Fishery Notice

Central Coast Herring Bulletin #4
March 24, 2020: 

The charter vessel Windward Isle, gillnetters Lady Raven and Royal Jazz 
continue to look for herring schools and spawn throughout the Central Coast. 
CCGS JP Tully has completed its program and departed the Central Coast Area.   

The next spawn flight is scheduled for Thursday March 26. Wilderness Seaplanes 
is conducting the surveys with experienced pilot and spotter.  


Spawn Reports (chronologically by Area):

Area 7: 
March 18 ---- Spawn observed 0.3 nm NW of Waskesiu Passage in the area known 
as 'the fingers'. Spawn in head of Eastern finger, extends approximately 0.8nm 
into channel. Spawn is washed out, light egg deposition at intertidal and 
subtidal zones.  Coordinates (52° 09.981'N and 128° 26.022'W to 52° 09.478'N 
and 128° 26.143'W)  

March 18 ---- Fresh spawn observed 0.1nm West of Quinoot Point near Thompson 
Bay.  Milt in water, spawn along Eastern shoreline for approximately 0.1nm.  
Significant (51)eagle and seagull presence as well as several sea lions. 
Coordinates 52° 10.030'N and 128° 20.715'W to 52° 10.155'N and 128° 20.648'W.   

March 20 ---- Spiller Channel 0.75 nm S of Tate Lagoon (Second Bay).  Light 
spawn on beach, Coordinates 52° 21.865'N and 128° 11.611'W
March 21 ---- Quinoot Point (Joassa Channel) 1.2nm spawn reported along shore.  
Deposition on beach, a few fish tight along beach but no significant backing. 
Fish on bottom at 40-50 fathoms offshore.  Significant wildlife and bird 
activity.  Coordinates 52° 10.546'N and 128° 20.161'W to 52° 09.343'N and 128° 
20.424'W.   

March 22 ---- Tate Lagoon, two layers of spawn on shore, no fish backing.  
Coordinates 52° 22.181'N and 128° 11.192'W.

March 23 ---- Quinoot Point (West side) spawn continues for third day in area.  
Spawn on beach, no backing or wildlife activity. Coordinates 52° 09.594'N and 
128° 20.782'W.   

March 23 ---- Norman Morison Bay Spawn against shoreline, 20+ sea lions, 2 
killer whales, medium to heavy bird activity. Coordinates 52° 11.634'N and 128° 
11.246'W

March 23 ---- Tuft Islands, 0.8nm South of Stryker Island.  Spawn in kelp beds 
off rock formations, some bird activity. Coordinates 52° 04.274'N and 128° 
22.139'W     


March 23 ---- Thompson Bay / NE Raymond Passage.  Multiple locations with spawn 
on beach.  1 - 1.5 mile radius. Heavy bird activity, 59 sea lions 50. 
Coordinates:
52° 09.742'N and 128° 20.765'W, 52° 09.555'N and 128° 21.663'W
52° 09.917'N and 128° 22.986'W, 52° 08.471'N and 128° 24.292'W
52° 09.044'N and 128° 23.765'W 

March 23 ---- Spiller Channel, three small spawns of 50' square.  No other 
wildlife activity.  Coordinates 52° 20.070'N and 128° 13.140'W   
 
    
Area 8: 
March 16---- Spawn reported at Keith Anchorage in Kwakshua Channel.  Small spot 
spawn approximately 10 meters square, approximate coordinates 51° 38.759'N and 
128° 05.663'W.   

March 23 ---- Namu area, medium to heavy bird activity, medium sea lion 
activity (approx. 15), 5 - 10 seals. Coordinates: 51° 50.391'N and 127° 
52.70'W    

March 23 ---- Warrior Cove, small spawn at head of Cove. Coordinates 
51° 50.487'N and 127° 52.518'W   

 
Soundings:

Area 6
Meyers Passage ----------------- March 15,    75 tons
Kitasu Bay  -------------------- March 23, 6,275 tons, a few schools

March 15; Kitasu Bay(Marvin Islands);8.1%;19.4cm;58:51;35-14-2-0-0; (23g:91g)
(adjusted roe yield= 8.6%) Note: Many #2s were close to #1s.

