NEWPORT, Ore – On Saturday, Sept. 27, halibut sport anglers get one more all-depth day to catch a Pacific halibut off the central Oregon coast, from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain.

At a meeting Thursday morning fishery managers determined there was insufficient quota to reopen the fishery under a two fish daily bag limit, but there was enough quota left in the central coast all-depth Pacific halibut fishery to open for one more day with a one-fish limit.

The central Oregon coast all-depth halibut fishery had a combined spring and summer season all-depth quota of 212,769 pounds. Fishers came close to taking the 2008 season quota when the daily limit was increased to two fish over recent weekends. 

 “Anglers are reminded that this Saturday the limit is back to one fish,” said Don Bodenmiller, sport halibut project leader for ODFW.

In addition to the all-depth halibut fishery, anglers along the central coast may continue to fish for halibut nearshore of the 40-fathom line every day until the earlier of Oct. 31 or attainment of that quota. The daily bag limit for the nearshore fishery remains at one halibut. The 40-fathom line is defined by waypoints.

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 website.

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 at: 2008 Pacific Halibut Sport Seasons in Oregon or in the 2008 Oregon Sport Ocean Regulations for Salmon, Halibut and Other Marine Species booklet. General regulations can be found in the 2008 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations booklet.

###