday.  C_Run's count is low, I counted watercraft I've never seen before - 15 kayaks, one Sevylor raft and a one-person pontoon boat.  Counting the three local kayaks, C_Run, his wife, me, and surfs12foot, there were 24 kayaks/rafts slamming the coves on Tuesday.  That's almost as many watercraft in the coves on one day as we normally see in an entire year.

And yeah, the new Wild Oats BBQ serves up some tasty stuff.  I haven't tried smoked mac and cheese because it didn't sound good, but I'll give it a try.  If I hate it, it's all on you!   

That's insane.  I've never seen that many kayaks out there that were not on the tour. Or in Gold Beach or Brookings for that matter. Did you talk to them and find out the story?  Maybe they were scattering a friends ashes or something.  There's gotta be a story to that.

The mac n cheese is dope.

And for pity's sake, when you ask me where to fish in these little coves, don't publish those locations and the kinds of fish you caught in each little cove!  It took me years to learn how to fish in Port Orford and now it's public knowledge.  Criminy!

It sounds like this is not the first time this occurred. In the future, it might be best to give apple a little heads up- if I share information with you please don't post it online. . It would be a bummer to cause a divide between fisherman over a misunderstanding. I agree it is not fun when you have a location get busted  but I am sure he did it with no ill intent and did not know it would upset you.

   We have been to Port Orford a number of times before and love the fact that it is a beautiful, quite little town. The people that we have met here have all been very friendly. In the past we have only spent a day of two camping out by the light house.
   This time we wanted to stay in town so we rented a house for a week. We bought all of our groceries in town. My wife has shopped at several of the stores and we will fill our truck before we leave. I'm not trying to gain points. I'm just saying we come from a small town and understand how important it is to shop locally so we try to do the same when we go to a small town.
   I don't want this to sound critical of Tinker. When we met at the beach on Monday I don't remember asking for any fishing spots. He was very friendly, answered some questions that I had and offered some fishing advise. I would never give out specific spots that someone had given me. I didn't think the info that I posted on Monday was anything that would not be obvious to someone looking at a chart on their own. I enjoy reading posts about other poeoples success and thought I was returning the favor. Apperantly I was wrong.
  I pride myself on being a responsible fisherman and it bothers me that I took one more than I should have on Tuesday. I guess I'll have to be more vigilant in the future. I talked to a local guy on the water on Wednesday and he didn't realize the sub limit was six either. Its too bad fish and wildlife has such a hard time getting accurate regs out.
   Kept one fish on wednesday and put back about a dozen.
Keith

   We have been to Port Orford a number of times before and love the fact that it is a beautiful, quite little town. The people that we have met here have all been very friendly. In the past we have only spent a day of two camping out by the light house.
   This time we wanted to stay in town so we rented a house for a week. We bought all of our groceries in town. My wife has shopped at several of the stores and we will fill our truck before we leave. I'm not trying to gain points. I'm just saying we come from a small town and understand how important it is to shop locally so we try to do the same when we go to a small town.
   I don't want this to sound critical of Tinker. When we met at the beach on Monday I don't remember asking for any fishing spots. He was very friendly, answered some questions that I had and offered some fishing advise. I would never give out specific spots that someone had given me. I didn't think the info that I posted on Monday was anything that would not be obvious to someone looking at a chart on their own. I enjoy reading posts about other poeoples success and thought I was returning the favor. Apperantly I was wrong.
  I pride myself on being a responsible fisherman and it bothers me that I took one more than I should have on Tuesday. I guess I'll have to be more vigilant in the future. I talked to a local guy on the water on Wednesday and he didn't realize the sub limit was six either. Its too bad fish and wildlife has such a hard time getting accurate regs out.
   Kept one fish on wednesday and put back about a dozen.
Keith

Bravo! We had a tourist based business there and the main reason we were not terribly successful was the distance Port Orford is from large populations centers (read Portland/Eugene). It's kind of far for a short trip. Indeed, there are local kayak fishers there now, too. I always love going back when I can.

great fish by the way...and just a bit more info that I have on the regs change-

the rockfish data/meetings/approvals that resulted in the change (black sub bag 6, coppers, quillback, and china rocks added to the 4 sub bag with blues, ready to use descending device on board when fishing the ocean and used >30 fathoms) this all occurred after the 2017 books were printed.   

