Halibut season opens May 1

The Pacific halibut season opens on May 1. The nearshore season (inside 40 fathoms) for the central coast (from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain) is open seven days a week. The first all-depth opener is May 8-10. For the Columbia River area (from Leadbetter Point, Wash., to Cape Falcon) the fishery is open seven days a week until the 13,133-pound quota is met or July 20. South of Humbug Mountain the season opens May 1, seven days a week, through Oct. 31. Specific dates and regulations are online at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/.