Halibut anglers across the North Olympic Peninsula are pushing the powers that be to challenge the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's dwindling recreational season.

"The halibut fishery is a healthy fishery," said Port of Port Townsend Commissioner Steve Tucker, yet the recreational allocation and fishing opportunities are decreasing.

There is a three-day sport halibut season this year, compared to 70 days in 2006, 12 days in 2014, seven days in 2015 and eight days in 2016, Tucker noted at the March 8 port commission meeting.

After a brief discussion, the port commission passed a resolution in support of the "recreational fishing industry as vitally important to the economic health and well-being of the Port of Port Townsend, the City of Port Townsend, and Jefferson and Clallam counties."

The resolution has already been passed by the Port of Port Angeles, the City of Port Angeles and the Clallam County Board of Commissioners.

The premise is that a three-day season is "unsafe" because anglers may "make a wrong decision to go out in bad weather because that is the only time they can legally fish," Tucker noted.

Economically, the short season also impacts coastal communities, he said.

Troy McKelvey of Port Townsend was one of five people who spoke at the March 8 meeting regarding state halibut fishing, noting that while the state's recreational quota was increased, fishing days actually decreased. He said it's important for people to contact 24th District state legislators Sen. Kevin Van De Wege, Rep. Steve Tharinger and Rep. Mike Chapman, whom he said were supportive.

The resolution calls for a fixed limit of six fish per person per year, no poundage limit on an individual fish, limit of one fish per day and two in possession, and a season that would be the second Saturday of March through the third Saturday in October.

Several people noted that on the Canadian side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the sport halibut rules are much more reasonable, with fishing allowed 11 months of the year, with an annual catch limit of six fish.

The Leader's attempts to contact the WDFW personnel responsible for halibut seasons were not successful by press time.

WDFW RULES

The WDFW lists the 2017 recreational halibut season in the Puget Sound Region (Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) as Thursday, May 4; Saturday, May 6; and Thursday, May 11 depending on available quota from the starting quota of 64,962. If there is sufficient quota remaining, the following dates are to be considered for reopening: Sunday, May 21 and/or Thursday, May 25 and Thursday, June 1 and/or Sunday, June 4.

In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. Anglers must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card.

In Marine Areas 5 and 6, it is acceptable for halibut anglers to retain lingcod and Pacific cod caught while fishing for halibut in waters deeper than 120 feet on days that halibut fishing is open.