NEWPORT, Ore. – The sport halibut fishery off the Columbia River will close Aug. 12 at 11:59 pm. 

NOAA fisheries, the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife met by conference call today and announced the closure based on a catch projection indicating the quota will be reached by the end of fishing on Aug. 12, 2007.

About 3,200 pounds remain in the quota for the fishery on Friday, August 10 through Sunday, August 12 off the Columbia River – from Cape Falcon, Oregon, to Leadbetter Pt., Washington.  Catch the prior Friday through Sunday was over 3,100 pounds.

Fishery managers will review the August 10-12 catch on Aug. 16 to determine if sufficient quota remains to re-open the fishery.  No date was set for reopening the fishery if sufficient quota remains for at least one more day of fishing.  

Sport anglers planning to fish this weekend out of Columbia River ports are reminded possession of groundfish species is not allowed when a Pacific halibut is aboard their vessel . The exception is sablefish (black cod) and Pacific cod, which may be retained with halibut. Other non-groundfish species, such as tuna and salmon during authorized seasons, may be possessed with halibut on open Pacific halibut days.

More details on regulations can be found at: www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/halibut/fishing/seasonmaps/seasonmap_current.asp 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.