NEWPORT, Ore. – Fishing was so good off the central coast last weekend that anglers took the entire remaining Pacific halibut quota for the season, closing the popular fishery.

 “Anglers took advantage of good ocean conditions last weekend and exceeded the remaining quota for the all-depth fishery,” said Don Bodenmiller, sport halibut project leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.   “In fact fishing was so good the overage exceeded the remaining quota in the nearshore fishery (inside 40-fathom line).”

NOAA Fisheries, the International Pacific Halibut Commission, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife met today and determined no quota remains to continue the central coast fishery. Therefore, fishery managers decided today that the all-depth sport halibut fishery off the central Oregon coast will not reopen and the nearshore fishery (inside 40 fathoms) will also close on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m.

The Columbia River sub area, from Cape Falcon (30 miles south of the Columbia River) to Leadbetter Point, Wash. (north of the mouth of the Columbia River) , remains open Fridays through Sundays. 

“Catch in the Columbia River subarea during the opener last week was poor and the fishery will continue for now,” said Bodenmiller. 

Seventy-four percent, or 3,304 pounds, of the summer quota remain for the Columbia River sub area. Fishing will continue every Friday through Sunday until the quota is taken or Sept. 27, which ever occurs first.

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