The July 9 non-treaty commercial fishing period in Area 2A resulted in a catch of about 85,000 pounds, leaving 57,700 pounds in the directed commercial catch limit.

Area 2A will reopen on July 23 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 (46^o53’18" 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.

*Weights are after 2% has been deducted for ice and slime if fish are not washed prior to weighing.

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

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

In 2003, NMFS implemented mandatory depth-based area closures that are in effect for the directed halibut fishery to protect specific rockfish species. NMFS has mailed information on the closures to license holders. For further information, call the NMFS hotline at 1-800-662-9825, then press "5" for the halibut fisheries.

The total allowable incidental commercial catch of halibut allocated to the Area 2A salmon troll fishery is 39,300 pounds. The estimate of halibut landed through July 6 in Oregon is 3,080 pounds and in Washington is 17,600 pounds (net weight). Therefore, 18,620 pounds remain in the catch limit. The incidental halibut catch fishery during the salmon troll season remains open until further notice.

The total allowable incidental commercial catch of halibut allocated to the limited entry, fixed gear sablefish fishery which operates in Area 2A north of Point Chehalis, Washington is 70,000 pounds. It is estimated that 16,755 pounds have been landed through July 10. This incidental halibut catch fishery remains open until further notice.

The Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca sport halibut fishery east of Low Point closes on July 18. Sport halibut fishing west of Low Point to the Sekiu River closes on August 1. The combined projected harvest for the season is 63,278 pounds.

Preliminary estimates through June 21 for the north Washington coast sport halibut fishery (Sekiu River to the Queets River) indicate that the harvest is 102,261 pounds, or 11,654 pounds short of the 113,915 pound catch limit. Therefore, the north Washington coast sport halibut sport fishery will re-open for one day on Saturday, August 9, 2003. The daily bag and possession limit is one fish. There is no size limit for this area.

Preliminary estimates through July 6 for the south Washington coast sport halibut fishery (Queets River to Leadbetter Point) indicate that 9,753 pounds remain to be harvested from the quota of 48,623 pounds. As of June 27, the open fishing days were increased to seven days a week for all depths. This was done in response to declining effort on halibut and a corresponding increase in effort on salmon. The daily bag and possession limit is one fish, with no size limit.

The preliminary catch estimate for the Columbia River sport halibut fishery (Leadbetter Point to Cape Falcon) through July 6 is 8,767 pounds, leaving 3,156 pounds to be caught. Fishing effort on halibut in this area has also dropped off in deference to salmon. The bag limit is the first halibut landed at 32 inches or longer.

The August-September all-depth season in the Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain area will be open on Fridays and Saturdays, August 1, 2, 8, and 9. The revised quota for the fishery is 114,814 pounds and includes poundage remaining from the spring fishery. The first halibut taken with a length of 32 inches or greater must be kept. The daily bag limit is one fish and the possession limit is one fish at sea and two fish on land. Halibut sport fishing continues to be open inside the 30-fathom curve from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. This fishery is open seven days a week and the same length, bag and possession limits as in the all-depth fishery apply. Details on catch and regulations for all Oregon sub-areas can be found at www.hmsc.orst.edu/odfw/regs/halibut.html.

The sport halibut fishery south of Humbug Mountain opened on May 1 and will remain open through September 30, 2003. This fishery is open seven days a week with a one halibut bag and possession limit. The first halibut taken with a length of 32 inches or greater must be kept. The projected catch at season’s end is 7,860 pounds.

Quota Share Commercial Fishery Update