Halibut anglers and the charter guide segment got some good news in an announcement from NOAA Fisheries this week when it announced new rules for Area 3A Southcentral Alaska.
The regulations went into effect on Monday, and there will be no closed days through the end of the year. Charter anglers may catch and retain two halibut per day, with one fish of any size and one no larger than 32-inches. There is a two-day catch bag limit.
Charter anglers are not subject to an annual limit on the number of halibut they retain. Anglers are no longer required to record halibut caught on charter vessel fishing trips in Area 3A on the back of the fishing license or on a harvest record card.
Charter vessels may only take one trip per day during which anglers retain halibut. Skipper and crew are still restricted from harvesting halibut themselves during a charter vessel fishing trip.
Charter vessel anglers may use a single line with no more than 2 hooks attached, or a spear, to fish for halibut.
In Area 2C Southeast Alaska, the regulations differ in that charter anglers are limited to one-halibut per day with a reverse slot limit that excludes fish from 45- to 80-inches in length from being retained.
For full details on the new regulations, visit the National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Region website.