May 24, 1996

1996 Halibut Landing Report No. 2

First Oregon Sport Halibut Season to Close May 25

The preliminary catch estimate for the 1996 sport halibut fishery between Cape Falcon (latitude 45°46´00´´ N.) and the Florence North Jetty (Siuslaw River, latitude 44°01´08´´ N.) indicates the 64,392 pound catch limit will be reached on May 25. Therefore, the sport halibut fishery in this area will close at 11:59 p.m. on May 25.

Sport fishing for Pacific halibut will re-open on May 26 and remain open through August 1, seven days a week, only in the area inside the 30-fathom curve nearest to the coastline as plotted on National Ocean Service charts numbered 18520, 18580, and 18600 from Cape Falcon to the Florence North Jetty (Siuslaw River), or until 6,629 pounds are estimated to have been taken and the season is closed by the Commission, whichever occurs first. Any poundage remaining unharvested after the earlier season will be added to this season. The daily bag limit remains two halibut per person, one with a minimum overall size limit of 32 inches and the second with a minimum overall size limit of 50 inches.

First Southwest Washington Coast Sport Halibut Fishery Season to Close May 26

The sport halibut fishery off the Southwest Washington coast (Queets River south to Leadbetter Point) will reach the sub-quota of 14,222 pounds at the conclusion of fishing on Sunday, May 26. Therefore, the fishery will close at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, May 26.

In accordance with the pre-season catch sharing plan developed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, this fishery will immediately re-open on Monday, May 27, only in the near-shore area (south of the Queets River to 47°00´00´´ N. latitude and east of 124°40´00´´ W. longitude), until the remaining quota of about 1,000 pounds is reached. The fishery will be open seven days a week, with a one fish bag limit and no minimum size limit, until the remaining quota is harvested and the season is closed by the Commission or until September 30, whichever occurs first.

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