ODFW release – Columbia River Subarea: The Columbia River subarea all-depth halibut fishing season will be closed, effective Saturday, July 1. The current season structure states that only Thursdays and Sundays are open to all-depth halibut fishing during this last week of June, so Thursday, June 29, will be the last day to fish for all-depth halibut in this subarea. This Columbia River subarea is managed collectively by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Following June 18, the Columbia River subarea was estimated at 6,162 pounds (or 34%) of the allocation remaining. Once halibut data is available for the entire month of June, we (ODFW, WDFW and NMFS) will see if we have enough remaining quota to open up additional all-depth halibut fishing days for this subarea in August and/or September. The Columbia River subarea nearshore halibut fishery remains open weekly from Monday-Wednesday until quota is obtained or September 30. Central Coast and Southern Oregon Subareas: The Central Coast subarea will be restricted to nearshore halibut fishing July 1-9, July 17-23 and July 31 – August 2 (the summer all-depth season begins August 3). The remaining spring all-depth halibut fishing back-up dates are July 10-16 and July 24-30. The daily bag limit remains two fish per angler south of Cape Falcon and will remain in place during the summer all-depth season and nearshore halibut fishing opportunities. Please see the sport halibut website for additional information. Bottomfish Highlights: Yelloweye rockfish and quillback rockfish remain prohibited. Cabezon will be legal to retain beginning July 1 with a sub-bag limit of 1 per angler (counts as part of the General Marine Species bag limit – currently 5 per angler). Anglers are required to use a descending device on any rockfish released westward of the 40-fathom regulatory line, please continue to descend any rockfish showing signs of barotrauma.
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