All-depth halibut fishing in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) will open for five additional days in June

OLYMPIA – All-depth halibut fishing in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) will open for five additional days on June 9, 10, 16, 17, and 30, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today. 

“The five additional days in June are being added per the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (PFMC) Catch Sharing Plan,” said Corey Niles, the WDFW intergovernmental ocean policy lead. “The change depended on 55% of the subarea's quota remaining after the Memorial Day weekend.”

The all-depth fishery in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) is also currently open June 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, and 29. If quota remains after June 30, then all marine areas might open to seven days per week in August and September. Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) is part of the Columbia River subarea, which is shared by Washington and Oregon and covers anglers fishing out of the ports of IIwaco, Chinook, and Astoria.

The nearshore fishery is open on a Monday-through-Wednesday schedule following the opening of the all-depth fishery, until the nearshore allocation is met or by Sept. 30, whichever comes first. Refer to WDFW halibut webpage for Columbia River nearshore fishery coordinates. On days when the all-depth halibut fishery is closed, taking, retaining, possessing, or landing halibut on bottomfishing trips is only allowed in the nearshore area. The all-depth fishery is managed to 19,087 pounds and includes a nearshore quota of 500 pounds.

For information on halibut fishing seasons in Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), Marine Area 3 and 4 (La Push and Neah Bay), and Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 (Sekiu and Pillar Point, East Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound) refer to the WDFW halibut webpage.

WDFW works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.

The 2025 recreational season is based on a statewide quota of 284,042 pounds. The annual catch quota of 1.65 million pounds in 2025 is the result of an allocation that the International Pacific Halibut Commission approved for fisheries in Washington, Oregon, and California. Halibut fisheries are managed to a quota, and areas will close when the projected quotas are met.

In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. Anglers may possess up to two fish in any form while in the field and must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card. The annual limit is six halibut per angler. Possession limit is two daily limits in any form, except only one daily limit while aboard the fishing vessel. Anglers cannot fish for, retain, possess, or land halibut into a port located within an area closed to halibut fishing. The only exception is that anglers can land halibut that they lawfully retained in Marine Area 5 into a port within Marine Area 4 when Marine Area 4 is closed.

Anglers should check the WDFW website to ensure a specific area is open prior to fishing. Refer to the WDFW bottomfish and halibut webpage for information on recreational halibut regulations and seasons. For in-season updates refer to the WDFW emergency fishing and shellfishing rules webpage.

Fishing regulations include depth restrictions and area closures designed to reduce encounters with yelloweye rockfish, which anglers must release under state and federal law. Fishery managers remind anglers that a descending device must be on board vessels and rigged for immediate use when fishing for or possessing bottomfish and halibut. Refer to WDFW’s webpage for information about descending devices.

WDFW reminds anglers that creel staff will be present at many coastal boat launch ramps and access sites to gather additional information regarding fishing and crabbing trips. Anglers may be interviewed by multiple staff members who collect different sets of information based on the species caught. The information these staff members collect is important for fishery management.