Sport anglers get more all-depth halibut days
Jun 29,2007 00:00 by Bend_Weekly_News_Sources

NEWPORT, Ore – The all-depth sport halibut fishery off the central Oregon coast will reopen July 5, 6 and 7.

About 40,000 pounds remain of the quota for the central Oregon coast – from Cape Falcon 30 miles south of the Columbia River, to Humbug Mountain south of Port Orford.

If sufficient quota remains after July 7, the spring fishery will continue on one or more of the following days: July 21, 20 and 19, with preference given to Saturday, then Friday, then Thursday. The spring all-depth quota is 170,242-pounds. “These dates were set preseason in case quota remained,” said Don Bodenmiller, sport halibut project leader for ODFW.  

Open dates will be announced on the National Marine Fisheries Service hotline (1-800-662-9825) and posted on the ODFW Marine Resources Program Web site at www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/.

The summer central Oregon coast all-depth halibut fishery opens Aug. 3 and is scheduled to be open every other Friday-Sunday until the combined spring and summer season all-depth quota of 226,989 pounds is taken or October 28, whichever comes first. 

Sport anglers are reminded the high-relief area of Stonewall Bank is closed to halibut fishing to reduce incidental catch of yelloweye rockfish and canary rockfish. The closed area is defined by latitude and longitude waypoints, which are available on the Marine Resources Program Web site.

Sport anglers are also reminded that possession of groundfish species is not allowed north of Humbug Mountain when a Pacific halibut is aboard their vessel during all-depth Pacific halibut dates. The exception is sablefish, black cod, which may be retained with halibut between Humbug Mountain and Cape Falcon.

Other non-groundfish species, such as tuna and salmon during authorized seasons, may be possessed with halibut on open all-depth Pacific halibut days.

More details on regulations can be found here or in the 2007 Oregon Sport Ocean Regulations for Salmon, Halibut and Other Marine Species booklet. General regulations can be found in the 2007 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.