FISHING NOTES : Gill Net Testing Could Help Save Young Halibut

A gill net experiment is under way at South Bay halibut fishing grounds.

Marie Vujkovich, the marine biologist who heads the State Department of Fish and Game study, is testing sizes of net openings to determine mortality rates of the small halibut caught.

Last week a group of veteran anglers was invited by Capt. Russ Izor to observe and aid in the project aboard his boat, the First String.

Gathering data on the trip was Dan Frumkes, a resources advocate, and fish and game official Greg Walls.

On the day before the test, three sets of nets were placed near the Hermosa Beach pier to be pulled for the observers.

To contribute to the study, 25 anglers aboard the First String fished for halibut in 40 feet of water. A steady catch came aboard with the smaller fish tagged and released.

The halibut that did survive the nets and the legal-sized (22 inches or more) fish caught on lines were transferred to a waiting boat and sent to the Edison plants halibut hatchery.

Frumkes said fish caught with hook and line survived but those caught in gill nets had a high mortality rate. The proper size net opening is an important factor in determining how to save the younger fish.

Anglers are asked to turn in halibut tags to the Department of Fish and Game with the time and area where they were caught.

This will help with the study and the angler will be rewarded with $5 for each tag.