New Rules Shake Up West Coast Halibut Fishing Seasons and Limits
Published Date: 5/1/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting April 30, 2026, new rules will change how Pacific halibut fishing works off Washington, Oregon, and California. These updates share the catch fairly and set fun fishing season dates to protect halibut while giving anglers more chances to reel them in. If you fish recreationally, get ready for new limits and areas to keep the halibut population healthy and the fishing exciting!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Washington Area 2A Seasons and Limits
If you fish recreationally in Washington ports in Regulatory Area 2A, the rule sets specific subarea allocations and season dates. Puget Sound has an allocation of 80,512 lb (36.5 mt) and is open 7 days per week from April 2 through June 30 (with possible August–September reopening); Washington North Coast allocation is 131,149 lb (59.5 mt) with opening dates beginning April 30 and a multi-day schedule through June; Washington South Coast allocation is 65,857 lb (29.9 mt) with openings beginning April 30 and a multi-day schedule through June; the Columbia River subarea allocation is 19,299 lb (8.8 mt) with openings beginning April 30 and possible additional June dates based on NMFS assessment. The daily bag limit for these Washington subareas is one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Oregon Central Coast Seasons, Allocations, Rules
If you fish recreationally in the Oregon Central Coast subarea, the allocation is 278,835 lb (126.5 mt) (nearshore 10,000 lb, spring all-depth 209,126 lb, summer all-depth 59,709 lb). The nearshore fishery is open 7 days/week May 1–October 31; the spring all-depth fishery is open 7 days/week May 1–July 31; the summer all-depth fishery is Aug 1–October 31 with conditional weekly schedules based on remaining allocation (50,000 lb / 22.7 mt and 30,000 lb / 13.6 mt thresholds). The daily bag limit for the Oregon Central Coast is two Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Inseason Closures, Reopenings, and Allocation Transfers
NMFS may close subareas when there is not enough allocation for another full day of fishing, may reopen subareas in August–September if allocation remains, and may transfer remaining or projected unused allocations between subareas (within a State or from one State to another) through inseason actions. NMFS will announce such inseason actions in the Federal Register and via the NMFS hotline and fishery bulletins.
Southern Oregon Allocation and Bag Limit
If you fish recreationally in the Southern Oregon subarea, the allocation is 8,000 lb (3.6 mt) and the fishery is open 7 days per week from May 1 through October 31. The daily bag limit for Southern Oregon is two Pacific halibut of any size per person.
California Subareas: Allocations and Open Seasons
If you fish recreationally in California ports in Regulatory Area 2A, the Northern California Coast subarea allocation is 39,540 lb (17.9 mt) and is open 7 days per week from April 1 through November 15 with a daily bag limit of one Pacific halibut per person. The South of Point Arena subarea allocation is 500 lb (0.2 mt) and is open 7 days per week from April 1 through December 31 with a daily bag limit of one Pacific halibut per person.
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