Fishery Notice

North Coast Herring Update
Area 4 - Big Bay
March 20, 2019: 

Sounding continued throughout the day.  Observations in the evening showed 
numerous small schools west of Tree Bluff, suggesting the large schools 
observed earlier have broken up and are moving toward the shore to spawn. 
Broken schools were also found in shallow waters west of Tree Bluff.  Drone 
flight observed spawn on the western shore of Burnt Cliff and South Island.  
Large schools were also observed on the tidal flats between Pearl Harbour and 
Big Bay.

Observations:
West of Tree Bluff/Red Canbouy: March 16, estimated 750 t. 
West of Tree Bluff: March 17, 40 to 50 fm broken schools estimated 6000 t, 
broken scratches out deep. 
West of Tree Bluff: March 20, estimated 5000 t.
Tugwell Island: March 17, broken scratches.
Trenham Pt./Hogan's Ledge: March 16, 1500 t 40-50 fm.
West of Hogan's Ledge: March 19, estimated 6500 t.
West of Hogan's Ledge: March 20, estimated 500 t.
West of Trenham Pt./South Passage: March 17, broken schools estimated 1500 t 40 
to 50 fm. 
Slippery Rock (along 60 fm edge): March 16, NFF.
Big Bay west of South Passage: March 16, estimated 1000 t.
Big Bay Proper: March 18, birds working surface scratches. 
Big Bay Proper: March 19, several small schools moving south toward Big Bay 
from Pearl Harbour.
Cunningham Pass (south): March 16, broken scratches.
Cunningham Pass: March 20, NFF.
Rushbrook Passage: March 20, NFF.
East of Gordon Pt./North End of Finlayson Island: March 16, estimated 400 t.
Fortune Pt. (southend of Finlayson Island): March 20, bird activity observed, 
possible spawning.
Sparrowhawk Rock: March 18, estimated 75 t.
Harbour Reefs west of Lax Kw'alaams: March 17, estimated 600 t.
South of Flat Top Island: March 19, estimated 150 t.
Between Flat Top and Mist Island: March 20, scratches.
Pearl Harbour: March 20, small scratches, estimated 100 t.
Between Flewin Pt. and north end of Bernie Island/Haida Bay: March 19, 
estimated 1200 t.
Otter Anchorage: March 20, small, broken scratches.
South End of Burnt Cliff Island: March 20, increased bird activity.

Total estimate: 10,000 t.

Test Sets: 
March 16; west of Tree Bluff;8.7%;183mm;62:60;41-5-14-0-0;(roe 867g:21.25g)
March 17; west of Escape reefs/South Passage;9.3%;183mm;62:57;44-3-10-0-1;(roe 
933g:84.9g)
March 18; West of Haida Bay, 4%;168mm;72:78;29-11-38-0-4(13.65g:65g)
March 19; 1 mile west of Burnt Cliff Island, 12.2%;188mm;50:62;54-3-5-0-0
(22.68g:89.22g)
March 19; West of Escape Reefs, 11%;189mm;51:46;42-2-2-0-0(26.11g:103.14g)

The next notice will be March 22.  

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:

Jessica Ottley 250-627-3007

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0258
Sent March 21, 2019 at 1358

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