During the next few months, Oregonians will have the chance to weigh in on the idea of marine reserves off our coast. Whether or not you believe our near-shore waters are in need of protection, one thing is clear: we are pursuing fewer and fewer fish every year. It’s a pattern that has been repeated all over the world until fisheries are put on the brink of total disaster. Implementing marine reserves now will protect our ocean resources for future generations.
Current Management Practices Aren’t Cutting It
For too many years, state and federal managers overseeing ocean stocks have waited until serious problems develop before closing fisheries. When dealing with commercially valuable species, there’s a lot of pressure to keep fisheries open and limits liberal. Within recent memory (2002), our reactive approach to fisheries management caused a near collapse of groundfish stocks, closing 10,000 square miles of coastal waters off the west coast to commercial fishing. This closure was the largest in United States history.
Why Marine Reserves?
Of the 12 species of ocean shelf and slope rockfish that have been assessed by federal fisheries managers, 7 have been declared overfished or below their target. This means that stocks are below 25% of their historical abundance. This is a red flag folks. Marine reserves protect crucial habitat, not only from overfishing, but degrading activities such as ocean dumping and dredging. Some areas must be left undisturbed as “sanctuaries” that can be studied and provide refuges. As an example, we wouldn’t let anglers fish the headwaters of our streams where salmon and steelhead spawn. Also, to protect the large female rockfish (which produce the most and heartiest offspring), marine reserves are key. Inside marine reserves, size, abundance and diversity of fish increase dramatically. Marine reserves can help “reseed” surrounding waters and act as a buffer against uncertain ocean conditions.
It’s Not Easy Being A Rockfish
Rockfish are extremely long-lived and are slow to mature. Many species of rockfish can take a decade or more before they start to produce offspring. Considering how slowly they grow, overfishing can have a serious impact. Data has shown that the average size of black rockfish has declined 30% during just the past five years.
Much Is Still To Be Decided
There are many aspects still to be decided regarding marine reserves, including how large will the reserves be, where will they be located, and how they will be funded and what goals are desired. These are serious questions, ones on which your opinion is needed.
All over the world (including our east coast), marine reserves were initially met with skepticism. But once put in place, critics and proponents alike discovered that benefits of marine reserves outweigh any short-term inconvenience. We are at a crossroads. The decisions we make will impact future generations. Let’s leave something for them.
Upcoming Events to Learn More
Siuslaw Watershed Council Community Forum: “Ridgetops to Reefs” March 26th, 6:30pm, Florence Events Center
Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) Marine Reserve Working Group Meeting Thursday, March 27th 8:30 to 4:30, public comment @ 12:30. Best Western Agate Beach Inn, Newport
General OPAC meeting, Friday March 28th, 8 to 5 pm. Public Comment at 1pm. Best Western Agate Beach Inn, Newport
Written comments are also appreciated
See you on the water,
Action Jackson
(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Letters To Action Jackson
Every now and again I like to pass on the feedback I get regarding my weekly article. This gives me a chance to clear up anything I write and add good information to previous articles. As always, feel free to call me or drop me an e-mail.
Basic Advice For River Running – You Left Something Out!
A reader in Mapleton recently pointed out something I should have added to my recent article on River Running (2/20/08). It’s not so much about safety as it is about etiquette: when you’re in a boat passing through water that someone is fishing, pass AS CLOSE to their boat as possible. If there’s room, try to even sneak behind their boat. The reason is this: floating right through the slot the other boat is fishing might spook the fish they’re after. Beginning driftboaters may not know why you’re passing so close, but experienced anglers will say “thanks”.
More On Smith River Stripers
I received a ton of feedback and questions regarding striper fishing in the Smith since those stories ran. If you went down recently and didn’t have any luck, don’t be discouraged. I went down and night-fished a couple of weeks ago without any luck. We bank-fished a couple of different spots between Hwy 101 and the North Fork, trying herring, plastic swimbaits and plugs. Take my word for it – good fishing for stripers will happen during the next few months in Smith tidewater. There’s not a lot of bank access, so if you have a boat, put in at one of the improved boat ramps, follow the tide, and troll plugs and cast swimbaits. I’ll probably wait a few weeks for bigger juvenile salmon out-migration and some nicer night-time weather.
