2 C SIUSLAW NEWS z WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2015 Pacific Fisheries Council nominees deadline is Feb. 13 NEWPORT — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is accepting nomina- tions for a seat on the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The deadline to request nom- ination materials is Feb. 13, and the three-year term begins August 2015. The Council manages about 119 species of groundfish, pelagic species (sardines, anchovies and mackerel) and highly migratory species (tunas, sharks and swordfish) off the coasts for Oregon, Washington and California. It includes 14 voting mem- bers representing tribal and state fish and wildlife agencies, and private citizens knowl- edgeable about sport fishing, commercial fishing and/or marine conservation. Several advisory councils and PFMC staff members also participate in Council meet- ings. The ideal candidate would be knowledgeable of fishery resource conservation and management in marine waters off the West Coast. Specific knowledge of and experience in management issues and fish- eries is important, as is a strong conservation ethic. The successful candidate also must work collectively with other council members, often making difficult deci- sions and fulfilling the stan- dards set forth by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Council members make a substantial time commitment to fully participate in council business and related activities. The Oregon seat is currently held by Dorothy Lowman of Portland, who is eligible for re- appointment to a third term. ODFW will send all nomina- tions to the Governor’s office, which will then forward the names of at least three candi- dates to the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Department of Commerce for consideration. Successful appointees must pass an extensive FBI back- ground check. Anyone interested in being ATHLETE OF THE considered, or wishing to nom- inate someone, must contact Cyreis Schmitt at 541-867- 4741 or cyreis.c.schmitt@state .or.us no later than Feb. 13. The Pacific Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional fishery manage- ment councils established by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to manage fisheries from three to 200 miles offshore of the United States coastline. WEEK Chris Free Mapleto n H.S. Angler input sought tonight on upcoming halibut season The Central Coast subarea extends from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt., and includes all developed ports in Oregon except Brookings, Gold Beach, and those in the Astoria area. The seasons for the Columbia River and Southern Oregon subareas have already been established for this year. “We want all anglers to have the ability to help shape the halibut season, and understand that many cannot attend the public meeting in person,” said Patrick Mirick, halibut assis- tant project leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “The webinar and online survey provide a means for all anglers to have a voice.” Participants in the process will help choose the number of season dates and the weeks in which those open dates will occur. The public meeting will begin at 7 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the ODFW Newport office, 2040 SE Marine Science Drive. Participants also can join the meeting online at www.global .gotomeeting.com/join/768250 205., or dial in at 872-240- 3412. Meeting ID: 768-250- 205. Finally, anglers can offer their input through an online survey at www.oregondas.alle- giancetech.com/cgi-bin/qweb- corporate.dll available on the ODFW website. In two victories on the court last week for the Sailors the senior forward scored 21 points and pulled down 21 rebounds. Plus he recorded six steals and three blocks. Honorable Mention Jack Hardisty The Mapleton senior returned to the bas- ketball court last week for the Sailors, scoring 27 points; pulling down 12 rebounds and recording five steals. Support Oregon’s wildlife programs with tax donation, refund SALEM — If you love all things wild, you can help sup- port Oregon’s wildlife by fill- ing out your 2014 state tax return and donate to the Nongame Wildlife Fund, Charitable Code 19, in the charitable check-off donation on the 2014 Oregon State tax Fishing from 1C is starting to pick up in many coastal basins. The Salmon River is now open to harvest of wild winter steelhead (Jan 1 – March 31). Anglers are advised to read the new regu- lations as there are harvest restrictions and new deadlines in effect. SILETZ RIVER: Steelhead Steelhead fishing is slow to fair but should start to pick up in the coming weeks. Fish can be found throughout the river for both bank and boat anglers. River conditions should be good through the weekend. SIUSLAW RIVER: Steelhead The winter steelhead fishery is producing fish in both the Siuslaw and Lake Creek. The next few weeks should see a good push of fish. River con- ditions should remain good through the weekend. Typical steelhead angling tactics apply. YAQUINA RIVER: Steelhead The winter steelhead fishery is fair to good in