OUTDOORS: Thursday’s halibut fishery off LaPush and Neah Bay closed by state, Saturday still open

NEAH BAY — Thursday’s halibut fishery in Marine Areas 3 (LaPush) and 4 (Neah Bay) has been cut after state Department of Fish and Wildlife fish managers checked catch totals from last weekend’s opener.

Anglers brought in 70,000 pounds of the areas’ 108,000 pound halibut quota during last week’s two-day opener, necessitating the elimination of Thursday’s halibut fishery, according to Wendy Beeghley, Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist for the coastal region.

Halibut fishing will still be open Saturday, but the season will close off LaPush and Neah Bay after the day’s fishing closes.

“Clearly [the remaining quota] wasn’t enough for two days of fishing at the rate we saw last week,” Beeghley said.