Pacific halibut sport regulations

Updated January 4, 2023

2023 Recreational Pacific Halibut

ODFW will be reaching out to anglers in early February to get input on the Central Oregon Coast Spring all-depth season dates.
Draft season dates will be available in early March 2023
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will finalize the 2023 seasons at their April 21, 2023 meeting.

For more info on tagging salmon and halibut, visit Tips for tagging fish and game

May be taken by angling with a single line, no more than 2 hooks, and by spear.
It is mandatory to have a descending device onboard the vessel when fishing for Pacific halibut, and to use a device when releasing any rockfish species when fishing outside of 30 fathoms.
Daily bag limit: 1 Pacific halibut. Annual limit: 6. No length limit.
Pacific halibut possession limit: 1 daily limit at sea, 3 daily limits on land.
Fathom lines and conservation areas are defined by waypoints.
Pacific halibut seasons are managed and enforced based on port of landing. Halibut may only be landed into ports located within areas currently open to halibut retention, regardless of area of catch.
During the nearshore seasons (Columbia River and Central Oregon Subareas), bottomfish and salmon may be retained (as bottomfish and salmon regulations allow) with halibut. However, once halibut are onboard, no fishing may occur outside of the 40-fm curve.
When angling for Pacific halibut outside of the 40-fm curve only salmon (as regulations allow), bottomfish as regulations below allow, tuna and most other offshore pelagic species may be in possession or landed when Pacific halibut are onboard the vessel.
It is unlawful to fish for or take and retain any species while possessing onboard any species not allowed to be taken in that area at the time.
Anglers are advised to consult the 2023 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for General (statewide), Zone, and Special Regulations prior to fishing.

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Waypoints for fathom lines and other restricted areas
Catch estimates (sport halibut)
2023 Oregon Sport Fishing e-Regulations
Cold spots for yelloweye rockfish -- recommended soft-bottom areas for halibut with low yelloweye rockfish bycatch out of Newport and Depoe Bay.
Management of Oregon's sport halibut
2021 halibut newsletter

Current conditions and opportunities to fish, hunt and see wildlife. Updated weekly by fish and wildlife biologists throughout the state.