2022 Recreational Bottomfish Fishery Finalized

Last Friday (Dec 17) the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission finalized the 2022 recreational bottomfish fishery regulations.  Most regulations will be the same as in 2021, except:

• The daily general marine fish bag limit will be 5 fish per person per day
  • Out of that 5 fish, no more than 1 may be a China or a copper rockfish
  • Out of that 5 fish, no more than 1 may be cabezon, which opens July 1
• Retention of quillback rockfish will be prohibited
  • The 2021 stock assessment indicated that the stock is healthy, but the overall population is smaller than previously thought. Therefore, to reduce mortality to keep the stock healthy retention will be prohibited in recreational and commercial fisheries off of Oregon beginning in 2022.
• The 40-fathom depth restriction will only be in place for July and August, one month less than in 2021. All Depth January through June and September through December.

For additional information see:  https://myodfw.com/sport-bottomfish-seasons

The 2022 “What Can I Keep, and How Many” handout can be found at:  https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/finfish/docs/what_can_i_keep.pdf