IPHC News Release 2017-13 Washington North Coast and Puget Sound – Further Sport Fishery Season Extension

6 June 2017

WDFW Marine Area 3 (La Push), Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay): 10 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 4 June 2017 was estimated to be 81,755 pounds, leaving 33,844 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 Saturday, 10 June 2017. State fishery managers will then review the catch and announce if sufficient quota remains for additional openings. The next potential fishing day would be Saturday, 17 June 2017.

WDFW Marine Areas 5-10 (Puget Sound): 10 June 2017

The preliminary catch estimate in WDFW Marine Areas 5-10 (Puget Sound) through 4 June 2017 was estimated to be 51,505 pounds, leaving 13,457 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 Saturday, 10 June 2017. State fishery managers will then review the catch and announce if sufficient quota remains for additional openings. The next potential fishing day would be Saturday, 17 June 2017.

Columbia River (WDFW Marine Area 1, ODFW Columbia River Subarea) Nearshore Sport Fishery

The preliminary poundage remaining for the Columbia River nearshore sport Pacific halibut fishery as of 4 June 2017 was estimated to be 1,511 pounds, including the carryover of 1,011 pounds from the Columbia River all-depth fishery. Therefore, the Columbia River (WDFW Marine Area 1, ODFW Columbia River Subarea) nearshore sport Pacific halibut fishery extends its opening on Thursday, 8 June 2017. From this date, the nearshore fishery allows Pacific halibut retention with bottomfish on board in the Columbia River nearshore sport fishery seven days a week until further notice.

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=1985

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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