Recreational halibut season opens

April 10, 2019

Action: Recreational halibut fishing opens May 2 in all marine areas. Lingcod retention will be allowed with halibut on board in Marine Area 1, during the halibut season north of the Washington-Oregon border.

Effective date: May 2, 2019

Species affected: Pacific halibut, lingcod

Location: Marine Areas 1 through 10

Reason for action: The National Marine Fisheries Service adopted final regulations for 2019 (May 1). These emergency rules revise state regulations so they conform to federal regulations.

Additional information:

Marine Area 1:
All-depth: Open Thursday, May 2; Sunday May 5; Thursday, May 9; Sunday, May 12; Friday, May 24; Sunday, May 26.
Nearshore: Open each Monday through Wednesday beginning May 6.
It is permissible to retain lingcod when halibut is on board north of the Washington-Oregon border on days open to the recreational halibut season.

Marine Area 2: Open Thursday, May 2; Sunday May 5; Thursday, May 9; Sunday, May 12; Friday, May 24.
(The nearshore fishery will open after the all-depth fishery closes if there is sufficient quota remaining).

Marine Areas 3 and 4: Open Thursday, May 2; Saturday, May 4; Thursday, May 9; Saturday, May 11; Saturday, May 18; Friday, May 24; Sunday, May 26; Thursday, June 6; Saturday, June 8; Thursday, June 20; Saturday, June 22

Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5-10): Open Thursday, May 2; Saturday, May 4; Thursday, May 9; Saturday, May 11; Saturday, May 18; Friday, May 24; Sunday, May 26; Thursday, June 6; Saturday, June 8; Thursday, June 20; Saturday, June 22

Marine Area 5: It is permissible for halibut anglers to retain lingcod and Pacific cod caught while fishing for halibut in waters deeper than 120 feet on days that halibut fishing is open.
(It is not lawful to retain lingcod or Pacific cod seaward of 120 feet on halibut days in Marine Areas 6 through 10)

Marine Areas 11 through 13 are closed

Marine Areas 1 through 10: Daily limit of 1 halibut per angler, with no minimum size limit. Annual limit of 4. All catch must be recorded on WDFW catch record card. Possession limits remain the same.

Information contact: Heather Hall, Coastal Policy Coordinator, 360-902-2487.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing-hotlines to find a list of mobile, web, print, or customer service phone options for the latest rule information.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.