UTAH BURBOT SPEARFISHING
Let's
attack some Burbot this year!
Burbot photos -courtesy of George
Swett
NOCTURNAL
LIGHTS
While you are planning your
Burbot dives
Consider Nocturnal Lights
Burbot are a
strange looking fish (borderline
repulsive) that’s extra slimy to the touch, but surprisingly excellent
tasting. They’re found on the bottom
of deep lakes and rivers and- even though they look like they eat something vile such as carcasses
or algae- are
actually voracious predators of other fish. Burbot are also
called eelpout, ling, lingcod,
loache, methyl, lush, gudgeon,
mud-blower, cusk, mother eel, or lawyer fish.
Appearance
Most of a burbot’s body is a dark
greenish-yellow and marked with blotches of similar color. They also have
an elongated shape
with unusually long
dorsal and anal fins
that are nearly
half its body length. A single,
permanent barbel hangs from the chin and two smaller ones protrude from the nostrils. Burbot
appear to have
slick, slimy skin void of scales,
however, their scales are tiny and imbedded.
Location
Burbot live only in
freshwater and dwell in the deeper water of lakes and
rivers. In large lakes, biologists have found burbot at depths of 698 feet. In winter, the deeper
water becomes oxygen depleted
and burbot move to shallower water in search of food. In summer, the fish may move into shallower water at
night to search for
prey.
Diet
Burbot eat mostly only other fish; however, they will
also consume aquatic
insects, plankton,
crustaceans and
fish eggs. Juveniles under five years old will mainly eat
insects and other
invertebrates until they
are large enough to be successful predators. Some populations eat
a diet of 90% fish and feast
on a variety of 20 different species.
Angling Method
Burbot prefer cold, deep
water. For this reason, lakes and
rivers are most productive when they
are frozen. Burbot will seek
shallower water in the winter because the deeper water becomes oxygen depleted and offers less food. Most will move into
water 25 feet deep or less;
making them perfect for ice fishing.
Standard ice fishing poles, setlines or tip-ups rigged
with large hooks and bait
works the best. Also, since you need to fish near the bottom, weights should be added about 18 to 24 inches above the bait. Cut herring, chicken livers or any type of meat that’s
stinky will attract a
hungry burbot. In the summer, the same setup and bait
works, but you will be more successful in deeper water.
Life History
Spawning starts under the ice in December and ends in mid-April. Interior populations aren’t mature until about the age of seven, while more southern
populations are capable
between two and four
years old. Spawning sites are usually shallow and
are have stone or gravel bottoms. Breeding takes place
at night and starts
when a group of burbot (up to
a dozen) meet and group closely together. The females that
are ready to release eggs, and the males that
are ready to fertilize them, press toward the middle of the crowd. The eggs will rest on
the bottom until hatching between 30
and 71 days later
(depending on water
temperature; the colder, the
slower).
Typically, burbot living in the northern-half of the state will grow slower and live longer than those in southern regions. By the age of 10 the average
burbot will be about 24 inches in
length. Most individuals do not live
beyond the age of 15, at which time they average 28
inches. On an exciting
angling note, biologists
have observed burbot in Alaska as large
as 74 pounds.
At the May 2008 Regional Advisory Council (RAC )
meeting in Vernal Utah,
I introduced a concept that may help curb the
infestation of Burbot at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. (the infestation
probably originated upstream at LaBarge
Reservoir, Wyoming)
The concept was to enable spearfishers to utilize artificial light
underwater while pole spear fishing at night. I thought that
the idea was rejected upon my sitting down in the chair I had been
utilizing.
WOW, was I surprised when Utah Game and
Fish officers chased me down in the parking lot after the meeting as I was
proceeding to my truck. They absolutely endorsed the idea!!
Later, at the September RAC meeting (again in Vernal) the concept was
introduced and adopted for the 2009 Utah Fishing guidebook with the addition of
speargun use.
This past Friday evening the channel 5 News out of
Salt Lake City
made the announcement official to the entire state and some surrounding
entities.
Remember, Utah has
adopted this practice,
Wyoming Game and Fish have to introduce legislation
to their state legislature to change Wyoming Law to make the practice legal in
Wyoming.
That all said and Done,
There is a potential to be able to work within the parameters of a scientific
study to harvest Burbot between now and the end of 2008 (IF) patience is
maintained and all participants will sign up for the scientific study.
I will be handling the parameters, sign up, liability releases etc.
please contact
Michael Weyland
Atlantis Divers, Inc.
206 West Main
Street
Vernal, Utah 84078
435-789-3616
email
Now, I
am asking the anglers that utilize Flaming Gorge to please help us.
We need
boaters that know where to put us, in order to harvest large quantities of
Burbot. Yes, transportation, advice and cooperation to save the aquatic species
that the Burbot are devouring (salmon roe, lake trout roe, etc. etc. etc.
including the fry as they are hatching.
If we can work together we CAN make
a difference.
If we butt heads we will all lose a valuable resource in just a
few years.
Another
proposal is to have large get-togethers to harvest, filet, cook and
feast!
Just flat out - Get To Know Each Other!
We can deal with that,
can't we?
There should be ample harvests to take home,
give
to friends, feed the needy, etc. etc. etc.
We would love to hear
some feedback as soon as possible.
Please reply
email
There is NO limit on Burbot !!!!
NO Utah State spearing record posted at this
time.
We are Offering an Atlantis Divers $50.00 gift
certificate
for the
1st Recorded
Record Burbot taken in
Utah!
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Swishtail Carp
Skeleton
><><><><><><><
(Let's put your picture
HERE)
(Holding Burbot of course)
Let's
Go To
Flaming
Gorge
<>
BIG Burbot
Hunts
unlimited
quantities
Asking for Donations to
supplement prizes & BBQ
Need any divers
Pre registration encouraged to
participate.
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
Volunteer
Cash Pot will be established for incentive!
1st Largest
Burbot
2nd Most Burbot
3rd Most lbs
Burbot
email
Pelaj
trophy for “State Record Lake Trout”!
Special
Pelaj prize for most lbs Burbot harvested
over 100-lbs single diver
aggregate!