PHOENIX – The Oct. 3 opening of the seasonal catch-and-release, artificial fly and lure only, single barbless-hook only fishery for roundtail chub on Fossil Creek was given the green light by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Sept. 30.

The commission conducted a special meeting in Phoenix, listened to hours of testimony from all sides, and ultimately denied a petition to close the roundtail chub fishery on Fossil Creek.

To address some of the concerns raised in the petition from environmental groups, the commission voted to allow fishing for headwater chub concurrently with fishing for roundtail chub in this unique travertine stream in the Verde Valley.

However, it will be 10 days until the season on headwater chub is officially opened.

“For anglers, the net result is the same – if you catch either chub at Fossil Creek once the fishery opens on Saturday, you must immediately release the fish unharmed back into the water. Both species look alike, so there is no way to tell whether you are catching-and-releasing a roundtail chub or a headwater chub,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young.

In the petition for the Game and Fish Commission to close Fossil Creek to fishing, the Center for Biological Diversity pointed out that in a study conducted by Arizona State University researchers in February of 2009, headwater chub rather than roundtail chub were the species most prevalent in the 4.5-mile stretch of Fossil Creek encompassing this first-ever seasonal catch-and-release-only fishery for chubs.

Both chub species found along Fossil Creek are “candidate species” for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Being a candidate species does not afford them any increased protection under either state or federal statutes. However, state wildlife laws do come into play.