Pacific halibut sport regulations

Updated February 12, 2024

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Staff recommended 2024 Pacific halibut regulation map

2024 Recreational Pacific Halibut

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will finalize the season dates at their April 19th meeting.  Below are the staff recommendations.

 

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

All-Depth Season: 

  • Open every Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday May 2-26 and every Thursday, Sunday, and Tuesday May 30 through June 30 or until the quota is caught. If quota remains after those dates, additional open dates will be available in August and September.‌
  • Quota:  18,112 pounds

Nearshore Season:   

  • Open Mondays-Wednesdays inside the 40-fathom line off Oregon beginning May 6, through the earlier of the quota or September 30.
  • Quota:  500 pounds.

 

Central Oregon Coast Subarea (Humbug Mountain to Cape Falcon)

Spring All-Depth Season:  

  • Fixed dates:  May 1 through June 30, 7-days per week
  • Back-up dates:  July 1-31, 7-days per week, if quota available
  • Quota:  167,681 pounds

Summer All-Depth Season:

  • Opens August 1-3, then every other Thursday through Saturday until October 31, or the quota is caught
  • Quota:  66,540 pounds

Nearshore:     

  • Opens May 1, seven days per week, inside the 40-fathom line, through the earlier of October 21, or the quota is caught
  • Quota:  31,939 pounds

 

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

  • Opens May 1 through the earlier of October 31, or the quota is caught.
  • Quota:  8,000 pounds

 

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 Central Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon Subareas:  2 Pacific halibut.  Annual limit: 6. No length limit.
  • Daily bag limit Columbia River Subarea: 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 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 2024 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for General (statewide), Zone, and Special Regulations prior to fishing.

reminder to anglers

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

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