Offshore long-leader gear fishery

What is long-leader gear?

Long-leader gear consists of (1) a minimum of 30 feet of line between the terminal weight (sinker) and the lowest hooks and (2) a non-compressible float above the top hook. Furthermore, lures must be less than 5 inches long, and natural bait is prohibited. (The illustration below is not to scale.)

Supplies to make long-leader gear:

• Two swivels (one above the float and one below the bottom hook).
• One non-compressible float (for example, made of rigid plastic or cork - NOT Styrofoam) above the top hook that has sufficient buoyancy to support all hooking gear and line above the leader.
• Up to three shrimp flies or artificial worms (below the non-compressible float and above the lower swivel) - NATURAL BAIT IS NOT ALLOWED.
• A weight (sinker, the size will depend on drift, current and ocean conditions).
• A minimum of 30 feet of line between the lower swivel and weight (sinker).

In the photo:

• The yellow circle shows the non-compressible float.
• The red circles show three shrimp flies.
• The white bucket is used to contain the weight and 30-foot long-leader. A bucket isn't required, but anglers find it helpful to contain the long-leader and keep it from tangling when not in use.  

FAQs

What is the offshore long-leader gear fishery?

This fishery is an opportunity for anglers to use long-leader gear to target offshore midwater rockfish species while avoiding bottom-dwelling species like yelloweye rockfish. 

When and where is the offshore long-leader fishery open?

• This gear type is allowed at any depth, but for the long-leader bag limit to apply, anglers must remain outside (seaward) of the 40-fathom regulatory line.
• Open year-round.

What is the bag limit when participating in the offshore long-leader gear fishery? 

• The daily bag limit for the offshore long-leader fishery can be found on the sport bottomfish page
• The only species allowed in the long-leader bag limit are: yellowtail, widow, canary, redstripe, greenstriped, silvergray, chilipepper, blue, deacon, and bocaccio rockfishes.
• Long-leader species ID sheet (pdf)

Can I fish for lingcod or other rockfish on the same trip as an offshore long-leader gear trip?

• No. Lingcod, cabezon, kelp greenling and other rockfish species (not listed above) are not allowed on the same trip.
• Bottomfish listed under the general marine species daily bag limit (black rockfish, nearshore rockfish, cabezon, kelp greenling, etc.) may be kept on a separate trip on the same day only if fewer fish than the long-leader bag limit were kept on the offshore long-leader trip. In that case, anglers may keep up to the general marine bag limit (or sub-bag limit) on a separate trip but may total no more than the long-leader bag limit per day.
• A separate trip is when an angler returns to shore and offloads all fish prior to another trip.
• Anglers may return to shore, offload all long-leader rockfish, and return to the ocean to fish for lingcod on a separate trip.
• More information and specific bag limits can be found on the sport bottomfish page

What about Pacific halibut, other flatfish, sablefish and Pacific cod on the same trip?

• Yes. Offshore long-leader gear fishing may be combined with an all-depth Pacific halibut trip.
• Once the general marine species bag limit is exceeded with only long-leader rockfish species (the rockfish listed above), all anglers on the vessel must stop fishing for halibut and switch all halibut fishing gear to long-leader gear.
• Anglers may have onboard other flatfish, sablefish and Pacific cod prior to switching gear to target long-leader rockfish.
• When the regular bottomfish fishery is open at all depths, anglers will have the option to combine all-depth halibut with regular bottomfish or all-depth halibut with long-leader gear fishing. Not both.
  • A long-leader gear fishing trip and regular bottomfish fishing trip cannot be combined on the same trip
• Pacific halibut and bottomfish combinations (pdf)

Can I combine any other non-bottomfish fishing with an offshore long-leader gear fishing trip on the same trip?

• Yes. Tuna, crab, & salmon may be combined with offshore long-leader trips. Anglers are reminded that once salmon are onboard, anglers are restricted to no more than 2 single point barbless hooks at all times when angling for salmon in the ocean or when angling for other species if a salmon has already been retained. And you may not fish in an area closed for any species you have onboard.

Regulations can change, check the sport bottomfish page before fishing.