Columbia River nearshore fishery closes, June 9

The Pacific halibut nearshore sport fishery in the Columbia River Subarea will close for the remainder of the year effective Wednesday, June 8 at 11:59 p.m., fishery managers announced Monday, June 6. According to Lynn Mattes, halibut project leader for ODFW, fishery managers determined that the entire sport Pacific halibut fishery quota for the Columbia River Subarea is projected to be met and that the fishery will be closed for the remainder of the year. Opportunities to fish for Pacific halibut still remain open in other areas of Oregon. Off the central Oregon coast between Cape Falcon (near Manzanita) and Humbug Mountain (near Port Orford), anglers can fish for halibut inside the 40-fathom line beginning June 1, seven days a week through Oct. 31 or attainment of the harvest quota (24,799 pounds) for that fishery. A second summer season is scheduled to begin on August 5 and will be open every other Friday and Saturday until Oct. 31 or until the quota of 51,603 pounds has been met. The high-relief area of Stonewall Bank, west of Newport, is closed to all halibut fishing. The area between Humbug Mountain and the OR/CA Border is open at all depths for Pacific halibut seven days a week through Oct. 31 or until the quota of 8,605 pounds has been met, whichever comes first. Days on which Pacific halibut fishing is open will be announced on the NOAA Fisheries hotline (1-800-662-9825) and posted on the ODFW Marine Resources Program website.