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.

2022 bottomfish and lingcod seasons

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

• March 12 – October 15, 2022
• Daily bag limit of two lingcod per angler no minimum size limit

Marine Area 4 (east of Bonilla-Tatoosh): 

• Recreational bottomfish: open year round
• Recreational lingcod: March 12 – October 15, 2022
• Daily bag limit of two lingcod per angler, no minimum size limit

Public meetings

WDFW is hosting two virtual public meetings this spring to discuss management options for coastal recreational bottomfish, including rockfish, lingcod and other non-salmon species, in 2023 and 2024.

The first of these meetings was held on Wednesday, March 16, while the second will take place on Tuesday, May 3 at 2 p.m. More information is available at the news release.

The spring meetings will be conducted virtually on Microsoft Teams. To participate, visit the meeting link, or call in to the meeting and then enter the meeting ID.

• May 3, 2022
  Call-in:  564-999-2000 
  Meeting ID: 140310854#
  The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the preliminary preferred alternative (PPA) that was approved for public review by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) at their meeting in April and take input on the alternatives to develop a recommendation for PFMC as they prepare to take final action at the June Council meeting.  The WDFW report describing the PPA is available by clicking here.