OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife updated its halibut season, opening late season all-depth recreational halibut fishing beginning Aug. 16 and raising the annual halibut limit to six.
In Marine areas 3 and 4 (Neah Bay and La Push), the halibut fishery is open Aug. 16 through Sept. 30 as long as there remain sufficient quota of fish. The combined quota for both areas is 132,366 pounds.
In Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, sablefish, Pacific cod, and lingcod may be retained in waters seaward of the 120-foot bottomfish closure on days open for halibut.
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu to Lyre River) and marine areas 6 (Lyre River to Port Townsend), 9 (Admiralty Strait to Hood Canal) is also open Aug. 16 through Sept. 30. This area will be managed for a quota of 81,729 pounds.
In Marine areas 5 through 9, lingcod may not be retained. In Marine Area 5, Pacific cod and sablefish may be retained in waters deeper than 120 feet on days open for halibut. The daily limit is two (2) of each species.
In Marine Area 6, Pacific cod may be retained in waters deeper than 120 feet on days open for halibut.
Marine Area 11 (Hood Canal) is closed to halibut.
The daily limit is one halibut per angler with no minimum size limit, and an annual limit of six halibut. All catches must be immediately recorded on a WDFW catch record card. The possession limit is two daily limits in any form, except only one daily limit while aboard the fishing vessel. Anglers cannot fish for, retain, possess, or land halibut into a port located within an area that is closed to halibut fishing.
Recreational halibut is quota managed and days open are dependent on available quota and areas will close when the quota is projected to be taken.
Bottomfish update
The WDFW will also close retention and possession of copper, quillback and vermillion rockfish in coastal marine areas, including Marine Area 4, La Push west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, from Aug. 1 to Oct. 19.
According tot he WDFW, preliminary in-season estimates through mid-July indicate total mortality is likely to exceed the state-specific federal annual limit set for these species. The populations of these rockfish species are likely healthy but smaller than previously understood.
Retention of these species was going to be allowed in August, September and through the third Saturday in October. However, this action is required to reduce catch to stay within state-specific federal annual limits.
Dave Bergeron/WDFW The late-season halibut fishery opens on the outer coast and the Strait of Juan de Fuca on August 16.
