# 2025-15198: Reel in More Time: Halibut Season Extended in Washington Waters

2025-15198, Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; 2025 Catch Sharing Plan; Inseason Action, is a Federal Register rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2025-08-11, effective Inseason action for the 2025 fishing season; adds fishing dates in August and September and transfers allocation between subareas as described. (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15198
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-15198
- Title: Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; 2025 Catch Sharing Plan; Inseason Action
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 90 FR 38610
- Published: 2025-08-11
- Effective: Inseason action for the 2025 fishing season; adds fishing dates in August and September and transfers allocation between subareas as described.
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Reel in More Time: Halibut Season Extended in Washington Waters

## Summary

Good news for Pacific halibut anglers! The fishing season in the Columbia River and Washington areas just got longer with new dates added in August and September. Plus, some fishing spots in Oregon are sharing their catch limits to help everyone enjoy more fishing fun in 2025.

## Abstract

NMFS announces inseason action for the Pacific halibut recreational fishery in the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A. This action adds fishing dates in August and September in the Columbia River and Washington subareas and transfers allocation from the Oregon Central Coast subarea to the Columbia River subarea. These actions are intended to provide opportunity for anglers and are necessary to achieve the overall recreational fishery allocation in the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) 2025 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan.

## Effects PRIA read

- Season extended in Aug–Sep for anglers: benefit, low. The rule adds fishing dates in August and September 2025 for the Pacific halibut recreational fishery in IPHC Area 2A's Columbia River and Washington subareas. You (recreational anglers in those subareas) get extra days to fish during those months in 2025.
- Allocation shifted to Columbia River subarea: benefit, low. The rule transfers allocation from the Oregon Central Coast subarea to the Columbia River subarea under the 2025 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan in IPHC Area 2A. This gives the Columbia River subarea additional allocation for the 2025 recreational fishery.
- Oregon Central Coast allocation moved away: cost, low. The rule transfers allocation from the Oregon Central Coast subarea to the Columbia River subarea under the 2025 Catch Sharing Plan. This means the Oregon Central Coast subarea had allocation moved away from it for the 2025 recreational season.

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## Sources
- [2025-15198 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/11/2025-15198/pacific-halibut-fisheries-of-the-west-coast-2025-catch-sharing-plan-inseason-action)
- [2025-15198 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-08-11/pdf/2025-15198.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-15191, Additional Payment II Program](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15191)
- [Next: 2025-15204, Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Herring Fishery; 2025 Man…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15204)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15198 (as of 2026-06-11).