4/5/12 ACTION NOTICE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) has adopted a set of final ocean salmon fishery seasons. These seasons must still be approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, as well as, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission before becoming law. The final PFMC proposed commercial and sport regulations will be available on their website within the next few days.

A graphic summary of the commercial seasons proposed off Oregon: Oregon Troll Seasons (pdf). Troll fishers are advised to make sure to print and review the full regulation package from the PFMC prior to fishing.

3/6/12 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service in consultation with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the State of Oregon, and fishery representatives has taken the following in-season management actions to modify the previously scheduled March 15 openings in the ocean commercial troll Chinook salmon seasons off Oregon:

The area between Cape Falcon and the Oregon/California Border will open for commercial troll Chinook fishing for the period of April 1 - 30. Fishery managers agreed that this was needed to reduce impacts on Columbia River tule Chinook in order to provide more flexibility in the other season options that are under development. Vessels are limited to no more than four spreads per wire, and Chinook must be 28 inches or larger to be retained.

Within the area adjacent to Tillamook Bay, between Twin Rocks and Pyramid Rock, and inside the 15 fathom depth contour, only adipose fin clipped Chinook may be retained or on board a vessel while fishing.

Seasons from May 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013 are currently being developed. Season alternatives will be reviewed and a final season recommendation made at the Pacific Fishery Management Council public meeting in Seattle, Washington by April 6.

3/6/12 ACTION NOTICE: The National Marine Fisheries Service in consultation with the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the State of Oregon, and fishery interests has reviewed the recreational Chinook salmon seasons adopted under the 2011 regulation setting process, and the season scheduled to be open for Chinook salmon from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mt. will occur as scheduled for the period of March 15 through April 30. All retained Chinook salmon must be 24 inches or larger.

Anglers fishing in ocean waters adjacent to Tillamook Bay between Twin Rocks and Pyramid Rock and within the 15 fathom depth contour are reminded that only adipose fin clipped Chinook salmon may be retained or on board while fishing.

Seasons from May 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013 are currently being developed. Season alternatives will be reviewed and a final season recommendation made at the Pacific Fishery Management Council public meeting in Seattle, Washington by April 6.

OCEAN SALMON MEETING NOTICE: The 2012 Ocean Salmon Industry Group meeting (OSIG) is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, 2012. This pre-season planning meeting will give an early look at the 2012 salmon forecasts, and develop recreational and commercial ocean salmon fishing concepts to take forward through the Pacific Fishery Management Council regulation setting process. The OSIG meeting will be held at the Hallmark Resort Hotel, 744 SW Elizabeth St., Newport.

The OSIG meeting is sponsored by the Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and is open to all ocean anglers, commercial salmon troll fishers, and others interested in participating in the development of ocean salmon fishery regulations for the 2012 season. Staff from ODFW will provide background materials and presentations and then work with meeting attendees to develop preferred alternatives to take forward to the Pacific Fishery Management Council's season setting process. The meeting is expected to start at 9:30 AM and conclude by 3:30 PM. The agenda for the meeting is now available HERE. The Briefing Document Packet can be downloaded HERE.

The first of the two salmon season setting meetings by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel Sacramento from March 2-7 (salmon issues are scheduled to be concluded by March 6). This meeting in Sacramento will establish a range of options for further review. The final season setting meeting will occur at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel from April 1-6. More information can be found at the PFMC's website.

8/11/2011 NEWS RELEASE/ACTION NOTICE:

Contact: Lynn Mattes or Patrick Mirick (541) 867-4741

All-depth halibut fishing on the central coast ends; nearshore fishing reopens

NEWPORT, Ore. – Fishery managers decided today that the central coast all-depth Pacific halibut fishery will not reopen again this year because of insufficient quota.

The central coast fishery, from Cape Falcon just north of Manzanita to Humbug Mountain near Port Orford, is the most popular halibut fishery among Oregonians. However, with only 11,000 pounds of the original 41,763 pound quota remaining, there are not enough fish for additional days in the all-depth fishery. Instead, the remaining all-depth quota will be transferred to the nearshore (inside 40 fathoms) fishery, which reopens Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011.

“Reopening the nearshore fishery will allow for additional halibut fishing without exceeding the Central Oregon quota,” said Lynn Mattes, sport halibut project leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “While 11,000 pounds isn’t enough for an additional all-depth day, it should add several weeks to the nearshore fishery, which generally proceeds at a slower pace.”

The summer fishery opened Aug. 5 and 6 with a quota of 41,763 pounds, which included adjustments from the spring all-depth and nearshore fisheries.  Catch during the first opening was approximately 31,000 pounds.

As in the all-depth fishery, anglers participating in the reopened nearshore fishery will not be allowed to retain or possess any bottomfish when halibut are onboard the vessel.

Halibut fishing also continues along the north and south Oregon coasts. The Columbia River fishery (from Leadbetter Point, Wash., to Cape Falcon, Ore.) is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Sept. 30 or until the remaining quota of approximately 4,900 pounds is attained. South of Humbug Mountain the season is open seven days a week through Oct. 31.

More details on regulations, 2011 Pacific Halibut Sport Regulations (pdf) or in the 2011 Oregon Sport Ocean Regulations for Salmon, Halibut and Other Marine Species booklet. General regulations can be found in the 2011 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.

7/28/2011 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action with respect to the incidental Pacific halibut season for commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border through California - International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) area 2A.

ACTION TAKEN: The retention of Pacific halibut by commercial troll salmon fishers who are holders of IPHC incidental troll halibut permits will be authorized effective Friday, July 29 through the earlier of attainment of the remaining halibut quota or October 31. Trollers are limited to 1 Pacific halibut with a minimum length of 32 inches per each Friday through Thursday, seven day period. Trollers landing Pacific halibut into any Oregon port are required to notify the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife by calling (541)867-0300 ext. 271. The notification must be made within one hour of landing the halibut and include the vessel name and number, the number of pounds of Pacific halibut landed, the port of landing, and the location and estimated time of delivery.

6/3/11 ACTION NOTICE: The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission has approved the ocean commercial and recreational state waters fall Chinook terminal area seasons for waters off Tillamook Bay, the Elk River, and the Chetco River. In addition a new September commercial season was adopted off the mouths of the Coos and Coquille estuaries. Detailed charts and regulations will be available by following the links on the Regulations and Landmark Locations page.

A table summarizing the adopted seasons follows: