Under new regulations approved late last year by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the daily bag limit for lingcod is now one fish measuring at least 24 inches. The previous limit was two lingcod per day.
New limits are also in effect for yelloweye rockfish and canary rockfish.
Although the overall catch limit for rockfish is still ten per day, anglers are restricted to two yelloweyes and two canary rockfish in their possession. The new bag limits are now in effect in Marine Areas 1-4 from the Columbia River to the Seiku River on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Greg Bargmann, WDFW marine fish manager, said the new regulations are designed to help reverse the decline of lingcod, yelloweye and canary rockfish populations detected in recent years. We've heard from a number of anglers who are generally aware of the new regulations, but aren't exactly sure when they take effect. We need to get the word out that the new regulations are in effect right now.