05-04-2005, 04:58 AM
[font "Arial"][size 2]Season opens for Pacific halibut sport fishing[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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. [/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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. [/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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, [/size][/font][url "http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP"][font "Arial"][size 2]www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP[/size][/font][/url]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
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[font "Arial"][size 2]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. [/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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. [/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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, [/size][/font][url "http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP"][font "Arial"][size 2]www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP[/size][/font][/url]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
[font "Arial"][size 2]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.[/size][/font]
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