Size Limits on Salmon
Romolo Raffo
I'm starting to wonder why size limits of are of any use to the salmon
fishery. Size limits are enforced so that the fish can reach spawning
age, and spawn, before they are caught (at least I think). This is a
complete joke for salmon because they die right after they spawn. Am I
missing something?
Nicolo
Jim Pook
In article <4lusoh$8...@dfw-ixnews3.ix.netcom.com>,
Well, yes - I do think you are missing something.
The whole idea here is to get the salmon to the spawning grounds so they can
make baby salmon for the next generation. The fact that they die after
spawning means they only have one shot at it.
Here in BC the size for Chinook Salmon used to be 12", it is now 24.4" (62
cm) in the Gulf of Georgia (45 cm on outside waters).
The point here is that we don't target baby fish for two or three years
before they are able to spawn. We target them primarily in their last year
of life - when they are their biggest. So instead of killing them for two or
three years in a row, we wait and do it all in a few months of the last
year, thus reducing the impact on any one year by hitting them for two or
three years straight.
The side benefit here is that we get to play bigger fish.
Personally, I think it is a very good rule.
=============================================================================
- Jim Pook - Jim's Fishing Charters - The Fishing Guide Newsletter
#316 - 2750 Cooperative Way, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V5M 4S3
Contact me about Salmon & Halibut fishing in SuperNatural British Columbia
E-Mail: jim...@vanbc.wimsey.com - Phone: (604) 433-8817
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Many men go fishing all their lives
without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
- Henry David Thoreau
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George Clyde
Size limits would make a lot more sense if you assure that released fish
usually live (which is not so sure, especially when gut hooked and released
to a waiting pack of sea lions). By raising the size limit (with an over
all fish limit of two, as we have in California), it means that far more
fish will be hooked and released than previously were caught (since catching
two previously-legal fish meant that you went home, but now you keep
fishing, hooking and releasing until you get the big ones.) I think what
would make a lot more sense would be to have no size limits (or very small
ones), but to PROHIBIT releasing any legal fish, and maintain the limits on
number of fish caught. This would give fishermen a real incentive to use
proper tackle to attract only large fish. This logic is especially true of
one-time spawners, where it really doesn't make any difference at what age
or size you eliminated the fish -- its just the numbers that count.