All-depth halibut angling closed until August

NEWPORT – With only about 9,500 pounds remaining in the halibut quota, fishery managers closed the spring all-depth Pacific halibut fishery for the central Oregon coast.

The spring all-depth Pacific halibut fishery for the central coast subarea (from Cape Falcon south to Humbug Mountain) was open 17 days (two days longer than the spring season last year), resulting in the harvest of approximately 111,000 pounds of Pacific halibut.

After the most recent opening on June 29-30, only about 9,500 pounds remained in the quota — not enough to have another spring all-depth opening, according to Lynn Mattes, ODFW halibut fisheries project leader.

Instead, remaining quota will be transferred to the nearshore and summer all-depth fisheries. The summer all-depth fishery will open Aug. 3-4 with a quota of approximately 53,000 pounds.

The summer season for the central coast all-depth fishery is scheduled to be open every other Friday and Saturday until the all-depth quota is taken or Oct. 27, whichever comes first.

More details on regulations can be found online at www.dfw.state.or.us/ MRP/finfish/halibut/index.asp, or in the 2012 Oregon Sport Ocean Regulations for Salmon, Halibut and other Marine Species booklet.

General regulations can be found in the 2012 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.

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