State Department of Fish & Wildlife report – Thursday, June 7 2012

The recreational halibut fishery will close in the northern nearshore area of Marine Area 2 at the end of the day Friday (June 8), while marine areas 3 and 4 will reopen for one more day of fishing June 14.

Heather Reed, a fish biologist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said anglers are expected to reach the halibut quota for the northern nearshore area of Marine Area 2 (Westport) by the end of the day June 8.

The rest of Marine Area 2 is already closed to halibut fishing.

However, there is sufficient poundage remaining under the north coast halibut quota to allow another day of halibut fishing in marine areas 3 (LaPush) and 4 (Neah Bay). Those two areas have been closed since June 2.

Reed said the amount of quota remaining will allow for only one weekday of fishing.

“Unfortunately we risk exceeding the quota if we were to open on a Saturday,” she said. “But after the June 14 opener, we will once again tally the catch and see if we can provide another opportunity on the north coast.”

In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-halibut daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction.