2023 Pacific halibut seasons

[rogerdodger]

2023 Pacific Halibut seasons have been adopted and are very favorable, Nearshore is open 7 days per week May 1 to Oct.31 and All-Depth is 7 days per week May 1 to June 30, then additional blocks of days after that. Starting bag is 1 per day but this year, ODFW has the option to increase that to 2 per day are early as June!

https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/halibut/seasonmaps/2023_halibut_map.pdf

an important change is that when halibut and bottom fishing are both open at all depths, you can now combine the normal marine bag (2 lingcod + 5 rockfish) with your halibut bag and also other flatfish (flounder). I am personally very excited about this change.

https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/regulations/sport_fishing/docs/halibut_bottomfish_combo_2023.pdf

 

[Irishrover]

That is a rule change that was long overdue. I'm happy for the folks in the halibut fleet. I like the seven day all depth change too.

 

[rogerdodger]

That is a rule change that was long overdue. I'm happy for the folks in the halibut fleet. I like the seven day all depth change too.

I thought you might agree. halibut quota has been strong and not fully caught in recent years, so ODFW has made it a priority to increase opportunities for catch but also protect against an early closure, not easy given the variable weather/ocean conditions. I think they almost started the year at 2 per day but held back just to see how May goes.

 

[troutdude]

May you and Pepper enjoy the extra bounty!

 

[Big D Sowards]

I dig it!