Handline Test in the Salt

Aren't rock/lingcod out of season in WA right now?  I thought we weren't allowed to target them out of season...

I might have to give hand lining a shot next season.  It looks like a great deal of fun.

Barbless hooks are mandatory for areas 5-13. Lings are definitely out of season. Rockfish go from May 1st-Sept. 30th in the SJ's. Here's where it gets difficult. The rule says that the limit for rockfish is the first legal one you catch but there's no minimum size. So it's the first rockfish you catch. But if you don't keep any does that mean that you can continue to CNR? Another one for the WDFW..

Z

switched to siwash with no barbs after the first 3 minutes when I realized. I wasn't targeting lings. I was targeting anything. Just dropping a lure when I had a free minute or two. didn't keep anything and no fish were harmed.

It was fun.

J

Nice fishin' pics and handline report, Nanook!

edit:Oops! Should have read Fishesfromtupperware's thread on "Indispensible fishing tool" first! In it there is a discussion this "barotrauma" stuff.

That's a mind-bender trying to figure out if you can C&R rockfish if the retention limit is the first one you catch. I'd say you can do so with a clear conscience if you are using barbless single-point hooks and fishing in shallow enough water so that the fish's air bladder doesn't blow up due to the pressure differential when you bring it to the surface. I have a hunch that is why you must keep the first one you get. If it was a deep water fish, it could die from being brought to the surface.
How deep is this? danged if I know. Any bios here that can inform us?

As far as "targeting" lings, if the season is open for other bottomfish, then its OK to fish for bottomfish and release any lings you catch. No problem there.

How deep is this? danged if I know. Any bios here that can inform us?

Rockfish that come up from 60 feet and under normally don't have barotrauma. I don't see any need to fish any deeper as there's little to no difference in fishing.

Z

Thanks, Zee.

Aren't rock/lingcod out of season in WA right now?  I thought we weren't allowed to target them out of season...

Out here on the coast (Marine Area 2) its open for lings thru Oct 17th. Rockfish limit is 10 fish, and open year-round.

Out here on the coast (Marine Area 2) its open for lings thru Oct 17th. Rockfish limit is 10 fish, and open year-round.

You guys do have it good!

Z

Nice fishin' pics and handline report, Nanook!

edit:Oops! Should have read Fishesfromtupperware's thread on "Indispensible fishing tool" first! In it there is a discussion this "barotrauma" stuff.

That's a mind-bender trying to figure out if you can C&R rockfish if the retention limit is the first one you catch. I'd say you can do so with a clear conscience if you are using barbless single-point hooks and fishing in shallow enough water so that the fish's air bladder doesn't blow up due to the pressure differential when you bring it to the surface. I have a hunch that is why you must keep the first one you get. If it was a deep water fish, it could die from being brought to the surface.
How deep is this? danged if I know. Any bios here that can inform us?

As far as "targeting" lings, if the season is open for other bottomfish, then its OK to fish for bottomfish and release any lings you catch. No problem there.

99% of everything was 10-30 ft deep. caught the lings at around 40ft and what ever the big thing that broke my line was about 60ft.

No fish eyes bulged.

I was trolling & mooching for humpies but caught everything else. They had regs. posted at the island where I camped, as i understood the regs, I was following the rules.

J

I believe that ling cod do not have air bladders so they are far less susceptible to barotrauma.

I believe that ling cod do not have air bladders so they are far less susceptible to barotrauma.

Correct.  Greenling too.  And halibut.

-Allen