March 22, 2022
Action: Recreational halibut fishing opens on April 7 in Marine Areas 6 - 10 and on May 5 in Marine Areas 1 through 5.
Species affected: Pacific halibut
Effective dates and Locations:
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco/Chinook):
The all-depth fishery opens Thursday, May 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, and 26, June 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, and 30, as long as there is sufficient quota. The nearshore area opens to fishing May 9 on a Monday-through-Wednesday schedule. Coordinates for the nearshore fishery are available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut/columbia-river. The all depth fishery will be managed to 18,537 pounds; the nearshore quota is 500 pounds.
Marine Area 2 (Westport):
The all-depth fishery opens Thursday, May 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, and 26. If sufficient quota remains, the all depth fishery will open June 16, 19, 23, and 26 depending on available quota. If there is remaining quota, the northern nearshore area will open on the Saturday after the all-depth fishery closes and will continue seven days per week until the overall quota is taken. Coordinates for the nearshore fishery are available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut/south-coast. This area will be managed to an overall quota of 68,555 pounds.
Marine Areas 3 and 4 (Neah Bay and La Push):
Open May 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 27, and 29, June 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, and 30 as long as there is sufficient quota. The combined quota for both areas is 133,847 pounds.
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu):
Open May 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 27, 28, and 29, June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 as long as there is sufficient quota.
Marine Areas 6 - 10 (Puget Sound):
Open April 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30, May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, and 29, June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, and 30 as long as there is sufficient quota.
The quota for Puget Sound and Sekiu (Marine Areas 5 - 10) is 83,210 pounds.
Marine Areas 11 - 13 (Puget Sound): Closed
Rules: Marine Areas 1 - 10: Daily limit of 1 halibut per angler, with no minimum size limit. Annual limit of 4. All catch must be recorded on a WDFW catch record card. Possession limits remain the same.
Reason for action: The National Marine Fisheries Service has adopted final regulations for Pacific halibut fisheries in 2022 including the season dates described here. This emergency rules revises state regulations so they conform to federal regulations.
Additional Information: Recreational halibut is quota managed, days open are dependent on available quota and areas will close when the quota is projected to be taken.
Information contact: Lorna Wargo, Intergovernmental Policy Coordinator, 360-581-5611
Species affected: Pacific halibut
Effective dates and Locations:
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco/Chinook):
The all-depth fishery opens Thursday, May 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, and 26, June 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, and 30, as long as there is sufficient quota. The nearshore area opens to fishing May 9 on a Monday-through-Wednesday schedule. Coordinates for the nearshore fishery are available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut/columbia-river. The all depth fishery will be managed to 18,537 pounds; the nearshore quota is 500 pounds.
Marine Area 2 (Westport):
The all-depth fishery opens Thursday, May 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, and 26. If sufficient quota remains, the all depth fishery will open June 16, 19, 23, and 26 depending on available quota. If there is remaining quota, the northern nearshore area will open on the Saturday after the all-depth fishery closes and will continue seven days per week until the overall quota is taken. Coordinates for the nearshore fishery are available at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut/south-coast. This area will be managed to an overall quota of 68,555 pounds.
Marine Areas 3 and 4 (Neah Bay and La Push):
Open May 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 27, and 29, June 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, and 30 as long as there is sufficient quota. The combined quota for both areas is 133,847 pounds.
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu):
Open May 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 27, 28, and 29, June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30 as long as there is sufficient quota.
Marine Areas 6 - 10 (Puget Sound):
Open April 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30, May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, and 29, June 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, and 30 as long as there is sufficient quota.
The quota for Puget Sound and Sekiu (Marine Areas 5 - 10) is 83,210 pounds.
Marine Areas 11 - 13 (Puget Sound): Closed
Rules: Marine Areas 1 - 10: Daily limit of 1 halibut per angler, with no minimum size limit. Annual limit of 4. All catch must be recorded on a WDFW catch record card. Possession limits remain the same.
Reason for action: The National Marine Fisheries Service has adopted final regulations for Pacific halibut fisheries in 2022 including the season dates described here. This emergency rules revises state regulations so they conform to federal regulations.
Additional Information: Recreational halibut is quota managed, days open are dependent on available quota and areas will close when the quota is projected to be taken.
Information contact: Lorna Wargo, Intergovernmental Policy Coordinator, 360-581-5611