Recreational bottomfish and halibut

Reminder that Barbless Hooks are required for all species in Marine Areas 5 through 13—including for halibut and bottomfish—except when using forage fish jig gear to target forage fish (herring, sandlance, anchovy, sardine and smelt). See Marine Area Rules & Definitions in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules.

Recreational fishing seasons and regulations in Washington's waters for bottomfish and halibut, including weekly updates.

2024 bottomfish and lingcod seasons, bag limit highlights*

Marine Areas 1-3 and Marine Area 4 west of Bonilla-Tatoosh:

  • March 9 – October 19, 2024
  • Daily bag limit of two lingcod per angler no minimum size limit
  • Rockfish: May, June, and July the possession limit for copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and vermilion rockfish is 0.

Marine Area 4 (east of Bonilla-Tatoosh): 

  • Recreational bottomfish: open year round
  • Recreational lingcod: March 9 – October 19, 2024
  • Daily bag limit of two lingcod per angler, no minimum size limit

*See regulation pamphlet for complete listing of bag limits at: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations

Public meetings

WDFW hosted a virtual public/stakeholders coastal recreational bottomfish meeting on Jan. 17. Fishery managers discussed the 2025-2026 Harvest Specifications and Management Measures Process Overview; reviewed Preliminary Management Measure Analysis; and next steps of the process.

WDFW held a virtual public meeting Oct. 11 to discuss season structure and proposed dates for the 2024 recreational halibut season. The meeting was to gather stakeholder input before the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) meeting in November, when the Council will take final action on the season structure for 2024. WDFW staff also provided an overview of the PFMC’s groundfish (bottomfish) biennial process for 2025-2026.

View the Oct. 11 public meeting PowerPoint presentation.

 

WDFW hosted a virtual public webinar meeting regarding the recreational Pacific halibut fishery on Aug. 2. Halibut managers reviewed the 2023 season and took input on general ideas for structuring the 2024 season that were presented as preliminary options during the Sept. 7-14 Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting at the Doubletree by Hilton Spokane City Center.

Upcoming 2024 public meeting dates:

WDFW public/stakeholders coastal recreational bottomfish meeting will be held Wednesday, March 20 from 6-8 p.m.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

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Meeting ID: 269 160 311 982
Passcode: pQd5yL

Or call in (audio only)

+1 564-999-2000,,865984598#   United States, Olympia

Phone Conference ID: 865 984 598#

Other important 2024 meeting dates:

WDFW public/stakeholders coastal recreational bottomfish meeting will be held in mid-April TBD

The 2025-26 coastal recreational bottomfish harvest specifications and management measures process overview with final preferred alternative will be discussed at a meeting on June 6-13 in San Diego, CA.

More information