[ODFW-News] Season opens for Pacific halibut sport fishing

[Odfw News]

For Immediate Release Tuesday, May 3, 2005
 
Season opens for Pacific halibut sport fishing

NEWPORT - Sport fishing for Pacific halibut off the Oregon central coast
opened May 1 in near-shore waters (less than 40 fathoms), and the
all-depth halibut fishery for Oregon's central coast between Cape Falcon
and Humbug Mountain will open May 12. 

This year's sport and commercial combined halibut quota is 1.33 million
pounds for Oregon, California and Washington - down nearly 10 percent
from last year, but approximately the same as the quota for the 2002 and
2003 fishery.

Anglers will note two changes to the 2005 fishery. There is no minimum
length for Pacific halibut. In previous years, halibut less than
32-inches long had to be released. And, sport anglers this year are not
required to keep the first fish they catch.

The central coast spring all-depth season dates are May 12-14, 19-21 and
June 2-4, 9-11 from Cape Falcon (30 miles south of the Columbia River)
south to Humbug Mountain (south of Port Orford). The gap in late May
(26-28) during the Thursday through Saturday pattern avoids days with
extreme low tides, when bar crossings out of Oregon ports can be
dangerous. 

Additional fishing days could be added if anglers don't reach the spring
quota of 173,372 pounds. There are 12 fixed days with a potential of 21
total for May, June and July. Those additional dates are June 30, July
1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 28, 29 and 30. The open days will be announced on the
National Marine Fisheries Service hotline (1-800-662-9825) and posted on
the ODFW Marine Resources Program Web site, www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP
<http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP> 
The high-relief area of Stonewall Bank is closed to halibut fishing to
reduce incidental catch of yelloweye rockfish and canary rockfish. Both
species are considered over-fished and must be released immediately. The
closed area is defined by latitude and longitude waypoints, which are
available on the ODFW Marine Resources Program Web site.

For the summer all-depth sport halibut season the quota for the Oregon
central coast is 57,791 pounds. The fishery will be open on the
following dates until the quota is taken: Aug. 5, 6, 7, 19, 20, 21 and
Sept. 2, 3, 4, 16, 17, 18, 30 and Oct. 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 28, 29 and 30.
More days and possibly a second fish to the bag limit will be added if
the catch is low.

The fishery north of Cape Falcon (north coast) and south of Humbug
Mountain (south coast) also opened May 1 in all-depth waters seven days
a week until those areas take their quota. The quotas are 13,747 for the
north coast fishery and 7,984 for the south coast.

Sport anglers are reminded possession of groundfish is not allowed north
of Humbug Mountain when a Pacific halibut is aboard their vessel during
all-depth Pacific halibut dates. The one exception is sablefish (black
cod), which may be retained with halibut in May and October. Other
non-groundfish species, such as tuna and salmon during authorized
seasons, may be possessed with halibut on open all-depth Pacific halibut
days.
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