FISHING RULE CHANGE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

October 3, 2012

Action: Close Marine Areas 3 and 4 (Neah Bay and La Push) to recreational bottomfish fishing.

Effective date: 12:01 a.m., July 27, 2012 until further notice.

Species affected: All species of bottomfish including lingcod

Location: Marine Area 3 and Marine Area 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line.

Reason for action: Catch estimates indicate that the Washington recreational yelloweye rockfish federal harvest quota has been reached. Yelloweye rockfish are an overfished species managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) under a rebuilding plan. The rebuilding plan allows for a small amount of catch in the recreational fishery to account for incidental impacts to yelloweye rockfish when anglers are targeting healthy resources. A significant amount of the