The Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries Service Northwest Regional Office establish regulations for halibut fisheries in U.S. waters off Washington, Oregon, and California (“Area 2A”). The IPHC sets the total allowable catch for halibut in this regulatory area, and the Pacific Council allocates the catch among the following user groups: non-treaty commercial (incidental salmon troll fishery, directed longline halibut fishery, and incidental longline sablefish fishery), sport, and treaty Indian commercial and ceremonial, and subsistence.
The current allocation of 85% of the catch going to commercial fisheries and 15% to sport fishing is the challenge we face as the number of fish available are not growing as fast as they used to. So it is taking longer for the fish to reach the weights they used to.
We are members of SEAGO ( Southeast Area Guides Organization) and are working on short term as well as long term regulations for the halibut fisheries in Alaska.
We are the closest lodge in Alaska to area 3A. We have the permits to fish this area and the regulations for this area is two fish of any size per day.
*The regulation for the 2012 season has been announced. For the area 2C it is one fish per day. They call it a reverse slot limit. Under 45 inches in length and over 68 inches. So we will be able to keep those barndoor halibut in front of the lodge this season.*_