Montana Fish Report

ODFW will host two public meetings on the 2018 recreational Pacific halibut fisheries next week:

• Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m., North Bend Public Library, 1800 Sherman Ave, North Bend
• Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m, ODFW Marine Resources Program conference room, 2040 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport.

ODFW staff are holding the meetings to seek input on two changes to the 2018 recreational halibut fisheries approved for public review by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. There is one proposed change to the days of the week open for the Columbia River Subarea all-depth fishery (currently open Thursday through Sunday; the proposal is to open Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, but not Saturday), and one proposal to split the Central Oregon Coast subarea into two areas, north and south of the north Florence Jetty. There are no proposed changes to the Southern Oregon Subarea.

The Newport meeting on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. will also be webcast here. Join the webcast on your computer, tablet or smartphone. You can also dial in by phone at +1 (224) 501-3412 Access Code: 939-817-925. Details on the webcast meeting are also available on the sport halibut webpage.

For those who cannot attend in person or via the webcast, an online survey and the meeting background materials will be available Thursday, Sept. 21 on the sport halibut webpage.