Central Oregon Coast Halibut Fishery Closes

The Columbia River sub-area fishery north of Cape Falcon is also CLOSED for the remainder of 2007.

Salem-News.com

NEWPORT, Ore. - Fisheries managers have CLOSED the all-depth Pacific halibut sport fishery off the Oregon central coast from Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon after anglers met their quota.

Anglers may continue to fish for Pacific halibut south of Humbug Mountain, but the nearshore waters inside 40 fathoms off the central coast are CLOSED as of 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20.

The Columbia River sub-area fishery north of Cape Falcon is also CLOSED for the remainder of 2007.

“This has been one of Oregon’s most successful sport halibut seasons,” said Don Bodenmiller, sport halibut project leader for ODFW. “Oregon’s sport halibut quota was more than 268,000 pounds. That’s more than twice the halibut quota of 10 years ago.”

Earlier this month fisheries managers increased the all-depth fishery daily bag limit in the central coast fishery from one to two fish.

The fishery was scheduled to close the end of October if the quota was not achieved.

“In past years we sometimes left fish on the table,” Bodenmiller noted. “We wanted to provide plenty of opportunity for anglers because we know that many fishermen have other things to do in October – like go hunting.”

For more information may be found on the National Marine Fisheries Service hotline (1-800-662-9825) and posted on the ODFW Marine Resources Program web site at: www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/

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