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 March 20. Fishery managers discussed the 2025-2026 Harvest Specifications and Management Measures Process Overview; reviewed Preliminary Management Measure Analysis; and next steps of the process.

Upcoming 2024 public meeting dates:

WDFW is hosting a virtual public/stakeholders coastal recreational bottomfish meeting on April 24 from 5-7 p.m.

West Coast bottomfish are managed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) on a biennial management cycle. The Council is currently considering harvest levels and management measures (seasons, bag limits) that will affect Washington coastal bottomfish fisheries during the 2025-2026 biennium.

The purpose of this meeting is to review preliminary preferred management measure alternatives needed to keep catch within Washington’s recreational harvest guidelines during the upcoming biennium.  This is an opportunity to provide feedback in advance of the Pacific Fishery Management Council June meeting where final management measures will be adopted.

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Meeting ID: 263 878 625 226 

Passcode: TiqDcp 

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+1 564-999-2000,,831560010# United States, Olympia 

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Phone conference ID: 831 560 010# 

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Other upcoming 2024 meeting date:

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

More information