Clarification On Regulation Changes Submitted To ODFW
I got a phone call last week from a concerned reader regarding the article I wrote on regulation changes for 2009 (2/6/08). A point I’d like to clarify: I wasn’t advocating dropping the salmon/steelhead tag to 10 fish per season, just limiting anglers to 10 wild fall chinook from the Siuslaw and tributaries. Use those other 10 spots on anything else you want: fin-clipped steelhead, sturgeon, halibut, ocean coho, etc.
I can understand that some folks don’t think recreational fishermen should give up anything. And in a perfect world those folks would be right. There are many factors that affect how many fish our rivers get back; including freshwater and ocean productivity, estuary conditions, commercial and recreational harvest, predation and more. But I can’t control any of those. A lot of folks feel strongly that commercial over-harvest is one of the biggest factors, and that commercial interests need to curb their take, leaving more fish to recreational fisherman and to re-seed the population. I’m not going to get into that argument here. But I will say this: all groups need to work together, share, and leave enough to ensure the population can sustain itself. Otherwise, we may soon be fighting over fish that aren’t here at all.
See you on the water,
Action Jackson
(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)
Basic Advice For River Running – You Left Something Out!
A reader in Mapleton recently pointed out something I should have added to my recent article on River Running (2/20/08). It’s not so much about safety as it is about etiquette: when you’re in a boat passing through water that someone is fishing, pass AS CLOSE to their boat as possible. If there’s room, try to even sneak behind their boat. The reason is this: floating right through the slot the other boat is fishing might spook the fish they’re after. Beginning driftboaters may not know why you’re passing so close, but experienced anglers will say “thanks”.
More On Smith River Stripers
I received a ton of feedback and questions regarding striper fishing in the Smith since those stories ran. If you went down recently and didn’t have any luck, don’t be discouraged. I went down and night-fished a couple of weeks ago without any luck. We bank-fished a couple of different spots between Hwy 101 and the North Fork, trying herring, plastic swimbaits and plugs. Take my word for it – good fishing for stripers will happen during the next few months in Smith tidewater. There’s not a lot of bank access, so if you have a boat, put in at one of the improved boat ramps, follow the tide, and troll plugs and cast swimbaits. I’ll probably wait a few weeks for bigger juvenile salmon out-migration and some nicer night-time weather.
Clarification On Regulation Changes Submitted To ODFW
I got a phone call last week from a concerned reader regarding the article I wrote on regulation changes for 2009 (2/6/08). A point I’d like to clarify: I wasn’t advocating dropping the salmon/steelhead tag to 10 fish per season, just limiting anglers to 10 wild fall chinook from the Siuslaw and tributaries. Use those other 10 spots on anything else you want: fin-clipped steelhead, sturgeon, halibut, ocean coho, etc.
I can understand that some folks don’t think recreational fishermen should give up anything. And in a perfect world those folks would be right. There are many factors that affect how many fish our rivers get back; including freshwater and ocean productivity, estuary conditions, commercial and recreational harvest, predation and more. But I can’t control any of those. A lot of folks feel strongly that commercial over-harvest is one of the biggest factors, and that commercial interests need to curb their take, leaving more fish to recreational fisherman and to re-seed the population. I’m not going to get into that argument here. But I will say this: all groups need to work together, share, and leave enough to ensure the population can sustain itself. Otherwise, we may soon be fighting over fish that aren’t here at all.
See you on the water,
Action Jackson
(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Long Time, No Post!
Hello Anglers,
Sorry for the long time between posts, but things are busy here at the Jackson residence. Between steelheading, taking care of baby and a thousand chores, it is tough to post! Here are couple of back articles from the Siuslaw News...
Please get back to me if you have any comments or questions.
