Ca Scorpion Fish / Sculpin...
 

Any insight regarding the close to the Sculpin fishery. DFW website says closed from Sept 1st 2016 to Jan 1st 2017.... Just wondering... Seen some big ones recently but didnt have my gun. Good thing too b/c I didnt know it was closed & I wouldve shot em if I had my gun with me.

I'm unaware if this is an annual spawn closure or if this applies to our state but I know other states close certain groundfish fisheries based on an over abundance of toxic chemicals in the water. Not because its harmful to the fish itself but because of the prey their expected to be eating that time of year and to reduce stress on the fish. These bans usually last a few months like you mentioned.

Roger that

Divers and shorebased anglers are allowed to take all year.

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Serious! Damn...

Same as pier anglers.

I think pier counts as shore

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That's what I used to think. But, I read somewhere that they spawn from April to June? In any case, it's a good thing for the fish stock.

the quota for sculpin in 2016 was reached... so they closed it...

X2 I was on a boat this weekend and pulled a nice one up. They said the season is closed on them because the quota was reached.

That's some serious science or complete BS that they open and close a fishery based on "self reporting".

Dates for the season were hard written in to the 2016-17 reg book, not closed based on a reported quota.

I'll look more in to how they set those dates. And FYI the open date for scorpion fish varies by management area.

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I thought it interesting that sculpin season opens back up when the rest of the ground fish season is closed Jan-Feb.

Gotta keep the half day boats busy.