Marine Area 1 (ilwaco) Will Close To Halibut Fishing - Additional Day For Marine Areas 3-10

All-depth recreational halibut fishing will close off Ilwaco,
continue in most other marine areas

Action: Recreational halibut fishing in the all-depth area will close in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), effective at the end of the day Thursday, May 25. Marine Areas 3 (La Push), 4 (Neah Bay), and 5-10 (Puget Sound) will be open to recreational halibut fishing for another day on Thursday, June 1.

Effective date: 11:59 p.m. Thursday, May 25, 2017

Species affected: Pacific halibut

Location:  Marine Areas 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Reason for action:  There is not sufficient quota remaining to allow another all-depth fishing day in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) after Thursday, May 25. There is, however, enough quota reserved to continue to allow halibut retention with bottomfish on board in the nearshore area of Marine Area 1 Mondays through Wednesdays until further notice.  Any quota not taken in the all-depth fishery will be transferred to the quota available for the nearshore area. 

Sufficient quota remains to open another fishing day in the north coast (Marine Areas 3 and 4) and Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5-10) on Thurs. June 1. Catch data will be evaluated following the opening on June 1 to determine if enough quota remains for additional fishing days in the north coast and Puget Sound. 

These rules conform to action taken by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). 

Additional information: There is not sufficient quota remaining to open the nearshore fishery in Marine Area 2 (Westport). This area will remain closed to recreational halibut fishing for the remainder of the year.

Information contact: Heather Reed, (360) 902-2487