The correct info is easy to find at the ODFW website- you click Sport Groundfish and the first link under Hot Topics is the 2017 "What can I keep, and how many?" PDF.  They also got the changes into lots of news reports in early 2017, e-mail alerts, and they gave away loads of descending devices this year...

Let's face it, managing our fisheries is a complex marine science process that requires data (either collected or estimated) and it doesn't come together at the same time, so as to make it convenient for printing a regs. book that will be exactly correct all year.

fish long enough and at enough locations and even the most conscientious sportsperson can, occasionally, get blindsided by the regs; poachers are people that do it on purpose or continue violating the regs after they know the correct rules.  in my opinion, huge difference between these 2 groups of people.

cheers, roger

fish long enough and at enough locations and even the most conscientious sportsperson can, occasionally, get blindsided by the regs; poachers are people that do it on purpose or continue violating the regs after they know the correct rules.  in my opinion, huge difference between these 2 groups of people.

First, Couldn't agree more with one of the most respected members on the site. WA is no less challenging.   
Second, the best way to keep a secret spot secret is to keep it to yourself and any partners.  If you decide to offer it up, and don't want it shared, it's your fault if you fail to let the party know you'd appreciate the details kept quiet.  Slamming someone who's trying to do make a good jester to others and unknowingly violates someones personal standards doesn't do the site any favors.
Third, don't shame a new member who asks to tag along.  Make the choice to invite them or not, but what value is there in starting a "earn your dues" rant.  Make the choice to take them or not, but don't whine about it. 

This is an excellent site offering great tips and life saving advice.  It's frustrating when a site you go to for enjoyment turns out to be a pissing match.  Just my thoughts. 

fish long enough and at enough locations and even the most conscientious sportsperson can, occasionally, get blindsided by the regs; poachers are people that do it on purpose or continue violating the regs after they know the correct rules.  in my opinion, huge difference between these 2 groups of people.

First, Couldn't agree more with one of the most respected members on the site. WA is no less challenging.   
 

One fish over on a new sublimit for someone from out of state with regs book in hand and trying to follow the rules certainly seems minor in the grand scheme of things.  For Dilbert fans, this is not a damnable moment to rot in Hell for all eternity, but he could probably be darned to Heck for 5 minutes.

There wasn't any shaming intended.  If someone feels shamed or that shaming was going on, that their personal load of crap, don't try to offload it on me.

No one asked to go fishing with me.  I was in the parking lot waiting for the person with whom I was going fishing to show up, someone walked up and asked me if I was on NWKA, I told them my name and forum name.  They told me they are also on NWKA, asked me if I lived here, and asked for tips about how to best fish the coves.  Then they launched while I was still in the parking lot, wondering if my partner was going to show up.

I've offered advice to lots of folks on NWKA and NCKA when they come to town.  I've never told them to keep it secret and still, no one has posted where they went to catch the fish, other than "Port Orford" and some don't even go that far.  It's rare to find a place where we can catch fish, where hardly anyone knows about it and very few people ever come.  True sportsmen (and women) know that, and like the rest of us, hope it will stay that way.

Did I whine?  Maybe a little, I won't deny it.  I was plenty angry when the lookie-loos clogged the coves the day after the post.  That's what happens down here, in this area, when that level of detail gets published.

Would I do it again?  You damn betcha' I would, but I might have used fewer words and some of them might not have been suitable for all ages.  Basic message would be the same, 'though: We don't do this to each other.  We shouldn't have to be told.

How do I know?  crash came to town while he was still quite justifiably pissed with me, but I ran down the hill and gave him advice on how to fish the coves (at that time of year), he caught fish, posted it here, but didn't go into specifics.  And I didn't ask him to keep it confidential.  We shouldn't have to.  We're fellow members of NWKA.  We do not do that to each other.