Here’s the 2023 Washington sport halibut proposal by WDFW. This of course, is still subject to the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) renewing the same yearly quota for Area 2A (California, Oregon & Washington). During the past four years Area 2A enjoyed a more generous quota largely due to the Makah Tribe. https://halibutchronicles.com/category/iphc-halibut-area-2a/

Marine Area 1:
May 4 through May 21: 2-days per week, Thursday, and Sunday
Memorial Day weekend: Thursday, May 25
June 1 through June 25: 2-days per week, Thursday and Sunday, and Thursday, June 29
Marine Area 2:
May 4 – 21: 3 days per week, Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday, May 30
If sufficient quota remains: June 15, 18 (Thursday, Sunday) and June 22, 25 (Thursday,
Sunday)
Marine 3 and 4:
May 4 through May 21: 2-days per week, Thursday, and Saturday
Memorial Day weekend: Friday, May 26 and Sunday, May 28
June 1 through June 24: 2-days per week, Thursday and Saturday, and Thursday, June 29
All Areas:
If quota remains after June 30, consider August and September dates.

Analysis – Puget Sound
Area 5, 6-10
Assumed Subarea
Allocation: 77,550

High Catch Med Catch Low Catch
Year Range 2018-2022 2019-2022 2021-2022
Average Daily Catch 2,364 1,902 1,600
Potential Days 33 41 48
Open on: 4/6/2023
Open through:
7 days per week 5/8/2023 5/16/2023 5/24/2023
5 days per week 5/20/2023 6/1/2023 6/10/2023
Open on: 4/13/2023
Open through:
7 days per week 5/15/2023 5/23/2023 5/31/2023
5 days per week 5/27/2023 6/8/2023 6/17/2023
*Through date does not account for potential adjustments around Memorial Day weekend.

Proposal for Discussion
Puget Sound

Marine Area 5, 6-10

Open all areas at the same time.

April 6 through May 22: 5-days per week, Thursday-Monday

Memorial Day weekend: Friday through Sunday, May 26, 27, 28

June 1 through June 30: 7-days per week

If quota remains after June 30, consider August and September
dates.

2023 Recommendation

• Puget Sound
 Open MA 5, 6-10 in April
 Five or seven days per week

• Coast:
 South Coast: three days per week in May, four additional
days noticed in June
 North Coast and Columbia River: status quo

• All Areas:
 Option for seven days per week in August and September