1. (a) In the Eastern Gulf of Alaska Area, lingcod may be taken at any time except as otherwise provided in this chapter or when closed by emergency order.
2. (b) Lingcod may be taken in a directed lingcod fishery only from May 16 through November 30.
3. (c) Lingcod may be taken as bycatch in the commercial salmon troll gear fishery only from May 16 through November 30.
4. (d) Lingcod may be taken as bycatch in a commercial groundfish fishery operating mechanical jigging machines or hand troll gear only from May 16 through November 30.

5. (e) The season opening for the directed lingcod fishery in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska, excluding the Icy Bay Subdistrict superexclusive registration area, will be delayed in all management areas of Registration Area A if the National Weather Service marine forecast for a management area eligible to be opened under this subsection contains freezing spray or gale force winds of 35 knots or higher in the forecast for May 15, 16, or 17. The season opening will be delayed for

   1. (1) 24 hours if the National Weather Service marine forecast issued by 8:00 a.m. on May 13 contains freezing spray or gale force winds of 35 knots or higher for May 15 or 16; and
   2. (2) 48 hours if the National Weather Service marine forecast issued by 8:00 a.m. on May 13 contains freezing spray or gale force winds of 35 knots or higher for May 17.
6. (f) Announcement of a season opening delay under (e) of this section will be issued at least 24 hours before May 16. If freezing spray or gale force winds of 35 knots or higher continue after the initial delay, the season opening will be delayed an additional 24 hours and may continue on a rolling 24-hour basis as necessary for up to five days after the scheduled opening date.

7. (g) For the purposes of this section, the National Weather Service marine forecast areas for the management sections of the Eastern Gulf of Alaska are as follows:

   1. (1) Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision;
   2. (2) Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe;
   3. (3) Cape Edgecumbe to Cape Spencer;
   4. (4) Cape Spencer to Cape Fairweather;
   5. (5) Cape Fairweather to Icy Cape.

(Eff. 4/15/94, Register 130; am 6/15/97, Register 142; am 6/14/2000, Register 154; am 7/18/2003, Register 167; am 7/1/2015, Register 214; am 6/27/2025, Register 254)