OLYMPIA — There might be a few more fish around, but recreational halibut seasons will still look a lot like last year on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The state’s quota rose 12.3 percent between 2010 and 2011 from 192,699 pounds of flatfish to 216,489.
Yet that increase wasn’t enough to translate into more days on the water for anglers inside Strait of Juan de Fuca and eastward.
Rather, it was just enough to counteract two straight years of exceeding harvest guidelines for the sport set in Puget Sound.
“This year’s quota, together with shorter seasons adopted last year, will bring the catch more in line with the allowable harvest,” state Department of Fish and Wildlife Coastal Policy Coordinator Heather Reed said in a news release.
“We took a big step toward stabilizing the fishery last year, and the higher quota will help to accommodate the growing popularity of halibut fishing in Puget Sound.”
This year’s catch quota for Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca is 58,155 pounds, up from 50,542 pounds in 2010.
Like last year, most areas of the Sound will be open for halibut fishing three days a week — Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
That includes Marine Area 6 (eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) and 9 (Admiralty Inlet), which will be open May 5 through May 29. Those anglers will get an extra day of fishing Memorial Day weekend on Sunday, May 29.
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) will be open May 26 through June 18 on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Area 12 will remain closed because of low dissolved-oxygen conditions.
In coastal areas, the structure of the coastal halibut season will be similar to last year.
Marine Area 3 (LaPush) and 4 (Neah Bay) will open May 12, two days per week (Thursdays and Saturdays) through May 21.
If sufficient quota remains, the fishery will reopen the week of June 2. If sufficient quota remains after that, the fishery will reopen starting June 16.
The 2011 catch quota is 108,792 pounds on the North Coast.
“This year’s coastal quotas are up by more than 17,000 pounds,” Reed said. “Depending on catch rates during the course of the season, that could translate to extra time on the water in some areas.”
All areas open to fishing have a one-fish daily catch limit, with no minimum size, a possession limit of one fish while on the vessel, and a possession limit of two fish in any form once the angler is on the shore.
For more information, call the state’s fishing hot line at 360-902-2500 or visit wdfw.wa.gov.