Puget Sound recreational halibut - 2024 preliminary estimates
| Fishing Dates | Anglers (number) | Halibut (number) | Pounds | Cumulative Pounds | Quota Pounds Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81,729 | |||||
2024 Halibut seasons
The 2024 season dates for Washington recreational halibut fisheries have been adopted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. At its January meeting, the International Pacific Halibut Commission set the 2024 Pacific halibut quota for Area 2A fisheries (Washington, Oregon, California). Season dates have been implemented in federal rule. All openings are subject to quota availability.
Marine Area 5
April 4 through June 30, seven days per week.
If quota remains after June 30, open up to seven days per week in August and September.
Marine Area 5: It is permissible for halibut anglers to retain lingcod caught while fishing for halibut in waters deeper than Bottomfish Closure line on days that halibut and lingcod is open. It is permissible for halibut anglers to retain Pacific Cod and sablefish caught while fishing for halibut in waters deeper than the Bottomfish Closure line on days that halibut is open. The daily limit for sablefish is 2 in Marine Area 5.
Marine Areas 6 - 10
April 4 through June 30, seven days per week.
If quota remains after June 30, open up to seven days per week in August and September.
To protect yelloweye rockfish, the retention of lingcod and Pacific cod is not permitted while fishing for halibut deeper than 120 feet in Marine Areas 6 - 10
Puget Sound Region (Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10)
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.
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.