HALIBUT ANGLERS THOUGHT an 11-day fishery in most marine areas was bad in 2015. And an eight-day season this year was even worse.
Well, folks, hold on to your ’buts, because the 2017 season will likely offer a scant five days of halibut fishing off the Pacific Coast, along the Strait of Juan de Fuca and in open marine areas of Puget Sound.
And the kicker? The proposed fishing dates in the two options developed by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and recommend for adoption for public review to the Pacific Fishery Management Council do not include Memorial Day weekend, the traditional dates of the Port Angeles Salmon Club’s annual Halibut Derby.
Option A would allow halibut fishing in traditional halibut areas (Marine Areas 3-6 and 9 here on the North Olympic Peninsula) on three Tuesdays (May 2, 9 and 23) and two Saturdays (May 6, 20). If sufficient quota remains, halibut would be open Saturday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 6.
Option B would move in a Thursday/Sunday direction with halibut open three Thursdays (May 4, 11 and 25) and two Sundays (May 7 and 21). Additional fishing days, provided quota remains after those dates, are Sunday, June 4 and Thursday, June 8.
Detailed in a document at tinyurl.com/PDN-ProposedHalibut, Fish and Wildlife’s primary objective is to have consistent dates where seasons have been significantly reduced as a result of increased effort, which has resulted in increased catch.
Those areas have been marine areas 2-4 and throughout the Strait and Puget Sound.
The intent is for anglers to choose where they want to fish for halibut, rather than fish multiple areas during staggered seasons, in an effort to potentially maximize each area’s halibut opportunity.
The Council is scheduled to adopt the final changes to the 2017 halibut catch sharing plan and annual fishing regulations at its Nov. 13-21 meeting in Garden Grove, Calif.
Death blow for derby?
Adopting these dates would effectively kill off Port Angeles’ annual Halibut Derby, a derby that has seen more than 500 anglers, many from off the Peninsula or even out of state, compete to land the largest flatfish and a $10,000 first prize.
Bryan Bukovnik, the past president of the Port Angeles Salmon Club, was disappointed when told the halibut options for 2017 were so limited.
“That’s a bummer,” Buknovik said.
“We knew the seasons have been going downhill and downhill [in length] each year, and luckily they’ve given us that Memorial Day weekend opening. That made it nice for the fishermen, and nice for Port Angeles, because those 500 to 600 folks aren’t all from the Peninsula. Most of them are visitors who come and shop in town and spend a night or two at a motel.”
Buknovik said the spectre of a reduced halibut fishery has been a longstanding cause of concern among club members.
“Every year we’ve been worried,” he said.
“It’s hard to even plan for it because we don’t know what we will end up with.”
Buknovik said the club will likely meet in November to discuss its next steps.
“I don’t know what the club will do now,” Buknovik said.
“We will need to have a meeting and discuss what we do. We as a club want to do the best thing for the people, the town, and everyone involved.”
Buknovik would like to see the city of Port Angeles and the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce begin to advocate for area fishing interests.
“Honestly, I think Port Angeles, is crazy not to have lobbyists for our salmon fishing, our halibut fishing,” Buknovik said.
“If we could see the city of Port Angeles put out a little bit of effort on this, I mean we still bring a lot of people to town who are spending a good chunk of change here. I just wish the city would back us a little bit.”
Another shift proposed for 2017 would be the addition of in-season quota monitoring for the Puget Sound region similar to what currently exists for coastal subareas.
Through this sampling approach, halibut catch and effort will be available on a weekly basis. Fish and Wildlife believes in-season quota management will boost the department’s ability to track catches and recommend season closures if quotas are realized.
That’s the reason for “a management closure,” i.e. the gap in dates in May 2017 in both proposed halibut season options to assess catch totals.
So those five days could shrink even further if banner catch totals were recorded early in the season.
It is important to note these are proposed changes that have yet to be adopted by the Council.
Public comments can be sent via email to pfmc.comments@noaa.gov, by fax to 503-820-2299 or by mail to
Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, Oregon 97220-1384.
Anglers to meet
Bruce Bryant, an avid tuna angler and the general manager of Platypus Marine in Port Angeles, will speak at Thursday’s meeting of the Puget Sound Anglers’ North Olympic Peninsula Chapter in Sequim.
A chapter member, Bryant has donated fishing trip prizes to the club for years, and never fails to get on the tuna.
He will discuss how it’s done and show a video he filmed on his boat.
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. for viewing the raffle prizes and fish stories.
A short club business meeting begins at 7 p.m. and Bryant will follow soon after.
The club meets at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave.
Refreshments, raffles for fishing gear and a $50 membership drawing (must be present to win) also are planned.
The event is open to the public.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
