Will a two-week earlier start to recreational halibut season lead to another late-summer finish? That’s one question to ponder after the official announcement that halibut season will begin April 7 in Marine Areas 6-10 (Eastern Puget Sound).
The season is based on statewide quota of 294,786 pounds, a 5,000-plus pound gain from 2021 and is the result of a fixed allocation that the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) approved in January for fisheries in Washington, Oregon and California.
Eastern Puget Sound will be open April 7-9, 15-16, 21-23, 28-30; May 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 and 27-29 and June 2-4, 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25 as long as sufficient quota remains. Puget Sound will be managed to an overall quota of 83,210 pounds, up from 2021’s 78,291 pounds.
Sekiu and Pillar Point in Marine Area 5 opens May 5 with more dates set May 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 27-29 and June 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 and 30.
La Push and Neah Bay in Area 3 and 4 will open May 5 with more dates set May 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 27 and 29 plus June 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 and 30.
The combined quota for both areas is 133,847 pounds, a rise from 2021’s 128,928 pounds.
“An earlier opening in the Puget Sound region builds on the input we’ve been hearing from stakeholders in recent years,” said Heather Hall, state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s intergovernmental fisheries policy manager. “The earlier start and consecutive open days per week provide anglers with more opportunity to access the quota for that area.”
Saturday openings for the North Coast (La Push and Neah Bay) also reflect angler preferences.
In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. Anglers may possess a maximum of two fish in any form while in the field and must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card. There is an annual limit of four halibut.
For complete rules and season information, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-Halibut22.
Jetty fishing
Those without boats can take some advice from Fish and Wildlife, which recently released a how to on fishing for lingcod, cabezon and rockfish from jetties.
The post was focused on the jetties at Westport and Ocean Shores, but Neah Bay also is now open for those species and areas 5-10 and the jetties at Sekiu and Port Angeles provide a spot for land-bound anglers when lingcod hook-and-line season begins May 1.
Similar tactics also could be used off Point Wilson and Marrowstone Point in Marine Area 9.
Most jetty anglers use a stout 8- to 10-foot spinning rod to cast 1- to 2-ounce leadhead jigs with plastic tails or swimbaits, letting them sink then quickly jigging them back to the rocks while trying to avoid snagging bottom.
Remember to bring along extra jigs in colors like green, white, silver, purple and motor oil brown as snagging bottom will occur.
Live bait also works.
Another option is to fish herring, anchovies, sand shrimp or other bait rigged under a large sliding float with a stopper roughly 10 feet up the mainline, a 1-ounce inline or sliding weight above a swivel, and two 2/0 or 3/0 hooks tied on a 4- to 5-foot leader.
Kelp greenling and striped seaperch are two other bottomfish species commonly caught from Washington jetties, and are tasty eating or excellent live bait for large lingcod.
Using 30-pound test monofilament or fluorocarbon leader works well for both casting jigs or fishing bait under a float as bottomfish are typically not leader shy and abrasion from sharp jetty rocks can quickly sever lighter lines. Anglers specifically targeting bigger lingcod with large swimbaits or live bait frequently use 50-pound test or even heavier leaders.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-JettyLings.
Disappointed, not surprised
Despite population estimates provided by Fish and Wildlife’s own biologists showing a healthy black bear population numbering 25,000-plus statewide, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission voted 5-4 last Saturday to not offer a special spring black bear permit season.
Hunting supporters also testified that sows with cubs are not the target of the spring hunt, which focuses on younger bears, usually male, who leave their winter dens earlier than family units.
A total of 145 black bears were hunted during last spring’s season, with more than 650 permits sold.
An earlier 4-4 tie vote was held in November before the resignation of one commission member and the appointment of three new members.
Some hunting organizations warned of further restrictions to come for hunters in our state as they believe Washington is a test case for animal rights supporters nationwide.
