IPHC News Release 2017-09 WA/OR Sport Fisheries Update

WASHINGTON AND OREGON COAST SPORT FISHERIES UPDATE: COLUMBIA RIVER ALL-DEPTH CLOSURE AND WASHINGTON NORTH COAST AND PUGET SOUND FURTHER SEASON EXTENSION

COLUMBIA RIVER (WDFW MARINE AREA 1, ODFW COLUMBIA RIVER SUBAREA) ALL-DEPTH SPORT FISHERY CLOSING

The preliminary catch for the Columbia River all-depth sport Pacific halibut fishery as of 23 May 2017 was estimated to be 10,586 pounds, leaving 1,713 pounds to be harvested (with Oregon catch numbers for the week of 18-21 May 2017 still to come). Insufficient quota remains for a full four days. Therefore, the Columbia River (WDFW Marine Area 1, ODFW Columbia River Subarea) all-depth sport Pacific halibut fishery will close at the end of the day Thursday, 25 May 2017. Any quota overage or underage from the all-depth fishery will be applied to the Columbia River nearshore fishery. The nearshore fishery continues to be open from Monday to Wednesday each week.

WDFW MARINE AREA 2 (WESTPORT-OCEAN SHORES): PRIMARY AND NEARSHORE SPORT FISHERY CLOSED

In the WDFW Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores) all-depth primary fishery, WDFW estimates that 53,905 pounds were landed through 21 May 2017, resulting in an estimated overage of 5,598 pounds. As a result, there will be no nearshore sport Pacific halibut fishery, and the area will remain closed for the remainder of 2017.

WDFW MARINE AREA 3 (LA PUSH), MARINE AREA 4 (NEAH BAY): 1 JUNE 2017

The preliminary catch for the Washington North Coast primary sport Pacific halibut fishery in WDFW Marine Areas 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay) through 23 May 2017 was estimated to be 65,763 pounds, leaving 49,836 pounds to be harvested. Fishery managers anticipate this will sustain one more day of fishing, thus the Washington North Coast (WDFW Marine Areas 3 and 4) sport Pacific halibut fishery will reopen for one day on Thursday, 1 June 2017. This is in addition to the opener of 25 May 2017. State fishery managers will then review the catch and announce if sufficient quota remains for future openings.

WDFW MARINE AREAS 5-10 (PUGET SOUND): 1 JUNE 2017

The preliminary catch estimate in WDFW Marine Areas 5-10 (Puget Sound) through 23 May 2017 was estimated to be 40,964 pounds, leaving 23,998 pounds to be harvested. Fishery managers anticipate this will sustain one more day of fishing, thus the Puget Sound (WDFW Marine Areas 5-10) sport Pacific halibut fishery will reopen for one day on Thursday, 1 June 2017. This is in addition to the opener of 25 May 2017. State fishery managers will then review the catch and announce if sufficient quota remains for future openings.

For more information on these updates please refer to:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website:
https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=1978

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2017/05_may/052417d.asp

In all marine areas open to Pacific halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction.

Due to the short notice nature of this notification, it is posted to our website only, and no paper copy has been mailed out.

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