OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced plans today for the 2025 halibut fishing season, which will kick off April 3 in some Puget Sound marine areas and May 1 in coastal marine areas.
“We're fortunate to have another year of stable quotas
along the West Coast,” said Corey Niles, the WDFW intergovernmental ocean policy lead. “We expect to have a similar number of open days as the past couple of seasons and got close to catching the full quota in 2024. We'll keep watch on the catch this spring and provide as many days in August and September as the remaining quota can support.”The 2025 recreational season is based on a statewide quota of 284,042 pounds. The annual catch quota of 1.65 million pounds in 2025 is the result of an allocation that the International Pacific Halibut Commission approved Jan. 31 for fisheries in Washington, Oregon, and California. Halibut fisheries are managed to a quota, and areas will close when the projected quotas are taken.
The halibut season details, pending final implementation in federal rule, are listed below.
In all marine areas open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. Anglers may possess up to two fish in any form while in the field and must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card. The annual limit is six halibut per angler. Possession limit is two daily limits in any form, except only one daily limit while aboard the fishing vessel. Anglers cannot fish for, retain, possess, or land halibut into a port located within an area closed to halibut fishing. The only exception is that anglers can land halibut that they lawfully retained in Marine Area 5 into a port within Marine Area 4 when Marine Area 4 is closed.
Anglers should check the WDFW website to ensure a specific area is open prior to fishing. Refer to the WDFW bottomfish and halibut webpage for information on recreational halibut regulations and seasons. For in-season updates refer to the WDFW emergency fishing and shellfishing rules webpage.
2025 Puget Sound halibut seasons
- Sekiu and Pillar Point, East Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10): Open from April 3 through June 30, seven days per week, if there is sufficient quota. If quota remains after June 30, then the fishery will open to seven days per week in August and September. Puget Sound will be managed to an overall quota of 79,772 pounds.
Fishery managers remind anglers that barbless hooks are required for all species including halibut and bottomfish—except when using forage fish jig gear to target forage fish (herring, sandlance, anchovy, sardine and smelt). Refer to WDFW Marine Area Rules and Definitions in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules. - Tacoma-Vashon Island, Hood Canal, and South Puget Sound (Marine Areas 11, 12, and 13): All areas are closed to halibut fishing to protect threatened and endangered rockfish species.
2025 coastal halibut seasons
- Ilwaco/Columbia River (Marine Area 1): All-depth fishery opens May 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25, 29, 30; June 1, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, 29 if there is sufficient quota. If at least 55% of the sub-area quota remains as of May 25, 2025, then the fishery will also open June 9, 10, 16, 17, 30. If quota remains after June 30, then all marine areas may open to seven days per week in August and September. The nearshore fishery is open on a Monday-through-Wednesday schedule following the opening of the all-depth fishery, until the nearshore allocation is taken or Sept. 30, whichever comes first. Refer to WDFW halibut webpage for Columbia River nearshore fishery coordinates. On days when the all-depth halibut fishery is closed, taking, retaining, possessing, or landing halibut on groundfish trips is only allowed in the nearshore area. The all-depth fishery will be managed to 19,087 pounds includes a nearshore quota of 500 pounds.
- Westport-Ocean Shores (Marine Area 2): All-depth fishery opens May 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29. If sufficient quota remains the all-depth fishery will open June 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29. If quota remains after June 30, then all marine areas may open to seven days per week in August and September. This area will be managed to an overall quota of 65,117 pounds includes a nearshore quota of 2,000 pounds.
- La Push and Neah Bay (Marine Areas 3 and 4): Opens May 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31; June 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29. All openings are subject to quota availability. If quota remains after June 30, then all marine areas may open up to seven days per week in August and September. The combined quota for both areas is 130,409 pounds.
For specific marine area locations, refer to WDFW Marine Area Rules and Definitions in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules.
Fishing regulations include depth restrictions and area closures designed to reduce encounters with yelloweye rockfish, which anglers must release under state and federal law. Fishery managers remind anglers that a descending device must be on board vessels and rigged for immediate use when fishing for or possessing bottomfish and halibut. Refer to WDFW’s webpage for information about descending devices.
WDFW reminds anglers that creel staff will be present at many coastal boat launch ramps and access sites to gather additional information regarding fishing and crabbing trips. Anglers may be interviewed by multiple staff members who collect different sets of information based on the species caught. The information these staff members collect is important for fishery management.
WDFW works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.
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