Recreational bottomfish and halibut

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.

Four people on a dock holding three caught halibut.
Photo by David Bergeron

Recreational fishing seasons and regulations in Washington's waters for bottomfish and halibut, including weekly updates.

2024 bottomfish and lingcod seasons, bag limit highlights*

Marine Areas 1-3 and Marine Area 4 west of Bonilla-Tatoosh:

  • March 9 – October 19, 2024
  • Daily bag limit of two lingcod per angler no minimum size limit
  • Rockfish: May, June, and July the possession limit for copper rockfish, quillback rockfish, and vermilion rockfish is 0.

Marine Area 4 (east of Bonilla-Tatoosh): 

  • Recreational bottomfish: open year round
  • Recreational lingcod: March 9 – October 19, 2024
  • Daily bag limit of two lingcod per angler, no minimum size limit

*See regulation pamphlet for complete listing of bag limits at: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations

Public recreational halibut season meeting

A public meeting to plan the 2025 Pacific halibut recreational fishery is scheduled for 5 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3.

We will discuss options presented at the September Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in preparation for final decisions in November. Review WDFW's report (PDF) with the 2025 season options.

Please see the information to join below:

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Meeting ID: 293 808 357 164 

Passcode: pWe2CT 

Dial in by phone 

+1 564-999-2000,,859803936# United States, Olympia 

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Phone conference ID: 859 803 936# 

 

WDFW hosted a virtual recreational halibut meeting on Aug. 13, 2024, to begin planning for the 2025 fishing seasons. The Department took preliminary recommendations for changes to the Catch Sharing Plan and season structure to the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting Sept. 19-24 in Spokane.

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Upcoming 2024-25 meetings

Oct. 3, 2024: WDFW Public Meeting to review options from September and refine Washington recommendations for final season structure and dates and take public input. 

Nov. 13-19, 2024: Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. WDFW submits final 2025 season recommendations; Council considers public comments and recommendations for adoption for 2025.

Jan. 27-31, 2025: International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) meeting at the Pan Pacific Hotel, 999 Canada Place #300, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3B5, Canada. Attended by U.S. and Canada delegates and stakeholders. Scientific and resource status reports presented by IPHC scientists. IPHC sets rules and establishes annual allowable catch by IPHC area.

March 6-11, 2025: Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 West Sixth Street, Vancouver, WA 98660.

April 10-15, 2025: Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting at the DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose, 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose, CA 95110.

June 12-18, 2025: Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting at site TBD or DoubleTree by Hilton Sonoma One Doubletree Drive – Rohnert Park, CA 94928.

More information