Just for the Halibut – RedState

One of the things that Grande Terre is best known for is fishing. Salmon, trout, grayling and in the ocean, redfish, cod and halibut. Halibut is my favorite fish, clean, white and delicious. When we go on a saltwater trip and bring back a load of fish, we often end up giving away some of the rock and cod, but the halibut I keep for myself.

That said, I’m going to present this story to you, just for the halibut.

Over the past decade, it has become more difficult for commercial halibut fishermen off the coast of Alaska to catch enough to meet their quotas as flat whitefish have become less abundant and smaller.

That’s according to a recent series of articles by fisheries reporter Hal Bernton, published in the Anchorage Daily News, Seattle Times and Northern Journal.

Bernton says potential reasons for the decline include a warmer ocean leading to less food for young halibut, as well as a flawed model used to manage the fishery.

I suspect it’s more the latter than the former, but halibut catches are declining; limits for sport fishing have not been reduced as much, but in Cook Inlet the catch used to be 2 per day per person of any size, whereas today it is one catch of any size and one under 27 inches.

Anchorage Daily News fisheries reporter Hal Bernton had this to say:

Even though the resource was in cyclical decline, the models used by the International Pacific Halibut Commission to estimate the amount of fish present and the future were significantly flawed. And there was a scientist who spoke very openly about the flaws in the model, but it wasn’t well received and he ended up being fired. Then they developed new models that really confirmed some of the criticisms he had made. So there’s a mix of environmental conditions, and some would also say there have been some fishing pressures that have also contributed to the decline.

They will hopefully fix the problem, and we can hope that they will throw some flatfish bones into sport fishing. Last summer we went out on a boat from Homer and had a wonderful day bringing in halibut as well as redfish. Halibut is my favorite fish, clean and flavorful. You can’t beat it.

Alaska Man Score: 5 fried halibut patties.

Learn more: Alaska Man Monday – Salmon, Halibut and Homer

Now here’s an interesting thing. In Palmer, for many years the town had a community Christmas tree on the public library grounds. But the library was demolished and the tree removed due to disease.

So the community rallied and Palmer once again has a Christmas tree.

An uprooted community Christmas tree, a demolished public library and a barren construction site won’t keep the magic of the holidays away from downtown Palmer — not if a group of local officials and holiday enthusiasts have anything to do with it.

A new temporary community tree will be installed — Christmas lights and spirit included — just after Thanksgiving and before the city’s annual Colony Christmas event, officials announced this week.

Donated by Jacobson’s Greenhouse in Wasilla and coordinated by the Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce, the tree will be about 10 feet tall and will be placed either near the Palmer Depot or in front of the library property, city and chamber officials said.

Traditions are important, especially in a small town. Palmer is not the smallest town. In fact, it is the district seat and a popular tourist destination. But it remains a small town, with all that that implies.

Alaska Man Score: 5 golden rings, 4 turtledoves, 3 French hens and a brand new palm tree.

Learn more: Alaska Man Monday: Taxes, Beef and Local Businesses

Now for something a little more serious.

Editor’s Note: Do you like RedState’s conservative reporting that attacks the radical left and woke media? Please support our work so we can continue to bring you the truth.

Join RedState VIP and use promo code STRUGGLE to benefit from 60% off your VIP subscription!