Deep Water Fishing

[Ornery Bob]

I signed up for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife "Angler Update" and the most recent issue has this blurb about Lingcod...

Creature Feature: Lingcod
Lingcod may be found statewide off the California coast. This fish lives at or near the bottom, in a wide range of habitats including rocky areas and kelp beds, especially where there is strong tidal movement. They occur most abundantly in water shallower than 350 feet, but will often go into deeper water and have been caught as deep as 2,700 feet off Southern California.

That last bit... have been caught as deep as 2,700 feet

That's more than half a mile down! How does anyone fish at that sort of depth?

[bobabocker]

I signed up for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife "Angler Update" and the most recent issue has this blurb about Lingcod...

Creature Feature: Lingcod
Lingcod may be found statewide off the California coast. This fish lives at or near the bottom, in a wide range of habitats including rocky areas and kelp beds, especially where there is strong tidal movement. They occur most abundantly in water shallower than 350 feet, but will often go into deeper water and have been caught as deep as 2,700 feet off Southern California.

That last bit... have been caught as deep as 2,700 feet

That's more than half a mile down! How does anyone fish at that sort of depth?

dont think we've legally been able to for a number of years now.

[Ifishtoolittle]

That last bit... have been caught as deep as 2,700 feet

That's more than half a mile down! How does anyone fish at that sort of depth?

We used to before someone said we can't.

[etucker1959]

There use to be a loop hole that said you could. (let me explain) The reason there is a depth limit is to protect Cow Cod and a few other species. But these species only live in water 350-1200 feet deep. After that those species don't live there so you could fish "REALLY DEEP" if you wanted too!!! (not that anybody thought that was the way to go) This was many years ago I read that, so the law could have easily changed. (but this was a loop hole after they put in the depth restrictions)

[Ifishtoolittle]

There use to be a loop hole that said you could. (let me explain) The reason there is a depth limit is to protect Cow Cod and a few other species. But these species only live in water 350-1200 feet deep. After that those species don't live there so you could fish "REALLY DEEP" if you wanted too!!! (not that anybody thought that was the way to go) This was many years ago I read that, so the law could have easily changed. (but this was a loop hole after they put in the depth restrictions)

We got 10 fathoms back at least so that's an improvement.

[murrieta angler]

We got 10 fathoms back at least so that's an improvement.

...and I caught a Cow Cod.
Robert
<><

[etucker1959]

We got 10 fathoms back at least so that's an improvement.

It is a great improvement from the bottom ceiling we once had. When the DFG first realized they totally screwed up by allowing those giant net boats to drag the bottom and DESTROY a fishery that was once immense!!!! They first came up with a 120 foot limit. (20 fathoms) Their logic in panic mode was we could release protected fish and they might survive being caught and released at that depth. So the 50-60 fathom limit we now have is ok but just think of all those fish in those deeper spots that haven't been fished in over 20 years!!!!!!!

[Ifishtoolittle]

...and I caught a Cow Cod.
Robert
<><

lol I did too. It looked tasty, but I had to watch it float away to get picked at by seagulls.

[Ifishtoolittle]

It's a great improvement from the bottom ceiling we once had. When the DFG first realized they totally screwed up by allowing those giant net boats to drag the bottom and DESTROY a fishery that was once immense!!!! They first came up with a 120 foot limit. (their logic in panic mode was we could release protected fish and they might survive being caught and released at that depth. So the 50-60 fathom limit we now have is ok but just think of all those fish in those deeper spots that haven't been fished in over 20 years!!!!!!!

My arms are cringing at the thought of fishing anything over 400'. It would be amazing to catch a 10lb red or 20lb cowcod though. A short season might be the most logical approach for maintaining fish stocks if we ever get the chance to fish those depths again.

[etucker1959]

My arms are cringing at the thought of fishing anything over 400'. It would be amazing to catch a 10lb red or 20lb cowcod though. A short season might be the most logical approach for maintaining fish stocks if we ever get the chance to fish those depths again.

I agree a short season in the deep water would be really nice. However, I read a decade ago it would take 100 years to get the deep water fish back to the levels they want them to be. Why nobody saw this coming 40 years ago is beyond me. (everybody knew Rockcod were a SLOW growing fish.)