Columbia River halibut and bottomfish seasons and regulations

All-depth fishery - 2025 Weekly Catch Estimates

Nearshore fishery

2025 halibut season dates

The following 2025 season dates are preliminary and subject to upcoming decisions by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) and the issuance of regulations by the National Marine Fisheries Service. 

All-depth Fishery

The halibut stock assessment for 2024 (PDF) estimates that the stock continues to experience a period of low productivity. IPHC may respond to this result by lowering quotas. Based on this possibility, the Pacific Fishery Management Council approved two sets of season dates that depend on where IPHC sets the 2025 Fishery Constant Exploitation Yield (FCEY) for Area 2A. The FCEY decision will be made at IPHC’s Annual Meeting (Jan. 27-31).

If the Area 2A FCEY is at least 1.3 million pounds, the proposed season dates will be:

• May 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30
• June 1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, 29 and
  • If at least 55 percent of the Columbia River sub-area quota remains as of May 25, 2025: then also June 9, 10, 16, 17, 30.

If the Area 2A 2025 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million pounds, the proposed season dates will be:

• May 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30 and,
• June 1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, 29

If quota remains after June 30, all marine areas may be open up to seven days per week in August and September. 

Nearshore Fishery 

The nearshore fishery is proposed to be open Monday through Wednesday following the opening of the all-depth fishery, until the nearshore allocation is taken or September 30, whichever is earlier. On days when the all-depth halibut fishery is closed, taking, retaining, possessing, or landing halibut on groundfish trips is only allowed in the nearshore area.

Check for additional information as the season progresses on the Emergency fishing and shellfishing rules page.

In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction.  There is a six fish annual bag limit.  Anglers must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card.

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2024 Bottomfish regulations 

On days open to the all-depth halibut fishery, sablefish, Pacific cod, flatfish species, yellowtail rockfish, widow rockfish, canary rockfish, redstriped rockfish, greenstriped rockfish, silvergray rockfish, chilipepper, bocaccio, and blue/deacon rockfish may be retained. Lingcod may be retained north of the Washington-Oregon border. Retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited. 

Following the opening of the all-depth fishery, halibut retention with bottomfish on board is allowed in the nearshore area each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, until the nearshore quota is taken. The nearshore area off WA is shoreward of 46°38.17' N. lat., 124°15.88' W. long., to the WA/OR border at 46°16.00' N. lat., 124°15.88' W. long. (then connecting to the 40-fathom depth contour in Oregon).

Bottomfish restrictions

Retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited at all times.

Recreational fishing for, retention, or possession of lingcod is prohibited seaward of a line extending from 46°38.17'N. lat., 124°20.00'W. long. to 46°33.00’ N. Lat., 124°21.00’ W. long. Except, lingcod may be taken, retained and possessed in this area from June 1 through June 15 and September 1 through September 30.

NOTE: Bottomfish caught in the Pacific Ocean and landed into a Washington port are subject to Washington personal use fishing regulations including possession limits (WAC 220-305-010).  That is, recreational anglers are prohibited from landing recreational bottomfish in excess of the possession limits in place for the port of landing.

Bottomfish seasons and limits

Bottomfish

Recreational fishing for bottomfish will be open from the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October, which is March 9 through October 19, 2024. Daily limit is a total of nine bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, five additional flatfish species (excluding Pacific halibut) can be retained. 

In Marine Area 1 fishing for, retention, or possession of lingcod is prohibited seaward of a line drawn from 46°38.167' N. Lat., 124°21.00' W. Lon. (Leadbetter Point) to 46°33.00' N. Lat., 124°21.00' W. Lon. when lingcod is open. Except, lingcod may be taken, retained, and possessed in this area from June 1 through June 15 and September 1 through September 30.

Lingcod

• Marine Area 1 (Columbia River): Open March 9 – October 19, 2024. See lingcod restricted areas above.
• The daily bag limit is two per angler.
• No minimum size.

Rockfish

• Open March 9 – October 19, 2024.  No minimum size. Daily limit 7.  Retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited.  In May, June, and July the possession limit for copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and vermilion rockfish is 0. See lingcod restricted areas above. 

Cabezon

• Open March 9 – October 19, 2024. No minimum size. Daily limit 1.

Sixgill, Sevengill, and Thresher sharks

• Closed to fishing for, retaining, or possessing.  Sixgill shark may not be removed from the water.  

Surfperch

• Open year-round. No minimum size. Daily limit 12, except Shiner perch daily limit 15; not included in the bottomfish daily limit.