Best,
Jeff
Smith River Stipers – Here’s A Little More Information
Wow! My last article about Striped Bass in the Smith River created a lot of attention. Last week’s story resulted in more phone calls to me than any other article I’ve written. Lots of folks called asking about how to get there, where I saw the fish, and what to use. Other folks called to offer tips on fishing them, techniques they used when fishing them on the Sacramento River. Since there was so much interest, here’s some more information to help you in your pursuit of the mighty Stiper.
How To Get There/Where To Launch
The Smith River is a major tributary of the lower Umpqua River, joining the Umpqua between Gardiner and Reedsport. From Florence, take Hwy. 101 south to Gardiner. Right after you go through Gardiner, you cross the Smith River. You can turn left on Smith River Rd. to access the river. There are a few places to bank fish for the Stipers, and two very good launches. Noel Ranch is operated by the Forest Service, is paved and doesn’t charge for launching. Another ramp, Riverside, is a few miles higher up and accesses the highest areas of tidewater. There is no fee to launch at Riverside either.
Upper tidewater goes for a good distance. You can access the mouth of the North Fork Smith River (and further) with a prop. A word of warning: as with any body of water you’re not familiar with – use caution. If you plan of fishing Stipers at night, check out where you’re going during the day first.
What To Use For Bait
Lots of folks have different ideas on this one. If you’re fishing bait, try whole fish like herring, anchovies, smelt, etc. It is ILLEGAL to use a live fish as bait, even if it swims in the waters where you’ll be using it. As with any other fish as bait, use the best looking, freshest bait you can find. Another popular choice are plastic swim baits – which come in many sizes and are made by many different manufacturers. I found several good looking choices at the Sportsman right here in town before my last trip out. Try something resembling a small trout or shad to look like something on their normal menu.
Join me next week for more bait options and what tackle you’ll need to take down these hard-fighting fish.
See you on the water,
Action Jackson
(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)
News From Around The Area
There are plenty of interesting things going on with our fisheries here on the Central Coast. Here’s the latest on what I’ve heard and seen in our area.
Presentation On 2007 Salmon Run Tonight
The Siuslaw Watershed Council will host a presentation tonight on the 2007 fall Chinook run. John Spangler (ODFW) will discuss recreational harvest and spawning fish returns. You can catch the presentation at the Mapleton Grange Hall, 10880 E. Mapleton Rd. in Mapleton. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Striped Bass In The Smith River Now!
Friends and I recently floated the North Fork Smith River and saw dozens of large Striped Bass in one hole. On another trip a few days later, hundreds were spotted. These are large fish, with most of them in the 20-40 lb. range. As friends and I started doing some research on what exactly these fish were doing, we turned up some interesting facts. First, these fish were spawning or getting very close to spawning. Striped bass spawn in late winter/early spring and the male fish we caught looked to be close to spawning. They are broadcast spawners, meaning the males and females simultaneously release both sperm and eggs into the water. They don’t dig redds in gravel like salmon and trout. The fertilized eggs drift with the current until they hatch.
Some folks would say that its too early for those Stipers to spawn and that they were up there to feed. I’m not so sure. The large out-migration of salmon fry and smolts is still at least another 6 weeks away. That many fish would need a lot of feed to warrant staying up that high in the system. I feel pretty sure those fish were spawning.
I have some phone calls in to ODFW staff to find out exactly what they know about Striped Bass numbers and their impacts on our salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout. I can tell you Stripers are highly efficient predators and surely eat a great deal of juvenile salmonids. They are an excellent gamefish so get out there and take a limit! Feel free to contact me for some information about where to go and what to use. There’s no need to keep this fishery quiet as there’s plenty of fish to go around.
See you on the water,
Action Jackson
(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)
Advice For Fishing New Rivers
From time to time, you’ll find yourself thinking about fishing waters that are unfamiliar. First, let me tell you it’s a great idea! You’re certain to expand your fishing knowledge, see some beautiful scenery and perhaps hook into a fish of a lifetime. But before you load up your gear at three in the morning and get in the car, here’s some tips to help your expedition be less stressful and more successful.