the Big Elk. River conditions should remain in good condition through the week. Anglers are advised to watch for private property. Typical steelhead angling tactics apply but the Big Elk is bed rock dominated and does have a lot of snags. COOS RIVER BASIN: Dungeness crab, bay clams, steelhead Steelhead fishing is good. There is bank access on the West Fork Millicoma at the Millicoma Interpretive Center and on the East Fork Millicoma at Nesika Park. return. Funds support 88 percent of the state’s wildlife that are not hunted or fished such as native frogs, turtles, songbirds and bats. “The donations we receive from the Nongame Wildlife Fund help us protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations,” said Andrea Hanson, Conservation Strategy Coordinator. Donations have helped: • Bring back the bald eagle, peregrine falcon and western snowy plover from the brink of extinction • Fund wildlife habitat improvement projects on pri- vate and public lands • Purchase educational mate- rials for science classes as part of the Bird by Bird pilot pro- gram in the Portland School District. • Fund conservation pro- grams for sensitive species including the western pond tur- tle and Willamette Valley grassland birds. For more infor- mation visit www.dfw. state.or. us/wildlife/diversity/tax_ checkoff. Access to the South Fork Coos River is through Weyerhaeuser property and anglers must have the appropriate permit from Weyerhaeuser. In the Coos Basin starting one addi- tional fin clipped steelhead may be retained per day for a total aggregate of three adult fish harvested daily. Fishing for bottom fish, including rockfish and lingcod is open to all depths. The marine fish daily bag limit is seven fish and a separate daily limit of two lingcod. Anglers are only able to keep three blue rockfish as part of their daily limit and there will be no harvest of China, quillback or copper rockfish. Sometime in March, once a parallel federal rule is adopted, ODFW will announce that anglers can retain one canary rockfish as part of the marine fish daily bag limit. Retention of cabezon is not allowed through June 30. of year, whenever the weather permits, bottom fishing can be great fun and very productive. Calm seas have brought good fishing, with anglers bringing home mostly lingcod, black rockfish, yellowtail rockfish, and a few blue and other nearshore rockfish. Cabezon fishing is closed through June 30. The marine fish daily bag limit is seven fish. China, cop- per, and quillback rockfish may not be retained; and only three blue rockfish may be retained per day (as part of the seven-fish bag). Sometime in March, once a parallel federal rule is adopted, ODFW will announce that anglers can retain one canary rockfish as part of the marine fish daily bag limit. There are separate daily limits of two lingcod and 25 flatfish other than Pacific hal- ibut. Remember: yelloweye rock- fish and canary rockfish can not be retained. beach, diggers should be high- ly selective about which shows they pursue. Harvesters are reminded they must retain the first 15 clams regardless of size or condition. UMPQUA RIVER, SOUTH: Steelhead The South Umpqua is open for steelhead fishing. Although the peak numbers of fish nor- mally show up from February to late March, the recent rains have moved fish into the Canyonville area and hatchery fish have been reported. The South Umpqua offers the best chance for catching an adipose-fin clipped steelhead for harvest. The hatchery pro- gram for winter steelhead is centered in the South Umpqua. Most hatchery fish are caught from Canyonville downstream. All wild fish must be released unharmed. As the river drops from last weekend’s rain, plunking should be good at places such as Lawson Bar, Myrtle Creek and behind Seven Feathers. WINCHESTER BAY: Bottomfish Fishing for bottomfish in the Triangle and South jetty has been successful. Crabbing has been slow recently. P ACIFIC H ALIBUT : The Pacific halibut seasons have all closed for the remain- der of the year. The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) will set 2015 quotas for all areas in later this month. More information on the 2015 sea- sons will be available after that time. B OTTOM F ISHING : R AZOR CLAMS : The ocean is open to bottom fishing at all depths. This time Due to the large number of small razor clams on the Sport ocean crabbing in the ocean and bay remains slow. Keep in mind that major rain events can dramatically lower the salinity in some bays and prompt crab to move lower in the bay or out to the ocean. Best For Hearing Oregon Box Lunch Reedsport Marine & Fabrication Foglio Drop Box Services Shoreline Customized Apparel Alan Twombly-H & R Block Central Coast Disposal Dana Rodet Construction County Transfer & Recycling River House J.L. Walker & Sons Excavating Dry Tech Carpet Cleaning Dutch Bros. Elson Shields Property Management Florence RV & Automotive Specialists Frank Romero 541 Designs Leisure Excavating Ultimate Pest Control Integrity Plumbing Lane Community College - Florence www. 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