Westport: Recreational halibut day added in Marine Area 2

June 24, 2019 5:30 pm
COURTESY WESTPORT WEIGHMASTER Lane Glasoe from Burien caught this 51.25-pound halibut on the last Marine Area 2 opener June 20 aboard the <em>Advantage</em>. There is sufficient quota remaining for another recreational halibut opener Saturday, June 29.
COURTESY WESTPORT WEIGHMASTER Lane Glasoe from Burien caught this 51.25-pound halibut on the last Marine Area 2 opener June 20 aboard the Advantage. There is sufficient quota remaining for another recreational halibut opener Saturday, June 29.

Another recreational halibut fishing date has been added — Saturday, June 29 — in Marine Area 2 (Westport).

“There is sufficient quota to open recreational halibut fishing for an additional all depth fishing day in Marine Area 2,” read an emergency fishing rule change posted Friday. “Poor weather continues to contribute to low catch in Marine Area 2 and opening another day will provide anglers additional time to catch the remaining sport quota.”

That means another crack at the $1,000 grand prize for the season’s largest halibut in the Westport Charter Boat Association’s annual derby. Currently the derby is led by Jeremy Jording of Olympia with a 60.55-pound fish caught May 12 aboard the Ultimate. There have been three halibut over 50 pounds entered in this year’s derby, including a 51.25-pound fish caught aboard the Advantage during the last opener June 20.

The following is a summary of open sport halibut days for all marine areas.

• Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco): Nearshore: Open seven days per week.

• Marine Area 2 (Westport): Open Saturday, June 29.

• Marine Areas 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay): Open Saturday, June 22; Thursday, June 27; and Saturday, June 29.

• Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5-10): Open Saturday, June 22; Thursday, June 27; and Saturday, June 29.

• Marine Areas 1-10: Daily limit of 1 halibut per angler, with no minimum size limit. Annual limit of 4. All catch must be recorded on WDFW catch record card. Possession limits remain the same.

• Marine Areas 11-13 are closed.