Research Will Pay Off
There are two books I will read before I head out to fish new waters: Fishing in Oregon (Sheehan) and Oregon River Maps & Fishing Guide (Amato Books). These two books will give you information on boat launches, run timing, best river levels to fish and popular techniques. Other information you’ll find in these books includes navigation hazards (subject to change) and close-by services. Pick up these two books before your next trip and they will save you a lot of preparation time.
Check The Weather and River Levels
Checking the weather for the area you’ll fish and the river level will save you a lot of disappointment. There’s nothing worse than driving three hours to fish a new location only to find the river has blown out. Check the National Weather Service website (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/) before heading out. This website will tell you the upcoming weather, and many river’s levels are listed as well. Remember that best fishing is usually when the river is dropping or steady and not on a rising river. Also, if the river is too low and clear, fish tend to be spooky and fishing is more difficult. You’ll find best fishing after a storm, as the river is first clearing and coming into shape.
Talk To Someone Who Knows
If you know someone in the area you’ll be fishing, call them and find out what’s going on. If you don’t know someone in the area (more often the case), call a guide on the river you’ll be fishing and ask them where the fish are. You can contact a local Chamber of Commerce to find the names and numbers of reliable guides. Any good guide will be happy to share information with you. Be sure to ask what stretch of the river is fishing the best, what techniques are working, and if there are any boating hazards of which you should be aware. If it helps you, write down your questions ahead of time so you ask about everything you want to ask about. If the guide doesn’t know, he or she should be able to point you in the right direction.
Spend At Least A Couple Of Days
Spending more than one day will really increase your chances of success when fishing a new river. You’ll be able to spend more time fishing, cover more water, and not feel so rushed. You don’t want to spend more time driving than fishing, so plan to stay overnight and fish again the next day.
See you on the water,
Action Jackson
(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)
Sorry for the long time between posts, but things are busy here at the Jackson residence. Between steelheading, taking care of baby and a thousand chores, it is tough to post! Here are couple of back articles from the Siuslaw News...
Please get back to me if you have any comments or questions.
Best,
Jeff
Smith River Stipers – Here’s A Little More Information
Wow! My last article about Striped Bass in the Smith River created a lot of attention. Last week’s story resulted in more phone calls to me than any other article I’ve written. Lots of folks called asking about how to get there, where I saw the fish, and what to use. Other folks called to offer tips on fishing them, techniques they used when fishing them on the Sacramento River. Since there was so much interest, here’s some more information to help you in your pursuit of the mighty Stiper.
How To Get There/Where To Launch
The Smith River is a major tributary of the lower Umpqua River, joining the Umpqua between Gardiner and Reedsport. From Florence, take Hwy. 101 south to Gardiner. Right after you go through Gardiner, you cross the Smith River. You can turn left on Smith River Rd. to access the river. There are a few places to bank fish for the Stipers, and two very good launches. Noel Ranch is operated by the Forest Service, is paved and doesn’t charge for launching. Another ramp, Riverside, is a few miles higher up and accesses the highest areas of tidewater. There is no fee to launch at Riverside either.
Upper tidewater goes for a good distance. You can access the mouth of the North Fork Smith River (and further) with a prop. A word of warning: as with any body of water you’re not familiar with – use caution. If you plan of fishing Stipers at night, check out where you’re going during the day first.
What To Use For Bait
Lots of folks have different ideas on this one. If you’re fishing bait, try whole fish like herring, anchovies, smelt, etc. It is ILLEGAL to use a live fish as bait, even if it swims in the waters where you’ll be using it. As with any other fish as bait, use the best looking, freshest bait you can find. Another popular choice are plastic swim baits – which come in many sizes and are made by many different manufacturers. I found several good looking choices at the Sportsman right here in town before my last trip out. Try something resembling a small trout or shad to look like something on their normal menu.
Join me next week for more bait options and what tackle you’ll need to take down these hard-fighting fish.
