2025 North Coast quota: TBD
| Fishing Dates | Anglers (#) | Halibut (#) | Pounds | Cumulative (pounds) | Quota Remaining (pounds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 halibut season dates
North Coast (Marine Areas 3 and 4)
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.
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, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)
- May 23, 24, 25 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for Memorial Day weekend)
- May 29, 30, 31 (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)
- June 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
If the Area 2A 2025 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million pounds, the proposed season dates will be:
- May 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17 (Thursday and Saturday)
- May 23 and May 25 (Friday and Sunday for Memorial Day weekend)
- May 29, 31 (Thursday and Saturday)
- June 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday)
If quota remains after June 30, all marine areas may be open up to seven days per week in August and September.
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.
Check for additional information as the season progresses in the emergency rules page.
2024 bottomfish regulations
20-fathom depth restriction
In Marine Area 3 and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line) effective June 1 through July 31, recreational fishing for bottomfish is prohibited seaward of a boundary line approximating the 20-fm (120 ft.) depth contour. Beginning June 1, on days open to the Pacific halibut fishery, the following bottomfish can be retained seaward of 20 fathoms: lingcod, sablefish, Pacific cod, bocaccio, silvergray rockfish, canary rockfish, widow rockfish, and yellowtail rockfish. Yellowtail and widow rockfish retention is allowed seaward of 20 fathoms at all times during the month of July.
In Marine Area 4B (east of the Bonnilla Tatoosh line) recreational fishing for bottomfish is prohibited seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line year-round. On days open to the Pacific halibut fishery in this area, no bottomfish except lingcod, sablefish, and Pacific cod can be retained seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line. Yellowtail and widow rockfish retention is allowed seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line on days open to recreational salmon fishing July 1- August 31.
The retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited in all Marine Areas.
Area closures
Area Closures
A "C-shaped" yelloweye rockfish conservation area that is closed to recreational bottomfish and halibut fishing is defined by the following coordinates in the order listed:
- 48°18' N. lat.; 125°18' W. long.;
- 48°18' N. lat.; 124°59' W. long.;
- 48°11' N. lat.; 124°59' W. long.;
- 48°11' N. lat.; 125°11' W. long.;
- 48°04' N. lat.; 125°11' W. long.;
- 48°04' N. lat.; 124°59' W. long.;
- 48°00' N. lat.; 124°59' W. long.;
- 48°00' N. lat.; 125°18' W. long.; and
- connecting back to 48°18' N. lat.; 125°18' W. long.
Bottomfish seasons and limits
West of the Bonnilla-Tatoosh line: Recreational bottomfish is open from the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October, which is March 9 - October 19, 2024. Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, anglers can retain five additional flatfish.
East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line: Open year-round. In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, anglers can retain five additional flatfish. See Bottomfish Closure line depth restriction above for more information.
Lingcod
Marine Area 3 (La Push) and Marine Area 4 west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line (Neah Bay): Open March 9 - October 19, 2024; no minimum size, the daily bag limit is two per angler.
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line: March 9 – October 19, 2024; no minimum size; the daily bag limit is two per angler.
Rockfish
West of Bonilla-Tatoosh line: Open March 9 – October 19, 2024. No minimum size. Daily limit 7. No Yelloweye may be retained. No retention or possession seaward of 20 fathoms June 1 through July 31, see 20 fathom depth restriction above for more information. In May, June, and July the possession limit for copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and vermilion rockfish is 0.
East of Bonilla-Tatoosh line: Open year-round. No minimum size. Daily limit 7, only the following species may be retained: black rockfish, blue/deacon rockfish, yellowtail rockfish and widow rockfish.
Cabezon
Marine Area 3 (La Push) and Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line: Open March 9 – October 19, 2024. No Minimum size. Daily limit 1.
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay) east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line: Open year-round. No minimum size. Daily limit 1.
Wolf-eel
Closed to retention.
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.