WSR 15-15-012 PERMANENT RULES DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 15-199—Filed July 2, 2015, 3:12 p.m., effective August 2, 2015] Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: This rule proposal makes changes to allow recreational fishing for flatfish species (excluding halibut) in Quilcene and Dabob Bay north of a true east line from the mouth of Turner Creek to Toandos Peninsula in waters shallower than one hundred twenty feet (twenty fathoms).
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The Washington department of fish and wildlife needs these changes to allow recreational fishing for flatfish species in the area listed above. A public hearing was held at the April 2015 fish and wildlife commission meeting, and the commission adopted the rule changes during a fish and wildlife commission meeting on June 12, 2015.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 220-56-230 and 220-56-235.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 15-06-063 on March 4, 2015.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: WAC 220-56-230 was adjusted to move the southern boundary line of the fishery to read: In Marine Area 12 north of a true east line from the mouth of Turner Creek to the Toandos Peninsula: Waters shallower than one hundred twenty feet (twenty fathoms). This change increased the area open to fishing.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: June 12, 2015.
Brad Smith, Ph.D.
Chair
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 10-07-105, filed 3/19/10, effective 5/1/10)
WAC 220-56-230 Bottomfish and halibut—Closed areas.
(1) It is unlawful to take, fish for, retain, or possess bottomfish or halibut taken for personal use from within the following areas:
(a) An eastward-facing C-shaped closed area defined as: Beginning at 48°N, 124°59'W; thence to 48°N, 125°18'W; thence to 48°18'N, 125°18'W; thence to 48°18'N, 124°59'W; thence to 48°11'N, 124°59'W; thence to 48°11'N, 125°11'W; thence to 48°04'N, 125°11'W; thence to 48°04'N, 124°59'W; thence to the point of origin.
(b) The "Westport Offshore Recreational YRCA" closed area, defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: Beginning at 46°54.30'N, 124°53.40'W; thence to 46°54.30'N, 124°51.00'W; thence to 46°53.30'N, 124°51.00'W; thence to 46°53.30'N, 124°53.40'W, thence to the point of origin.
(c) The "South Coast Recreational YRCA" closed area, defined by straight lines connecting the following specific latitude and longitude coordinates in the order listed: Beginning at 46°58.00'N, 124°48.00'W; thence to 46°55.00'N, 124°48.00'W; thence to 46°55.00'N, 124°49.00'W; thence to 46°58.00'N, 124°49.00'W; thence to the point of origin.
(((d) Marine Area 12.))
(2) In Marine Area 4 east of the westernmost point of Cape Flattery((,)) and Marine Area 5 through ((11 and)) 13, it is unlawful to take, fish for, retain, or possess bottomfish taken for personal use except from within the following areas:
(a) In Marine Area 4 east of the westernmost point of Cape Flattery, Marine Area 5, and Marine Area 6 west of the easternmost point of Dungeness Spit: Waters inside of an area approximating 120 feet (20 fathoms) described by following the coordinates: 124°44.20'W, 48°23.90'N; 124°40.00'W, 48°24.10'N; 124°36.46'W, 48°23.61'N; 124°21.24'W, 48°17.71'N; 124°14.43'W, 48°15.96'N; 124°02.02'W, 48°11.91'N; 123°34.51'W, 48°09.93'N; 123°31.13'W, 48°11.02'N; 123°24.13'W, 48°08.53'N; 123°06.02'W, 48°11.45'N; 123°06.02'W, 48°08.22'N.
(b) In the remaining portion of Marine Area 6, and Marine Areas 7 ((-)) through 11 and 13: Waters shallower than 120 feet (20 fathoms).
(c) In Marine Area 12 north of a true east line from the mouth of Turner Creek to the Toandos Peninsula: Waters shallower than 120 feet (20 fathoms).
(3) It is unlawful to take, fish for, retain, or possess rockfish taken for personal use from Marine Areas 6 ((- 11 and)) through 13.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 13-19-007, filed 9/5/13, effective 10/6/13)
WAC 220-56-235 Possession limits—Bottomfish.
It is unlawful to fish for, retain, or possess sixgill, sevengill, or thresher sharks. It is unlawful for any person to take in any day more than the following quantities of bottomfish for personal use. The possession limit at any time may not exceed the equivalent of two daily limits in fresh, frozen or processed form. Unless otherwise provided, bottomfish fishing is open the entire year.
(1) Coastal (Catch Record Card Areas 1 through 4): Limit 12 fish total, except limit 10 fish total east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, of all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than:
(a) Lingcod: 2 fish. Minimum length is 22 inches in Catch Record Card Areas 1 through 4.
(b) Rockfish: 10 fish. Release all canary and yelloweye rockfish. In Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line: 6 fish. Only black or blue rockfish may be retained.
(c) Wolf-eel: 0 fish from Catch Record Card Area 4.
(d) Cabezon:
(i) Marine Areas 1 through 3: 2 fish.
(ii) Marine Area 4: 1 fish; the minimum size limit is 18 inches.
(2) Inner Puget Sound (Catch Record Card Areas 5 through 13):
(a) Catch Record Card Areas 5 and 6: 15 fish total for all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than:
(b) Catch Record Card Area 7: 15 fish total for all species of bottomfish, which may include no more than:
(c) Catch Record Card Areas 8-1 through 11 and 13: 15 fish total for all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than:
(d) Catch Record Card Area 12: ((Closed.)) 15 fish total for all species and species groups of bottomfish, which may include no more than:
(e) It is unlawful to possess lingcod taken by angling that are under 26 inches in length or over 36 inches in length. It is unlawful to possess lingcod taken by spear fishing that are over 36 inches in length.
(f) In Marine Areas 5 through 11 and 13, the minimum size limit for cabezon is 18 inches. All cabezon must be released in Catch Record Card Areas 5 through 11 and 13 from December 1 through April 30.
(g) In Catch Record Card Area 5, the daily limit for rockfish is the first legal rockfish caught, except that west of Slip Point, the daily limit for rockfish is the first three legal rockfish caught. Only black or blue rockfish may be retained. After the daily limit of rockfish is caught, all subsequent rockfish must be released.
(h) In Catch Record Card Area 5, it is unlawful to take rockfish by spear fishing except when this area is open to spear fishing for lingcod.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||