ODFW PRESS RELEASE: Halibut News

[Pete]

NEWPORT - Halibut harvest quotas have driven two recent decisions to close one sport fishery Saturday and open another in June.

The north coast halibut season from Cape Falcon, Oregon to Leadbetter Point, Wash., will close 11:59 p.m., Saturday, May 25 because the 11,188 pound quota will be reached.

The central coast all-depth halibut season will reopen Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 because sufficient poundage remains after the May sport fishery for the zone from Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon. If the quota is not reached, additional fishing days will be open June 21 and/or June 22 for all water depths along the central coast.

The recreational halibut fishery within the 30-fathom curve from Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon will remain open seven days a week through Sept. 30 or until the quota is reached. The sport halibut season also remains open in all-depth waters south of Humbug Mountain seven days a week.

The daily bag limit is the first fish 32 inches or longer. Oregon anglers are limited to six halibut per year.

More information on halibut quotas is available by clicking on "marine finfish" at www.hmsc.orst.edu/odfw/ .

[ 05-24-2002, 05:57 PM: Message edited by: Pete ]