Anglers rejoice as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has opened up additional recreational halibut fishing opportunities for August and September. This decision follows an underutilized quota from the current season, with roughly 70% caught through the end of June. Corey Niles, the WDFW intergovernmental ocean policy lead, explained that compared to last year, the quota usage is slightly behind, prompting these new dates, as reported by the WDFW's news release.
Based on the allocation made by the International Pacific Halibut Commission on January 31, the 2025 recreational season will work within a statewide quota of 284,042 pounds out of an annual catch quota of 1.65 million pounds, which includes commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries across Washington, Oregon, and California. The halibut fisheries, managed by a quota, will see closures in areas once the assigned quotas are forecast to be met.
The additional dates extend to multiple marine areas: Marine Areas 5 through 10, including popular spots like Sekiu, Pillar Point, and the Seattle-Bremerton Area, will be open daily from August 16 to September 30. Similar patterns apply to Marine Areas 3 and 4, except Marine Area 2 and the all-depth fishery in Marine Area 1, which will only be open Sunday through Friday. It's important to note that some areas, such as Marine Areas 11, 12, and 13, will remain closed for the season.
The regulations set a one-fish daily catch limit, and anglers must carry a WDFW catch record card. The annual limit stands at six halibut per person, with a possession limit of two daily limits in any form, except when aboard the fishing vessel, only one limit is allowed. The news release further reminds that all vessels fishing for bottomfish and halibut must have a descending device onboard, ready for immediate use. This stipulation is part of the efforts to manage rockfish populations, particularly yelloweye rockfish, which must be released if caught.
