Halibut Harvest Rules: 2026's Fishy Limits Drop
Published Date: 3/25/2026
Rule
Summary
The 2026 Pacific halibut fishing rules are now in effect, helping protect halibut populations while supporting fishermen along the U.S. West Coast and Alaska. These new measures set catch limits and fishing seasons to keep the fishery healthy and sustainable. If you fish for halibut or rely on this industry, get ready for updated rules starting March 12, 2026, designed to balance conservation and opportunity.
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
2026 Coastwide Catch Limit Set
If you fish commercially or recreationally for Pacific halibut, the coastwide mortality limit (TCEY) for 2026 is set at 29,330,000 pounds (13,304 metric tons), effective March 12, 2026. The coastwide TCEY decreased 1.3 percent from 2025, and Area 2B’s limit was cut by 7.2 percent to 5,060,000 pounds while Area 2A remained at 1,650,000 pounds.
Commercial Season Dates Extended
If you harvest halibut commercially, the 2026 commercial season opens March 26, 2026 at 06:00 local time and closes December 7, 2026. The opening is 6 days later than in 2025, and the extended closing date provides market and harvesting flexibility.
Area 2C Charter: One-Fish Limit and Closures
If you operate charter trips in Area 2C (Alaska), 2026 rules continue a one-fish daily bag limit for charter vessel anglers, include a size restriction (halibut with head on greater than 34 inches and less than 80 inches are prohibited), and prohibit retention on Thursdays from June 18 through September 10, 2026.
Area 3A Charter: Bag, Closures, Trip Limits
If you operate charter trips in Area 3A (Alaska), 2026 measures set a two-fish daily bag limit (one fish of any size and a 27-inch maximum for the other), ban retention on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 2 through August 25, 2026, and limit charter permits and vessels to one charter trip per day for the season.
One-Year Limited Bycatch Retention in Area 2B
For one year in 2026, vessels in Area 2B (British Columbia) fishing year-round hook-and-line and trap groundfish fisheries may retain limited numbers of legal-sized Pacific halibut caught incidentally outside the halibut commercial fishing period. This change is in section 11 of the 2026 measures.
Area 2A Recreational Season Dates
If you guide or fish recreationally in Area 2A, the 2026 early-season openings are set: Puget Sound and U.S. Convention waters in the Strait of Juan de Fuca open April 2, 2026, and waters off California subareas open April 1, 2026. NMFS will implement additional Area 2A measures in separate rulemaking.
Guided Angler Fish (GAF) Exemptions for Charters
If you run a charter in Areas 2C or 3A, annual transfers of commercial IFQ as guided angler fish (GAF) may be used; GAF are exempt from the charter trip limits and day closures and allow charter anglers to retain GAF (up to two halibut of any size per day when GAF are used).
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Key Dates
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