Halibut Seasons Set

Halibut seasons have finally been set for the year - quotas have been decreased and the amount of time given to fish has likewise been cut down. Stop by the shop to get a full breakdown of the season or take a look at the WDFW website for the concise rundown.

Columbia River (Ilwaco): Marine Area 1 will open May 1, three daysa week. Thursday through Saturday until 70 percent of the quota is reached, or until July 18. The fishery fishery will then reopen on Aug 7 and continue three days a week (Friday through Sunday) until the remaining quota is reached, or Sept 30, whichever occurs first. The 2009 quota is 15,735 pounds.

South Coast (Westport/Ocean Shores): Marine Area 2 will open on May 3, two days a week, Sundays and Tuesdays, through May 12. Starting May 17, the fishery will be open on Sundays only until the quota is reached. The northern nearshore area will be open on Fridays and Saturdays in addition to the days the offshore area is open, until the quota is reached. The 2009 catch quota is 42,739 pounds.

North Coast (La Push/Neah Bay): Marine areas 3 and 4 will open May 14th, two days a week, Thursdays and Saturdays, through May23. If sufficient quota remains, the fishery will reopen June 4 and 6. If sufficient quota remains after the opener, the fishery will reopen starting June 18. The fishery will continue to be open as a priority in the offshore area. However, if there is sufficient quota to open the fishery one more day in the offshore area, the fishery will be open in the nearshore area only (Area 4B and shoreward of a line approximating 30 fathoms from the Bonilla-Tatoosh line south to the Queets River). The 2009 catch quota is 108,030pounds.

Straight of Juan de Fuca/Puget Sound: Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) will be open May 21 through July 3, Marine areas 6-11 and 13 (Port Angeles and Puget Sound) will open April 23 through June 5. These fisheries will be open five days a week, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The 2009 combined catch quota for these areas is 57,393 pounds.

Make sure to look at he formal WDFW regulations as there are more subtile restrictions associated with this fishery.