Area 6 Total:	    		   		 6,275 tons



Area 7
Higgins Passage(East) ---------- March 16, 700 tons

Ellerslie Lagoon --------------- March 19, NFF
Snass Lake --------------------- March 21, NFF
Cheenis to Neekas Inlet -------- March 19, 200 tons 

Tankeeah to Tate Lagoon -------- March 21, NFF
Tate Lagoon -------------------- March 23, 90 tons spawned out 
Tate Lagoon -------------------- March 24, 410 tons 6 school First Bay 
Tate Lagoon -------------------- March 24, 260 tons 3 school Second Bay
Snass Lake --------------------- March 21, NFF
Foote Islets to Tate Lagoon ---- March 18, 250 tons
Yeo Cove ----------------------- March 18, 40 tons
Bullen Rock to Idol Point ------ March 17, 90 tons

Berry Inlet -------------------- March 18, 35 tons 
Berry Inlet to Harmston Island - March 17, 800 tons offshore   
Powell Anchorage --------------- March 23, 20 tons
Lambard Inlet ------------------ March 17, NFF


Strom Cove --------------------- March 23, 70 tons 2 schools
Gunboat Passage ---------------- March 23, 20 tons 2 schools, fast moving
Georgie Point ------------------ March 23, 30 tons 
Noon Point --------------------- March 19, NFF
Christiansen Point ------------- March 19, NFF
Muir Island -------------------- March 21, 160 tons, 4 schools 
Lockhart Bay ------------------- March 21, NFF 
Dundivan Inlet ----------------- March 19, 2000 tons, 1000 tons outside
McGown Point ------------------- March 17, 50 tons
Rait Narrows ------------------- March 23, 90 tons, 5 schools 
Quinoot Point ------------------ March 21, spawn 

Clarie Island ------------------ March 22, 75 tons, 2 schools, 50 seals, whale 
Raymond Passage ---------------- March 22, NFF
Hose Point ----------------------March 22, FOB 
Norman Morison Bay ------------- March 22, 60 tons, lots of bird, sea lion, 
whale activity, small spawn 

Mosquito Bay ----------------- March 23, 130 tons, 4 schools, flippers on beach 
nearby 

March 16; East Higgins Passage;6.3%;18.5cm;57:68;29-25-13-0-0; (22g:80g)
Adjusted roe = 5.8% NOTE: Males green, worms in fish.

March 17;Spiller Channel;6.0%;19.5cm;54:46;26-18-3-0-1;(23g:99g) Adjusted Roe = 
6.5% NOTE: Some males (10%) ripe. 

March 18;Dundivan Inlet;6.3%;19.1cm;54:50;27-20-3-0-0;(23g:96g) Adjusted Roe = 
6.5% NOTE: Males firm. 

Area 7 Total:	  			    5,410 tons		


Area 8
Kwakume Inlet ------------------ March 13, 1200 tons
Kwakume Point ------------------ March 22,  250 tons deep, moved out
Mustang Bay -------------------- March 23,  450 tons
Nalu Passage ------------------- March 23,   60 tons 
Edward Channel ----------------- March 23,  350 tons, junction of Nalau  
Good Lad Bay ------------------- March 23,   50 tons in 2 schools
Bryden Channel ----------------- March 23,  650 tons 

Kwakshua Channel --------------- March 22,       175 tons
Illahie Inlet  ----------------- March 22, small spawn, slinks 


March 22;Mustang Bay;8.2%;18.3cm;75:47;36-10-1-0-0;(22.8g:81g)  NOTE: Males 
starting to ripen. Revisiting roe grades.  


Area 8 Total:				      3185 tons
Any intense fish sounding mammal, bird, whale, or herring spawn observations 
are requested to be reported.   

Definitions:
Scratches - Herring present in small schools 1 to 2 tons
Skimmer - Herring spread out near the surface, difficult to quantify
Fish on bottom (FOB) - Herring too close to the bottom to quantify
NFF - No Fish Found
Washed out spawn - Spawn that is coming to an end
Miles - Means nautical miles for this bulletin

ROE TEST CODE: Date;Location;roe yield;fish size;males:females;#1-#2-#3-
#spawned-#juvenile;(roe weight g:fish weight g)


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Bradley Koroluk 250-799-5127

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0294
Sent March 24, 2020 at 1159

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