See you on the water,
Action Jackson
(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)
News From Around The Area
There are plenty of interesting things going on with our fisheries here on the Central Coast. Here’s the latest on what I’ve heard and seen in our area.
Presentation On 2007 Salmon Run Tonight
The Siuslaw Watershed Council will host a presentation tonight on the 2007 fall Chinook run. John Spangler (ODFW) will discuss recreational harvest and spawning fish returns. You can catch the presentation at the Mapleton Grange Hall, 10880 E. Mapleton Rd. in Mapleton. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
Striped Bass In The Smith River Now!
Friends and I recently floated the North Fork Smith River and saw dozens of large Striped Bass in one hole. On another trip a few days later, hundreds were spotted. These are large fish, with most of them in the 20-40 lb. range. As friends and I started doing some research on what exactly these fish were doing, we turned up some interesting facts. First, these fish were spawning or getting very close to spawning. Striped bass spawn in late winter/early spring and the male fish we caught looked to be close to spawning. They are broadcast spawners, meaning the males and females simultaneously release both sperm and eggs into the water. They don’t dig redds in gravel like salmon and trout. The fertilized eggs drift with the current until they hatch.
Some folks would say that its too early for those Stipers to spawn and that they were up there to feed. I’m not so sure. The large out-migration of salmon fry and smolts is still at least another 6 weeks away. That many fish would need a lot of feed to warrant staying up that high in the system. I feel pretty sure those fish were spawning.
I have some phone calls in to ODFW staff to find out exactly what they know about Striped Bass numbers and their impacts on our salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout. I can tell you Stripers are highly efficient predators and surely eat a great deal of juvenile salmonids. They are an excellent gamefish so get out there and take a limit! Feel free to contact me for some information about where to go and what to use. There’s no need to keep this fishery quiet as there’s plenty of fish to go around.
See you on the water,
Action Jackson
(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)
Advice For Fishing New Rivers
From time to time, you’ll find yourself thinking about fishing waters that are unfamiliar. First, let me tell you it’s a great idea! You’re certain to expand your fishing knowledge, see some beautiful scenery and perhaps hook into a fish of a lifetime. But before you load up your gear at three in the morning and get in the car, here’s some tips to help your expedition be less stressful and more successful.
Research Will Pay Off
There are two books I will read before I head out to fish new waters: Fishing in Oregon (Sheehan) and Oregon River Maps & Fishing Guide (Amato Books). These two books will give you information on boat launches, run timing, best river levels to fish and popular techniques. Other information you’ll find in these books includes navigation hazards (subject to change) and close-by services. Pick up these two books before your next trip and they will save you a lot of preparation time.
Check The Weather and River Levels
Checking the weather for the area you’ll fish and the river level will save you a lot of disappointment. There’s nothing worse than driving three hours to fish a new location only to find the river has blown out. Check the National Weather Service website (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/pqr/) before heading out. This website will tell you the upcoming weather, and many river’s levels are listed as well. Remember that best fishing is usually when the river is dropping or steady and not on a rising river. Also, if the river is too low and clear, fish tend to be spooky and fishing is more difficult. You’ll find best fishing after a storm, as the river is first clearing and coming into shape.
Talk To Someone Who Knows
If you know someone in the area you’ll be fishing, call them and find out what’s going on. If you don’t know someone in the area (more often the case), call a guide on the river you’ll be fishing and ask them where the fish are. You can contact a local Chamber of Commerce to find the names and numbers of reliable guides. Any good guide will be happy to share information with you. Be sure to ask what stretch of the river is fishing the best, what techniques are working, and if there are any boating hazards of which you should be aware. If it helps you, write down your questions ahead of time so you ask about everything you want to ask about. If the guide doesn’t know, he or she should be able to point you in the right direction.
Spend At Least A Couple Of Days
Spending more than one day will really increase your chances of success when fishing a new river. You’ll be able to spend more time fishing, cover more water, and not feel so rushed. You don’t want to spend more time driving than fishing, so plan to stay overnight and fish again the next day.
See you on the water,
Action Jackson
(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)
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