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.

Four people on a dock holding three caught halibut.
Photo by David Bergeron

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

2025 halibut fisheries

Please see the Halibut seasons and subarea quotas page for detailed information.

Upcoming meeting

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has scheduled a public virtual meeting to discuss the coastal late season halibut fisheries for August and September. The meeting is Wednesday, June 25 from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

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Meeting ID: 299 033 560 362

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+1 564-999-2000,,428806459# United States, Olympia 

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Phone conference ID: 909 064 580#

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2025 bottomfish and lingcod seasons, bag limit highlights*

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

  • March 8 through October 18, 2025
  • Daily bag limit of two lingcod per angler no minimum size limit
  • Rockfish: Bag limit is 7. The sublimit for canary rockfish is 5. 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 8 through October 18, 2025
  • 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

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More information