South Alaska Peninsula Area State-Waters P.cod Pot Season Closes This Afternoon

According to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), the South Alaska Peninsula Area state-waters Pacific cod (P.cod) season will close for all vessels using pot gear at 4 p.m. today (Thursday, March 22, 2012). In-season catch estimates indicate the pot gear guideline harvest level will be attained at the time of the closure.

Fishermen are reminded that all pots must be unbaited and doors open at the time of the closure. Pots may be legally stored in waters deeper than 25 fathoms with doors open and bait containers removed for seven days following the closure. Operators are required to be at their unloading destination within 48 hours of the closure.

For more information, contact ADF&G in Kodiak at (907) 486-1840.

2012 South Alaska Peninsula Area State-Waters Pacific Cod Jig Season Opening Delayed

The National Weather Service (NWS) marine weather 48-hour forecast issued at 4 a.m. Monday, March 19, 2012 for Area 155 contained gale warnings. Therefore, the South Alaska Peninsula Area state-waters Pacific cod season for mechanical jigging machines and hand troll gear will be delayed for 24 hours.

If the NWS forecast issued at 4 a.m. Tuesday, March 20, 2012 for Area 155 contains gale warnings, the season will be delayed for an additional 24 hours. Season opening delays may continue on a rolling basis for 7 days beyond the initial opening date.

2012 South Alaska Area State-Waters Pacific Cod Jig Season Opens March 19th

The Western Gulf of Alaska (WGOA) parallel Pacific cod (P.cod) season will close to jig gear on Saturday, March 17th at 12:00 noon. According to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), the state-waters P.cod season for vessels using jig gear will open 48 hours later in the South Alaska Peninsula Area on March 19th at 12:00 noon unless delayed by weather. For vessels participating in the WGOA parallel P.cod jig fishery, all P.cod must be delivered prior to participating in the South Alaska Peninsula Area state-waters season.

Jig vessels may not operate more than 5 mechanical jig machines with more than 30 hooks per line. Jig vessels are allocated 15 percent of the total South Alaska Peninsula GHL or 2.3 million pounds.

All vessels participating in the South Alaska Peninsula Area state-waters Pacific cod season may not exceed 58 feet in overall length. Vessel operators must obtain an exclusive state-waters vessel registration from ADF&G prior to participating in the state-waters season.

As a reminder, vessels may not participate in a state-waters P.cod season and any other P.cod season at the same time. Vessels registered for the state-waters season must invalidate their state-waters registration before that vessel may participate in any other P.cod season.

Weather Delay
The state-waters season opening for jig vessels will be delayed for 24 hours if the National Weather Service (NWS) 48-hour marine weather forecast for Area 155 issued at 4 a.m. on March 19th contains gale force wind warnings (35 knots or higher). If the jig gear season opening is delayed and the following day’s 4 a.m. 48-hour forecast again contains gale warnings, the season opening will be delayed an additional 24-hours. Season opening delays may continue on a rolling 24-hour basis for up to seven days beyond the initial opening date. After seven days, the jig season will open regardless of the NWS marine weather forecast for Area 155.

For more information, contact the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in Kodiak at (907) 486-1840. You can also contact in season management staff at the National Marine Fisheries Service at (907) 586-7228 for more information on fishing outside of state waters.

2012 South Alaska Peninsula Area State-Waters Pacific Cod Pot Gear Season Opens Today

The National Weather Service marine weather 48-hour forecast for Area 155 issued at 4 a.m. today (Wednesday, March 7, 2012) did not contain gale warnings. Therefore, according to the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G), the South Alaska Peninsula Area state-waters Pacific cod season opening for pot vessels will open at 12 p.m. today (Wednesday, March 7, 2012). Participants are advised that the master of each vessel is ultimately responsible for the safety of the vessel.

ADF&G will manage the 2012 South Alaska Peninsula Area state-waters Pacific cod pot season based on in-season reports from participating vessels. Reports will be taken daily starting at 9 a.m. by dispatch (7894), phone (907-486-1840), or email (mark.stichert@alaska.gov).

For more information, contact ADF&G in Kodiak at 907-486-1840.