Went to Mutiny Bay on Friday and lost what felt like a 15-20, without putting anything in the boat. Didn't see any fish from those fishing anchored, or drifting, with about 45 boats when we started at 11 and 10 left when we left at 3. Did you hear any lies from the Area 10 hali spots?

Was at the Luhr Beach (Nisqually) launch today and there were two Filet and Release halibut there. Don't know where they were caught but that was a looooooooooooooong run from Area 9.

Per the creel reports to date on halibut:

MA 10 hasn't shown any landed there yet
MA 9 showed 49 fish
MA 8-2 showed 8 fish
MA 8-1 showed 105 fish
MA 7 showed 11 fish
MA 6 showed 584
MA 5 showed 224

MA 7 numbers are probably not correct. Lots of folks run out to Hein Bank, part of Eastern Bank, Salmon Bank etc and don't know that they are fishing in MA 7, so MA 6 gets credit

Really? MA 8-1 showing 105?? Intriguing.

Those are fish checker reports. Just looked again, the data was collected at Cornet Bay ramp. Folks either aren't sure or where they are fishing (most likely MA 6 or MA 7) or the fish checkers aren't asking and just logging the catch in the area they are working in. Kind of screws up the data. Lots of folks run from JWM or PA and fish in MA 7, but again don't know where they are fishing (Hein Bank is in MA 7) or the fish checker isn't asking the right questions.

Yes, that was my thought as well but any self-respecting fish checker tasked with finding out where the fish were caught should have questioned anyone saying 8-1. But maybe good data isn't really important.....

I guess one could argue that, for halibut, the landing location doesn't matter as the fishery is monitored against the total poundage allowed by IPHC for WA waters in their halibut area 2A. Regulations say the halibut must be landed in "an open port" and the fish checkers are working "open ports".

It is the pounds landed that provides the basis for the CPUE and then the phone surveys of a limited number of license holders who have a halibut CRC are used to calculate the total catch.

Pulled a 16lb one out of Area 9 on 5/9. First time ever trying to fish for Halibut and landed that one after about an hour of fishing.