2019 Washington Halibut Fishing Season

Washington Halibut Seasons Note: All areas open same days
2019 Halibut Fishery Quotas
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North Coast (Marine Areas 3 & 4)
Total: 128,187
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South Coast (Marine Area 2)
Total: 62,896
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Columbia River (Marine Area 1).
Total: 15,127
All Depth: 14,627
Nearshore: 500
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Puget Sound
Total: 77,550
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Seasons
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The halibut season dates listed are preliminary until adopted into federal regulation by the National Marine Fisheries Service but can be used for planning purposes, as they are unlikely to change. Please note, Pacific halibut are managed to a quota and openings are dependent on available quota.
2019 Strait of Juan de Fuca & Puget Sound Recreational Halibut
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• Puget Sound Region (Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10): Open Thursday May 4, Saturday May 6 and Thursday May 11 depending on available quota.  If there is sufficient quota remaining, the following dates will be considered for re-opening; Sunday, May 21 and/or Thursday, May 25 and Thursday June 1 and/or Sunday June 4. 

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• Marine Areas 1, 2, 3 & 4 open Thursday May 4, Saturday May 6 and Thursday May 11 depending on available quota. 

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• In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. Anglers must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card.

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• Marine Areas 5 and 6: It is permissible for halibut anglers to retain lingcod and Pacific cod caught while fishing for halibut in waters deeper than 120 feet on days that halibut fishing is open.
• North Coast (Marine Areas 3 and 4): Thursday, May 2; Saturday, May 4; Thursday, May 9; Saturday, May 11; Saturday, May 18; Friday, May 24; Sunday, May 26; Thursday, June 6; Saturday, June 8; Thursday, June 20; Saturday, June 22

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• In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. There is a four fish annual bag limit. Anglers must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card

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• Check for additional information as the season progresses in the Emergency Rules website.

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• South Coast (Marine Area 2): Thursday, May 2; Sunday May 5; Thursday, May 9; Sunday, May 12; Friday, May 24

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• If sufficient quota remains after the all-depth fishery has closed, the northern nearshore area will open on the following Saturday. When quota is available, the nearshore area will be open 7-days per week until the remaining quota is taken.
• The northern nearshore area includes the waters from 47° 31.70’ N. latitude south to 46° 58.00’ N. latitude and east of a line approximating 30 fathoms as described by the following coordinates
• 47°31.70’ N.  124°37.03’W.
• 47°25.67’ N. 124°34.79’W
• 47°12.82’ N. 124°29.12’W
• 46°58.00’ N. 124°24.24’W.

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• In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. There is a four fish annual bag limit. Anglers must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card.
  
  
  
• Check for additional information as the season progresses in the Emergency Rules website.

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2019 Bottomfish Regulations
Recreational fishing for lingcod, is prohibited seaward of a boundary line approximating the 30-fm (55-m) depth contour from March 9 through May 31. The retention of lingcod seaward of the 30 fathom line is allowed on days that the primary halibut season is open. The retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited.

2019 Columbia Recreational Halibut
Thursday, May 2; Sunday May 5; Thursday, May 9; Sunday, May 12; Friday, May 24; Sunday, May 26. If sufficient quota remains after May 26, the Columbia River subarea would be open two days per week (Thursday and Sunday) until the remaining quota is achieved
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South Central

• Four halibut total for charter fishing, limit two halibut per day, if taking two per day one must be 28 inches or smaller.
• There will no halibut fishing on Wednesdays all season and no halibut fishing on Tuesday July 18 and July 25 and August 1, 2017.
• Self-guided, two any size per day, four possession limit

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