Commission sets 2026 groundfish seasons

SALEM, Ore.— The Commission set 2026 groundfish regulations during their meeting in Salem today.

The daily catch limit for lingcod will increase from 2 to 3 fish next year, since lingcod populations are healthy and bycatch of yelloweye rockfish (a protected species) is still low.

The daily limit for general marine bag limit (rockfish, greenlings, cabezon, etc.) would stay at 4 fish all year in 2026, with a sub bag limit of 2 canary rockfish (up from 1 fish last year). The 4-fish daily limit is necessary due to continued high effort and catch rates for rockfish. In 2025, a planned 5-fish summertime bag limit had to be reduced back to 4 in August and then to 3 fish in September as the popular fishery approached the harvest guideline much earlier than expected.

ODFW continues to work with coastal anglers to understand their preferences for managing black rockfish which are the main driver of the general marine bag limit and season. Some are now leaning toward higher daily limits, even if it means a shorter season — which could influence future rules. The black rockfish harvest guideline for 2026 is slightly higher than last year but remains well below levels prior to 2024.

After hearing an informational briefing from staff on Columbia River hook requirements and from anglers in favor of a change, Commissioners directed staff to continue talks with Washington about mainstem hook regulations.

Commissioners acknowledged that changing the rule could impact complex joint fisheries management with Washington and reduce fishing days. They also discussed the timing and staff capacity for an additional workload while staff are involved in ongoing agency priority tasks, on top of day-to-day fisheries management.

Barbless hooks have largely been required since 2013. Switching to barbed hooks could make it easier for anglers to land fish and align regulations between the mainstem and tributaries. However, it could also shorten fishing seasons due to more fish being landed and retained.

"As commissioners, we seek to understand and respond thoughtfully when constituents bring forth these recommendations," said Commissioner Labhart.

"I want our constituents to know we heard them— we are having this conversation because we did," said Commissioner DeFrees. "But this issue isn't simple."

In other business, the Commission:

• Approved grant funding as recommended by the R&E board on projects to improve fisheries, fishing access and hatchery programs and appointed Steve Janego as a Sport Fishing Representative and Tim VonSeggern as a Commercial Salmon Industry Representative on the R&E board.
• Approve grant funding as recommended by the Access and Habitat board to expand hunter access to private land and improve wildlife habitat.
• Approved updates to commercial license fees, which haven't changed since 2016. The Oregon Legislature approved phased fee increases of 12% in 2026, 4% in 2028 and 4% in 2030 to support managing, monitoring and research for Oregon's commercial fisheries, with revenue also supporting OSP in enforcing commercial fishery regulations.
• Made reporting commercial landings on electronic fish tickets mandatory and updated regulations to allow the landing of commercial catch by catcher processors into Oregon. Most commercial fishery data is already submitted electronically.

New commissioners Dave Moldal and Hugh Morrison joined today's meeting. Both were appointed by Governor Kotek and confirmed by the Oregon State Senate in November to the two Northwest region commission positions.

Moldal is a lifelong conservationist, sportsman, and wildlife habitat advocate. He has worked professionally in environmental management and planning, wildlife conservation, federal law enforcement, and renewable energy development, most recently as Senior Program Manager at Energy Trust of Oregon.

Morrisson is a multi-generational Oregonian who recently retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, completing his federal career as the Regional Director for the Pacific Region. His career provided him many opportunities to work with tribes, states, NGOs, and landowners on fish and wildlife conservation.

The meeting was livestreamed and a recording is available at ODFW's YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/@MyODFW/streams

###