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.

2023 bottomfish and lingcod seasons, bag limit highlights*

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

• March 11 – October 21, 2023
• Daily bag limit of two lingcod per angler no minimum size limit
• Rockfish: New for 2023, in 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 11 – October 21, 2023
• 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 will host virtual public meetings this summer and fall to discuss season structure and proposed dates for the 2024 sport halibut season.  These meetings will be held in August and October.  

For reference, the meeting materials from the 2022 meetings. 

August 9, 2022 

• Meeting agenda
• Meeting overview
• Meeting Review and Plan
• Proposed changes
• Meeting Video

October 4, 2022 

• Meeting agenda
• Meeting Presentation
• Meeting Video

View meeting recording