Winter 2008

Summer 2006 Recreational Food Fishery: (22 Photos)

22. Earlier this summer, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced a re-opening of the recreational food fishery, something we haven't seen in our province since the old tag system back in 2001. Here is an excerpt of the release from D.F.O.:

The management measures for the 2006 Recreational Groundfish fishery are as follows:

Recreational fishing for cod and other groundfish will be permitted in all areas of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NAFO Divisions 2J3KL, 4RS3Pn and 3Ps).
The season will be five weeks long, opening on August 1 and closing on September 4, 2006.
There is no requirement for tags or licenses.
A daily bag limit of 5 fish per individual and a boat limit of 15 will be closely monitored.
The department will monitor fishing activity level and catch rates to estimate removals.
DFO Fishery Officers will closely monitor activity and failing to comply with the management measures governing the 2006 Recreational Groundfish Fishery could result in charges under the Fisheries Act.

21. This announcement sparked excitement in our crew as we fashioned hand lines, lures, gaffs, and got boats ready for the salt water.

20. Many of us hadn't been on the salt water in many years or at all, and we rarely had a chance to jig cod as past generations of Newfoundlanders had for decades.

19. This year French and his cousin Matthew both launched small 14' aluminum boats down over the rocks in Portugal Cove to head out to the fishing grounds.

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16. French and I made quite a few trips in his Honda powered 14' Princecraft Aluminum boat managing to catch our quota on most outings. Not only did we have to hone our skills hand lining, but cleaning & filleting our catch as well.