Coastal recreational bottomfish fishery season opens March 8

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today the recreational coastal bottomfish fishery season opens March 8.

New for 2025, is the daily possession limit of five canary rockfish in the coastal recreational bottomfish fishery in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), Marine Area 3 (LaPush), and Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay).

Anglers are also reminded that possession of copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and vermilion rockfish is prohibited in May, June, and July, when peak effort for bottomfish occurs. These restrictions are intended to reduce catch to stay within federal quotas. Recent scientific assessments for the four rockfish species indicate populations are healthy but smaller than previously understood. WDFW monitors the recreational fishery and may take additional in-season action to keep catch within annual limits.

Allowing some possession and retention of these rockfish species supports collection of crucial biological information such as length and age which are important for future scientific assessments.

Yelloweye rockfish retention is prohibited in all areas of Washington and must be released. Anglers are reminded that a descending device must be on board vessels and rigged for immediate use when fishing for or possessing bottomfish and halibut. For information about descending devices, refer to the WDFW webpage.

“The use of descending devices to release rockfish that can’t be kept is an effective way to improve their survival,” said Lorna Wargo, WDFW intergovernmental ocean policy coordinator. “We’ve been pleased at the way anglers have adopted the regular use of descending devices to release rockfish as a responsible fishing practice.”

2025 coastal recreational bottomfishing seasons

• Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), Marine Area 2 (Westport-Ocean Shores), Marine Area 3 (LaPush) and Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay west of Bonilla-Tatoosh) will open March 8 through Oct. 18. Daily aggregate limit is nine bottomfish and includes a sub-limit of seven rockfish (sub-limit of five canary rockfish), two lingcod, and one cabezon per angler with no minimum size restriction. A daily aggregate limit is a combination of nine bottomfish species. Anglers cannot possess copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and vermilion rockfish in May, June, and July.
• Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay east of Bonilla-Tatoosh) is open year-round. Lingcod fishing is open March 8 through Oct. 18. Daily aggregate limit is nine bottomfish and includes a sub-limit of seven black, blue /deacon, yellowtail, and widow rockfishes, two lingcod, and one cabezon per angler with no minimum size restriction. A daily aggregate limit is a combination of nine bottomfish species.

A bottomfish daily limit doesn’t include halibut. The daily limit for halibut is one fish.

Surfperch and shiner perch are not part of the bottomfish limit. Surfperch has a daily limit of 12 and shiner perch has a daily limit of 15 with no minimum size restriction for either species. Fishing is open on the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October except fishing for surfperch is open year-round from the beach.

Fishing for, retaining, or possessing sixgill, sevengill, and thresher sharks is closed in all marine areas. A sixgill shark may not be removed from the water.

For additional information, regarding seasons, daily limits, gear rules, depth restrictions and bottomfish closure areas, refer to the 2024-2025 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet webpage and the WDFW recreational bottomfish and halibut webpage.

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