deercamp
09-01-2014, 10:23 AM
Release Halibut with Care
With new restrictions in place for 2013 designed to extend halibut angling opportunities as long as possible throughout the year, anglers may be required to release halibut in order to comply with maximum size limits, daily limits and possession limits.
Halibut have a high survival rate and can withstand being caught and released. However, anglers should take care when handling halibut which are to be released. Releasing fish in the least harmful manner is a requirement by law. Here are some suggestions to assist anglers in catching and releasing halibut with care:
•Avoid the use of stainless steel hooks. Should you have to consider cutting your line rather than removing a hook from a halibut that is deeply-hooked, standard steel hooks will rust away faster.
•Use circle hooks as these have proven to hook halibut in the jaw or corner of the mouth. If you have to use J hooks pinch the barb to make unhooking easier.
•Use heavy duty leader you can grab with a gloved hand. Halibut aren’t leader shy and a heavy leader is easier and safer for you to get a hold of and will provide you with a secure grip and control of your catch.
•Use gear designed to catch halibut and avoid incidental species.
•Halibut of similar age classes and size tend to school together. If you are fishing in an area and catching mostly larger fish, try moving to a new area where smaller fish typically are found.
•Do not overplay your catch. Bring your catch to the surface as quickly as possible.
•If you are going to release a fish, release it in the water. If it is unsafe to easily remove the hook the safest measure to take is to cut the line. If you have boated your catch and are releasing it, avoid handling it by the tail alone or the gills when releasing.
•Mark an area at the waterline of your boat that measures 90 cm and 133 cm so that it is easier to determine when a fish is greater than that length.
As stated in the BC Tidal water regulations!!!
Note: these Halibut were caught on the WCVI prior to new regulations that require the release of Halibut larger than 133 cm. And were not released!! lol
With new restrictions in place for 2013 designed to extend halibut angling opportunities as long as possible throughout the year, anglers may be required to release halibut in order to comply with maximum size limits, daily limits and possession limits.
Halibut have a high survival rate and can withstand being caught and released. However, anglers should take care when handling halibut which are to be released. Releasing fish in the least harmful manner is a requirement by law. Here are some suggestions to assist anglers in catching and releasing halibut with care:
•Avoid the use of stainless steel hooks. Should you have to consider cutting your line rather than removing a hook from a halibut that is deeply-hooked, standard steel hooks will rust away faster.
•Use circle hooks as these have proven to hook halibut in the jaw or corner of the mouth. If you have to use J hooks pinch the barb to make unhooking easier.
•Use heavy duty leader you can grab with a gloved hand. Halibut aren’t leader shy and a heavy leader is easier and safer for you to get a hold of and will provide you with a secure grip and control of your catch.
•Use gear designed to catch halibut and avoid incidental species.
•Halibut of similar age classes and size tend to school together. If you are fishing in an area and catching mostly larger fish, try moving to a new area where smaller fish typically are found.
•Do not overplay your catch. Bring your catch to the surface as quickly as possible.
•If you are going to release a fish, release it in the water. If it is unsafe to easily remove the hook the safest measure to take is to cut the line. If you have boated your catch and are releasing it, avoid handling it by the tail alone or the gills when releasing.
•Mark an area at the waterline of your boat that measures 90 cm and 133 cm so that it is easier to determine when a fish is greater than that length.
As stated in the BC Tidal water regulations!!!
Note: these Halibut were caught on the WCVI prior to new regulations that require the release of Halibut larger than 133 cm. And were not released!! lol