“The government needs to come up here and they need to talk to the locals and find out the best times for fishing.
“For the last few days there you could tell the fish were biting more, but then the season ended.”
A Department of Fisheries and Oceans spokesperson said the government had no plans to implement a staggered season for the fishery.
“Season dates for the recreational groundfish fishery are the same for all areas of Newfoundland and Labrador (which) is an important management measure for effectively monitoring this recreational fishery,” the spokesperson said.
“The department is not considering separate dates for different areas of the province at this time and no extensions to the season are anticipated.
“The recreational fishing experience can vary throughout the province, and vary from year to year.
“In many areas this year recreational fishers have reported good success and reported catching cod that have been feeding on capelin.”
But for local fishermen, who have experienced the opposite, that’s just not good enough.
“I don’t understand why they can’t change it or leave it open longer — it’s like they think Newfoundlanders are going to poach it all or something,” Mr McDonald said.
“Fish have tails — they swim, they move around,” Mr Samson said.
“Having the same season times in the south and up here just doesn’t make any sense.”
egraney@northernpen.ca
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