Two days added to La Push, Neah Bay rec halibut season

Recreational halibut anglers looking to stretch a few extra days out of the season can head north next week to La Push and Neah Bay.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Monday that two more days were added — Thursday, June 27, and Saturday, June 29 — in Marine areas 3 and 4.

“There is sufficient quota to open additional days for the sport halibut fishery in Marine Areas 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay),” read the Fish and Wildlife statement. “Adding these days will provide Washington sport halibut anglers with more fishing days and maximize the opportunity to catch the remaining sport quota.”

Summary of open sport halibut days for all marine areas:

Marine Area 1:

• All-depth: Open Thursday, June 20.

• Nearshore: Open seven days per week.

• Marine Area 2: Open Thursday, June 20.

• Marine Areas 3 and 4: Open Thursday, June 20; Saturday, June 22; Thursday, June 27; and Saturday, June 29

• Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5-10): Open Thursday, June 20; Saturday, June 22; Thursday, June 27; and Saturday, June 29.

• Marine Area 5: It is permissible for halibut anglers to retain Pacific cod caught while fishing for halibut in waters deeper than 120 feet on days that halibut fishing is open. Lingcod season is closed in Marine Area 5.

Retention of lingcod and Pacific cod seaward of 120 feet is not permitted on halibut days in Marine Areas 6-10.

Marine Areas 11-13 are closed.

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