Oregon Offshore Longleader Bag Limit Boosted

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

The recreational offshore longleader gear fishery daily bag limit will increase to 15 fish per day beginning on Wednesday, March 1. The current bag limit is 10 fish per day. 

ODFW staff worked with the Pacific Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service to allow this additional opportunity for anglers on healthy stocks. The increased bag limit may also help take some pressure off nearshore rockfish species.

The longleader gear fishery targets healthy midwater rockfish stocks such as yellowtail and widow rockfish. To participate in the longleader gear fishery, anglers must be outside of the 40-fathom regulatory line and have a minimum of 30 feet between their weight and the lowest hook with a non-compressible float above the hooks. This helps keep the gear away from yelloweye rockfish.

The 15-fish bag limit applies to 10 species of midwater rockfish only (yellowtail, widow, canary, redstripe, greenstriped, silvergray, chilipepper, blue, deacon and bocaccio rockfishes). Other bottomfish, including lingcod, are not allowed with longleader gear fishing.

More information including a gear schematic and frequently asked questions can be found at https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/regulations/sport_fishing/docs/2023%20longleader.pdf

2023 Offshore Longleader Fishery Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Offshore Longleader Fishery allowed?
• This gear type is allowed at any depth, but for the 10-fish bag limit (or 15-fish limit beginning March 1) to apply, anglers must remain seaward (outside) of the 40-fathom regulatory line.
• Available year-round.

What is the bag limit when participating in the Offshore Longleader Fishery?
• The 2023 bag limit when participating in the Offshore Longleader Fishery (using longleader gear and outside of 40 fathoms) is 10 fish in total per angler.
o Beginning March 1 this will increase to a 15-fish bag limit per angler.
• The only species allowed include the following rockfish: yellowtail, widow, canary, greenstriped, redstripe, bocaccio, chilipepper, blue, deacon, and silvergray rockfishes.
• For more fish ID, see http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/FishID/index.asp.

Can I fish for lingcod or other rockfish on the same trip as Offshore Longleader rockfish?
• No. Lingcod, cabezon, kelp greenling and other rockfish species (not listed above) are not allowed.
• Bottomfish listed under the general marine species daily bag limit (black rockfish, nearshore rockfish, cabezon, kelp greenling, etc.) may be kept on a separate trip on the same day only if fewer than 15 fish were kept on the offshore longleader trip. In that case, anglers may keep up to the general marine bag limit (or subbag limit) on a separate trip, but may total no more than 15 general marine species per day.
• Anglers may also return to shore, offload all longleader rockfish and fish for lingcod on a separate trip.

What about Pacific halibut, other flatfish sablefish and Pacific cod on the same trip?
• Yes. Offshore longleader gear fishing may be combined with an all-depth Pacific halibut trip.
• Once the general marine species bag limit is exceeded with longleader rockfish species only (the list of the 10 rockfish species above), all anglers on the vessel must stop fishing for halibut as the trip is now considered a longleader fishing trip.
• Anglers may also have onboard other flatfish, sablefish and Pacific cod prior to switching gear to target longleader rockfish.
• When the regular bottomfish fishery is open at all depths, anglers will have the option to combine alldepth halibut with regular bottomfish or all-depth halibut with longleader fishing. Not both.
o Longleader fishing and the regular bottomfish fishery cannot be combined on the same trip.

Can I combine any other non-bottomfish fishing with Offshore Longleader Fishing on the same trip?
• Yes. Tuna, crab, & salmon may be combined with offshore longleader trips Anglers are reminded that once salmon are onboard, anglers are restricted to no more than 2 single point barbless hooks at all times when angling for salmon in the ocean or when angling for other species if a salmon has already been retained. And you may not fish in an area closed for any species you have onboard.

Regulations can change, check: https://myodfw.com/sport-bottomfish-seasons before fishing

The bag limit for the longleader fishery will increase to 15-fish per angler beginning March 1, 2023.