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

WDFW hosted two virtual recreational halibut meetings on Oct. 3, 2024, and 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 meetings on Sept. 19-24 in Spokane and Nov. 13-19 in Costa Mesa, CA. Review WDFW's report (PDF) with the 2025 halibut season options.

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Upcoming 2024-25 meetings

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