NEWPORT – A new rule for cabezon retention goes into effect April 1 and will last through Sept. 30. The change will allow retention of only one cabezon per day as part of the seven-fish marine sport bag limit.

April 1 through Sept. 30 is also the period that bottomfish anglers must stay within the 40-fathom line, defined by waypoints.

Fisheries scientists assessed Oregon’s cabezon numbers for the first time in 2009.  Based on the assessment results, there is a new federal harvest cap for cabezon off of Oregon beginning in 2011.

For the past several years, ODFW managed cabezon with a state-imposed landing cap, which was typically reached in July or August. The seasonal sub-bag limit is new for 2011 and is intended to allow year-round fishing for cabezon, while staying within the federal harvest cap.

“If carefully released, Cabezon have an excellent survival rate,” said Lynn Mattes, project leader for marine recreational groundfish fisheries for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Both the cabezon anglers keep and the fish that die after release count toward the federal harvest cap, so, like with any other fish you can’t keep, careful release is important.”

Beginning April 1 anglers fishing for bottomfish must also stay inside of the 40-fathom line (defined by waypoints). The Stonewall Bank Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Area (YRCA) is closed for bottomfish and Pacific halibut at all times.  Both restrictions are to reduce the likelihood of anglers’ catch of yelloweye rockfish and canary rockfish, which may not be retained at any time.

For the waypoints and maps defining both the 40-fathom line and Stonewall Bank YRCA visit https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/groundfish_sport/sport%20fishing/index.asp.  

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