1995 Halibut Landing Report No. 13

Area 2A Non-treaty Commercial Fishery to Reopen on August 29

The August 15 fishing period in Area 2A resulted in a catch of 25,000 pounds. The revised total commercial catch from Area 2A to date is 73,000 pounds, leaving approximately 32,000 pounds to be taken.

Area 2A will reopen on August 29 for 10 hours from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. The fishery is restricted to waters that are south of Point Chehalis, Washington (46o53'18"N. latitude) under regulations promulgated by National Marine Fisheries Service. Fishing period limits as indicated in the following table will be in effect for this opening.

The appropriate vessel length class and letter is printed on each halibut license.

The fishing period limit is shown in terms of dressed, head-off weight as well as dressed, head-on weight, although fishermen are reminded that regulations require that all halibut from Area 2A be landed with the head on.

The fishing period limit applies to the vessel, not the individual fisherman, and any landings over the vessel limit will be subject to forfeiture and fine.

Area 2A Sport Halibut Fishery Update

The sport halibut seasons in Area 2A are managed by either fixed-seasons or by in-season monitoring of catch limits. Fixed-seasons are set for Washington Inside Waters and California Coastal Waters. Catch limits monitored by creel surveys cover the North Washington Coast, South Washington Coast, Columbia River, and the Oregon Coast.

Washington Inside Waters. Sport fishing for halibut in waters east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line closed for the year as scheduled on July 29. Post-season accounting of the harvest will be conducted in late summer and early fall.

North Washington Coast Sport Fishery to Re-Open. The North Washington Coast (waters west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line and south to the Queets River) sport halibut fishery will re-open for two days, September 3 and 4. Approximately 7,000 pounds of the 71,410 pound quota remain to be harvested. Catch and effort during previous openings on July 1 and July 29 were low, allowing an additional opening. The daily bag limit will be one halibut per person, with no size limit. All other published sport fishery regulations, including the closed area southwest of Cape Flattery, will be in effect.

South Washington Coast. The South Washington Coast fishery (Queets River to Leadbetter Point) closed July 4, and exceeded its catch limit by 472 pounds.

Columbia River Area. This area (Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon) remains open seven days a week with a one fish daily bag limit and a minimum size limit of 32 inches. Approximately 1,200 pounds of a 4,617 pound catch limit has been harvested. All reported landings have occurred in Washington. This fishery will close September 30 or when the catch limit is reached, whichever occurs earlier.

Oregon Coastal Waters. All waters off the coast of Oregon from Cape Falcon to the California border are now closed to sport halibut fishing. An all-depth two day fishery on August 2 and 3 set record high daily catch rates and harvested 21,835 pounds. The 94,694 pound catch limit was exceeded by 6,310 pounds.

California Coastal Waters. Coastal waters from the Oregon-California border remain open 7 days per week with a daily bag limit of one halibut and a minimum size limit of 32 inches. This area will close for the year on September 30.

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