Fishery Notice

North Coast Herring Update
Area 4 - Big Bay
March 21, 2019: 

Today there were observations of increased bird activity observed along Tree 
Bluff and 2km south along the beach.  Bird activity was also observed offshore 
from Tree Bluff to Ryan Pt and Slippery Rock to Ryan Pt.  There was an observed 
increase in bird and whale activity along the southern shore of Big Bay from 
Simpson Pt to Trenham Pt.  Drone flight indicates spawning has advanced around 
the entire island of Burnt Cliff, South Island, Mist Island, and along the 
shore stretching from Bellitti Pt south to Shattock Pt.  fish observed in the 
shallows between Burnt Cliff and Bellitti have moved out and appear to be 
heading towards Simpson, Reeks, and Trenham Pt.

Observations:
West of Tree Bluff/Red Canbouy: March 16, estimated 750 t. 
West of Tree Bluff: March 20, estimated 5000 t.
West of Tree Bluff: March 21, small school estimated 100 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: March 21, broken schools throughout.
Rushbrook Passage: March 20, NFF.
East of Gordon Pt./North End of Finlayson Island: March 21, small surface 
schools.
Northeastern shore of Finlayson: March 21, broken schools.
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 21, small schools holding along the sand bar.
Between Flewin Pt. and north end of Bernie Island/Haida Bay: March 19, 
estimated 1200 t.
Haida Bay: March 21, scratches.
West of Bernie Island: March 21, NFF.
East side of Bernie Island: March 21, NFF.
Grassy Pt: March 21, NFF.
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)
March 21; northeast shore of Finlayson, 1%;162mm;74:74;7-17-51-7-38
(15.48g:52.32g)

The next notice will be March 25th.  

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 - FN0270
Sent March 22, 2019 at 1510

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