Pacific fisheries regulators are generally regarded as some of the best in the World (they understand sustainable yield and apply it - Real Life) . . . they set a hard quota and stick to it. The reason for such a short season has nothing to do with timelimits - it's amounts. These boats all fish for a dozen different species over the course of a season and spend time in between prepping the boat and gear for the "turnover". It is unrealistic to think a one day a week season for 5 weeks is any safer than a 5 day season - not only would that be economically unworkable (think about fuel cost to steam 100's of miles) but the time on the water would expose the fleet to even more hostile weather. Everyboat fishes at its own pace - notice the boatload over over 50 year olds . . . and the family operation that lets the pots soak 15 hours. Bottom line grown men make a choice to do this who are we to second guess them?
The book Working the Edge by Spike Walker was great.
Redlite - they count and plot each trap catch as a way to determine where and in what direction to reset the traps . . . no "ego factor" as far as I can tell . . . that's done at the end of the trip when checks are handed out
If S-Journey had some time I (and I bet others) would love to hear some "fish stories"
Threaded Mode