Pacific halibut sport regulations

Updated November 1, 2023

2023 Recreational Pacific Halibut

October 31 was the last day to fish for Pacific halibut in 2023.
Halibut and bottomfish combinations – What you can keep on the same trip
To see how the quota is tracking inseason, visit the quota tracking webpage.

Columbia River Subarea (Cape Falcon, OR to Leadbetter Point, WA)

All-Depth Season:

Closed for the remainder of 2023

Nearshore Season:

Closed for the remainder of 2023

Central Oregon Coast Subarea (Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon)

Spring All-Depth Season:

Closed for the remainder of 2023

Summer All-Depth Season:

Closed for the remainder of 2023

Nearshore:

Closed for the remainder of 2023

Southern Oregon Subarea (OR/CA Border to Humbug Mountain)

Closed for the remainder of 2023

2024 Recreational Pacific Halibut Seasons

The 2024 quota will be set by the International Pacific Halibut Commission at their annual meeting the last week of January in Anchorage, AK.
Staff recommended season dates will be available late February
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will finalize the 2024 season dates at their April 19, 2024 meeting.

Statewide regulations

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: beginning June 12, 2 pacific halibut for the Central Coast and Southern Oregon Subareas. Annual limit: 6. No length limit.
Daily bag limit: 1 Pacific halibut for the Columbia River Subarea. 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 all-depth halibut days, longleader gear fishing OR the traditional general marine bottomfish fishery may be combined with all-depth halibut during days when the bottomfish fishery is not depth restricted. The longleader fishery and traditional bottomfish fishery cannot be combined on the same trip.
Sablefish, Pacific cod & other flatfish species can be combined with all-depth halibut and the longleader gear or traditional bottomfish fishery. When retained, sablefish and Pacific cod will count towards any bottomfish and/or longleader bag limit.
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.