March 11, 2003
Action: Change limits and seasons for recreational fishing for bottomfish in coastal waters.
Effective date: March 11, 2003
Species affected: All species of bottomfish
Location: Washington coastal waters (Catch Record Areas 1-4) which are the waters from the Columbia River north to the Canadian border and east to the Sekiu River.
Reason for action: On March 1, new federal rules for bottomfish became effective in coastal waters. WDFW has adopted identical rules that become effective May 1. The change is needed now to minimize differences between federal and state rules, to meet the conservation goals of the new rules and provide for additional fishing opportunity for lingcod in March
Other information:
Close bottomfish fishing in yelloweye rockfish protection zone. It is unlawful to fish for bottomfish in the area enclosed by the following coordinates:
48°18'00" N latitude; 125°18'00" W longitude; then east to 48°18'00" N latitude; 124°59'00" W longitude; then south to 48°11'00" N latitude; 124°59'00" W longitude; then west to 48°11'00" N latitude; 125°11'00" W longitude; then south to 48°04'00" N latitude; 125°11'00" W longitude; then east to 48°04'00" N latitude; 124°59'00" W longitude; then south to 48°00'00" N latitude; 124°59'00" W longitude; then west to 48°00'00" N latitude; 125°18'00" W longitude; then north to 1st coordinate.
Daily bag limit for rockfish in Areas 1-4. The daily bag limit for rockfish is 10, of which no more than one can be canary rockfish. No yelloweye may be retained.
Aggregate bag limit for bottomfish in Areas 1-4. The aggregate bag of bottomfish is 15 bottomfish of all species combined, including sublimits of no more than 10 rockfish (no more than one canary and no yelloweye) and no more than two lingcod.
Lingcod seasons. The season for lingcod in Areas 1-3 opens March 16. The season opens in Area 4 April 16, as has been the case in recent years.
Information contact: Greg Bargmann (360) 902-2825
Effective date: March 11, 2003
Species affected: All species of bottomfish
Location: Washington coastal waters (Catch Record Areas 1-4) which are the waters from the Columbia River north to the Canadian border and east to the Sekiu River.
Reason for action: On March 1, new federal rules for bottomfish became effective in coastal waters. WDFW has adopted identical rules that become effective May 1. The change is needed now to minimize differences between federal and state rules, to meet the conservation goals of the new rules and provide for additional fishing opportunity for lingcod in March
Other information:
Close bottomfish fishing in yelloweye rockfish protection zone. It is unlawful to fish for bottomfish in the area enclosed by the following coordinates:
48°18'00" N latitude; 125°18'00" W longitude; then east to 48°18'00" N latitude; 124°59'00" W longitude; then south to 48°11'00" N latitude; 124°59'00" W longitude; then west to 48°11'00" N latitude; 125°11'00" W longitude; then south to 48°04'00" N latitude; 125°11'00" W longitude; then east to 48°04'00" N latitude; 124°59'00" W longitude; then south to 48°00'00" N latitude; 124°59'00" W longitude; then west to 48°00'00" N latitude; 125°18'00" W longitude; then north to 1st coordinate.
Daily bag limit for rockfish in Areas 1-4. The daily bag limit for rockfish is 10, of which no more than one can be canary rockfish. No yelloweye may be retained.
Aggregate bag limit for bottomfish in Areas 1-4. The aggregate bag of bottomfish is 15 bottomfish of all species combined, including sublimits of no more than 10 rockfish (no more than one canary and no yelloweye) and no more than two lingcod.
Lingcod seasons. The season for lingcod in Areas 1-3 opens March 16. The season opens in Area 4 April 16, as has been the case in recent years.
Information contact: Greg Bargmann (360) 902-2825