Using a little-known provision of federal law, the Recreational Fishing Alliance is applying for an "Exempted Fishing Permit" (EFP) that will allow anglers to try their luck on deepwater rockfish species that have been inaccessible for years. The effort is in partnership with the Golden Gate Fishermen's Association that represents the charter fishing industry from Monterey to Fort Bragg.

The experimental proposal is designed to study the "Recreational Rockfish Catch Composition Seaward of Rockfish Conservation Area" which is a fancy way of saying we're doing a scientific experiment to see if we can go rockfishing out in deep water - I'm talking 900 feet or more and beyond the 150 fathom curve where interaction with overfished species is minimal. If we can prosecute this fishery with no interaction with canary and yelloweye rockfish, we can provide a new fishing opportunity for all recreational anglers.

We'll be using normal rockfishing terminal tackle, two shrimp fly rigs, only with a 30 foot leader between the sinker and the first hook, to keep the gear off the bottom and avoid the overfished species. Anglers will retain their fish up to the regular 10-fish bag limit, and the trips will run throughout the year.

In this era of reduced fishing opportunity nation-wide, the RFA is proud to bring its organizational support to much-beleaguered anglers on the west coast. With the MLPA and federal restrictions on rockfishing, California anglers are getting squeezed into a tight box. Depth restrictions, strict rebuilding schedules, shortened seasons and reduced bag limits are the norm for west coast anglers. Increasing angling opportunity is a key goal of this experiment. We'll be targeting abundant populations of chilipepper rockfish, a tasty species that can be targeted in the mid-water depths.

First, we must collect sampling data from the new deep-water rockfishery, using observers trained in the methodology used by the state of California to measure recreational rockfish landings. Each participating charter vessel will carry an onboard observer who will identify and measure the species taken by anglers on the trip; the data will be collected and analyzed by a graduate student in marine biology, Brian Forest at UC Davis, who has agreed to help out with the "Operation Chilipepper."

So what can RFA members and other anglers do to help? We've set up a fund through the Fisheries Conservation Trust, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, to pay for the data analysis. Donations are tax-deductible and can be sent to the Fisheries Conservation Trust at POB 840 Oceanville, NJ 08231. Anglers can support the effort simply by booking a trip on one of the charter vessels permitted for the project.

This is the key to providing good scientific information to the Pacific Fishery Management Council for future management decisions for groundfish (which includes our rockfish seasons.) If we are successful and show the Council that we can fish this area cleanly, we can provide an additional fishing opportunity for the entire recreational sector.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. While cranking up from 900 feet or more may not be everyone's cup of tea, many anglers will pursue this fishery if it's "the only game in town" for rockfish, much like the squid fishery emerged in deep water when rockfish seasons began shrinking many years ago. We have been discussing a sponsorship of the trips with the Elec-Tra-Mate Company, which manufactures electric reels, for use during the trips.

We're still waiting on the final paperwork from the National Marine Fishery Service for the permits for the project, but the Pacific Fishery Management Council voted unanimously to approve the project. We expect to have the permits in hand soon and will conduct the trips throughout 2008.