Pacific halibut sport regulations

2022 recreational Pacific halibut seasons

Information on the 2022 seasons dates, quotas, etc. will be available by early March 2022.

Reminder:  You must IMMEDIATELY record halibut on your combined angler tag.  "Immediately" means right after the fish comes aboard the boat - not after you put the rod back out, not after a snack break, not 5-10 minutes later, not on your way back to the dock.

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

All-Depth and Nearshore Seasons:   quota and staff recommended open dates available by early March 2022.

Central Oregon Coast Subarea (Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon)

Nearshore, Spring All-Depth  and Summer All-Depth Seasons:  quota and staff recommended open dates available by early March 2022.

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

Opens May 1, 2022, 7-days per week.

Statewide regulations

• 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.
• 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 2022 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for General (statewide), Zone, and Special Regulations prior to fishing.

2022 Longleader Gear Fishing with All-Depth Halibut (for all Oregon Subareas)

• During May, June, Sept, and Oct, when the sport bottomfish fishery is open to all-depth, bottomfish (including lingcod) may be retained on all-depth halibut trips.  Longleader gear fishing and species may not be retained with all-depth halibut.
• During Jul and Aug (months when the sport bottomfish fishery is restricted to inside of 40-fathoms)  During days open for all-depth halibut fishing, EITHER a combination of sablefish, Pacific cod (sablefish and Pacific cod are part of the 5 fish general marine fish daily bag limit) & other flatfish species (no other bottomfish species)  or longleader gear fishing for 10 midwater rockfish species may be retained when halibut are onboard the vessel.  Longleader gear must be used, rockfish cannot be retained from halibut or regular bottomfish gear.  Longleader gear fishing may be combined with an all-depth halibut trip but only outside of 40 fathoms, and once rockfish are onboard, NO FURTHER HALIBUT FISHING IS ALLOWED.   
• More information can be found by CLICKING HERE    

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Other resources:

• Waypoints for fathom lines and other restricted areas
• Catch estimates (sport halibut)
• 2022 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