White Seabass Head Collection Incentive

The purpose of this collection program is to encourage CPFV’s to save the heads of white seabass caught on their vessels. We hope to collect at least 1,000 heads from white seabass caught in US waters so that they can be genetically tested to determine if they were hatcheryreared. This information will help to support preliminary findings that hatchery-reared white seabass raised and released by the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program are surviving and may be contributing to as much as 30% of the fishery landings.

GUIDELINES

HEAD COLLECTION PROGRAM DATES:

  • June 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023
  • July 1, 2023 – July 31, 2023
  • August 1, 2023 – August 31, 2023

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Head must come from a legal-sized (28″ or larger) white seabass caught aboard your vessel in US waters.
  • Heads MUST be bagged and labeled according to the program requirements.

 

INCENTIVES

INCENTIVES FOR RECREATIONAL ANGLERS:

  • Recreational anglers who contribute a white seabass head  for the program will be granted a $25 gift code to aftco.com.

INCENTIVES FOR SPORTBOATS:

  • The boat contributing the greatest number of white seabass heads each month will receive $500.
  • The boat contributing the greatest number of coded-wire tagged white seabass each month will receive $500. In the event of a tie, the boat turning in the oldest tagged fish, from the vessels that are tied, will win. If no tagged fish are found, then the boat contributing the second most number of heads will receive this prize.

 

REQUIREMENTS

For each individual or batch of heads saved, a label must be included with the head(s). The information on a label needs to include the vessel name, date, and location where caught for each individual or group of white seabass head(s) saved. If needed, preprinted labels and bags in which to store individual or groups of heads will be provided. Please call the number below if you need labels and bags.

Heads that are received without the pertinent information mentioned above will not count towards either incentive. Therefore, it is important that these labels be completed soon after white seabass are landed on your vessel to assure their accuracy and so that they can be placed into the bag when the head is saved.

We would like to get ALL the heads of white seabass caught on your vessel greater than 28″ in length. The stones (ear bones) in the head are also necessary for ageing the fish. So it is very important that we receive the head intact, especially if the fish is detected as being hatchery-reared.

Please note that is a head collected program for scientific purposes and that various organizations conduct fishing tournaments for white seabass during the year. Your customers that are entered in these various contests may need to take their whole white seabass to a specific location in order to submit their catch as an official entry into their respective contests. In this instance we would appreciate it if you would remind them about dropping off the head of their seabass at a designated drop-off location which they can find at www.hswri.org.

If you have any questions, comments or to arrange to have your saved heads picked up, please contact Mike Shane 619-226-3946 or 619-987- 8823.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS

SANTA BARBARA
  • Santa Barbara Landing – 301 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
VENTURA / OXNARD
  • Channel Island Sportfishing – 4151 S Victoria Ave, Oxnard, CA 93035
  • Eric’s Tackle Shop – 2127 E Thompson Blvd, Ventura, CA 93001
MARINA DEL REY
  • Marina Del Rey Sportfishing – 13759 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
REDONDO BEACH / SOUTH BAY
  • King Harbor Boat Hoist – 181 N Harbor Dr, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
SAN PEDRO / LONG BEACH
  • 22nd St. Landing – 141 W 22nd St, San Pedro, CA 90731
  • Pierpoint Landing – 200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802
  • Long Beach Sportfishing – 555 Pico Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802
CATALINA ISLAND
  • Avalon Seafood – Green Pleasure Pier, Avalon, CA 90704
  • Two Harbors Patrol – 1 Banning House Rd, Avalon, CA 90704
SEAL BEACH / HUNTINGTON BEACH
  • CDFW Office Seal Beach – 3030 Old Ranch Pkwy, Suite #400, Seal Beach, CA 90740 (Please call (562) 342-7170 to schedule a drop off time and day)
  • Mako Matt’s Marine – 4911 Warner Ave #214, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
  • Pacific Edge Bait & Tackle – 5042 Edinger Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92649
NEWPORT BEACH
  • Anglers Center – 419 Old Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663
  • Balboa Angling Club – 200 A St, Newport Beach, CA 92661
  • Davey’s Locker Sportfishing – 400 Main St, Newport Beach, CA 92661
DANA POINT
  • Dana Wharf Sportfishing – 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629
  • Hogan’s Bait & Tackle – 34320 CA-1, Dana Point, CA 92629
CARLSBAD
  • Hubbs Sea-World Research Institute Hatchery -4200 Garfield St, Carlsbad, CA 92008
SAN DIEGO
  • Dana Landing – 2580 Ingraham St, San Diego, CA 92109
  • Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute – 2595 Ingraham St, San Diego, CA 92109

If you are an owner or operator of a participating boat or landing with a freezer, and have WSB heads, please reach out to Chris Arechaederra at chrisa@ccacalifornia to help coordinate a pick up.