2023 Pacific Halibut Recreational Fishery
Summary
NOAA Fisheries announces publication of the final rule (88 FR 21503, April 11, 2023) for 2023 Pacific halibut Area 2A (Washington, Oregon, and California) catch sharing plan and annual management measures. The season dates and bag limits are effective on April 6, 2023. The rest of the rule is effective on May 11, 2023. NMFS is implementing management measures governing the 2023 recreational fisheries on the West Coast in addition to those implemented by the International Pacific Halibut Commission.
2023 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan Allocations
| Area | Pounds | Metric Tons |
| Area 2A TCEY | 1,650,000 | 748.43 |
| Area 2A FCEY (Catch Limit) | 1,520,000 | 689.46 |
| Non-tribal Recreational Allocations | ||
| Washington Puget Sound | 79,031 | 35.85 |
| Washington North Coast | 129,668 | 58.82 |
| Washington South Coast | 64,376 | 29.20 |
| Columbia River | 18,875 | 8.56 |
| Oregon Central Coast | 275,214 | 124.83 |
| Oregon Southern Coast | 8,000 | 3.63 |
| California Coast | 39,520 | 17.93 |
2023 Recreational Fishing Seasons and Bag Limits
Season dates are subject to availability of area allocations. Fishing areas will close if allocations are expected to be reached.
Check state regulations for information on rockfish and other groundfish retention allowances (see Additional Information, below).
Washington
The bag limit is one halibut of any size per person per day.
| Subarea | Season Dates |
| Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca | April 6–10, 13–17, 20–24, 27–30 May 1, 4–8, 11–15, 18–22, 26–28 June 1–30 August 17-31 September 1-30 or until the allocation is expected to be reached. |
| North Coast | May 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 26, 28 June 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 August 17-31 September 1-30 or until the allocation is expected to be reached. |
| South Coast primary | May 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 30 June 15, 18, 22, 25 August 26-27 September 8-9, 22 or until the allocation is expected to be reached. |
| South Coast nearshore | If South Coast allocation remains, but is not enough for the South Coast primary fishery to operate for another day, the nearshore fishery will open the Saturday after the primary fishery closes and will remain open 7 days per week until September 30 or until the allocation is expected to be reached. |
Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca—Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca east of a line at approximately 124°23.70' W. long. (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Areas 5-10)
North Coast—North of Queets River and west of the Sekiu River mouth (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Areas 3 and 4)
South Coast primary—Queets River south to Leadbetter Point (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Area 2)
South Coast nearshore—Waters between 47°31.70’ N. lat. south to 46°58’ N. lat. and east of a boundary line approximating the 30 fm depth contour
More information about Pacific halibut fishing in Washington >
Columbia River
The bag limit is one halibut of any size per person per day.
| Subarea | Season Dates |
| All-depth | May 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25 June 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 29 August 26-27 September 8-9, 22 or until the allocation is expected to be reached. |
| Nearshore | May 8, three days per week (Monday–Wednesday) until the nearshore allocation is expected to be reached, or September 30, whichever is earlier. |
All-depth—Between Leadbetter Point, WA and Cape Falcon, OR
Nearshore—Leadbetter Point to the Columbia River, connecting the following coordinates in Washington: 46°38.17' N. lat., 124°15.88' W. long. 46°16.00' N. lat., 124°15.88' W. long. and connecting to the boundary line approximating the 40-fm (73-m) 12 depth contour in Oregon
Oregon
The bag limit is two halibut of any size per person per day (bag limit increase effective June 12, 2023).
| Subarea | Season Dates |
| Central Coast nearshore | May 1, seven days per week until the quota is taken, or until October 31, whichever is earlier. |
| Central Coast all-depth | Spring May 1 through July 31, 7 days a week. If enough allocation remains after June 30, the fishery will also be open July 10–16 and 24–30, or until the allocation is expected to be reached. Summer August 3-31 September 1-30 October 1-31 or until the combined spring season and summer season allocations in the Oregon Central Coast are expected to be reached. |
| Southern Oregon | May 1, seven days per week until October 31, or until the allocation is expected to be reached. |
Central Coast nearshore (inside 40-fathom)—Cape Falcon south to Humbug Mountain, shoreward of a boundary line approximating the 40-fm depth contour
Central Coast all-depth—Cape Falcon south to Humbug Mountain
Southern Oregon—Humbug Mountain, to the Oregon/California border
More information about Pacific halibut fishing in Oregon >
California
The California allocation was projected to be reached on August 4; therefore, the subarea is closed.
| Subarea | Season Dates |
| California | May 1–August 4 |
More information about Pacific halibut fishing in California >
Closures
In addition to the following areas, any fishery closure will be announced in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c) and on the NMFS hotline at (206) 526-6667 or (800) 662-9825.
Washington
Recreational fishing for halibut is closed within Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas off the north and south Washington coast subareas. See the Washington state regulations online for additional 2023 area closures in the Puget Sound subarea.
Oregon
A yelloweye rockfish conservation area off central Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, is closed to sport fishing for halibut. Please check waypoints online.
Regulatory Background
Since 1988, the NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) has implemented catch sharing plans that allocate the IPHC regulatory Area 2A Pacific halibut catch limit between treaty tribal and non-tribal harvesters, and among non-tribal commercial and sport fisheries. The Council develops catch sharing plans in accordance with the Northern Pacific Halibut Act of 1982 (pdf). In 1995, NMFS approved a Council-recommended, long-term Catch Sharing Plan (pdf). The Council has recommended and NMFS has approved adjustments to the Catch Sharing Plan each year to address the changing needs of these fisheries. In addition, each year NMFS must issue management measures to govern the sport fishery (50 CFR 300.63(b)(1)). These measures include the recreational fishery seasons, allocations, closed areas, and bag limits for Area 2A.
Additional Information
- Pacific Halibut Fishing on the West Coast
- Area 2A Pacific Halibut Recreational Charter Vessel License Application
- The NOAA Fisheries Pacific halibut hotline at (800) 662-9825 has the most up-to-date information for recreational Area 2A fisheries.
- International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulations
- For information on retaining groundfish, please see West Coast Groundfish and federal regulations.
For More Information
Email nmfs.wcr.halibut@noaa.gov
Any discrepancies between this Public Notice and the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.
Federal Register
- Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments (89 FR 53361, June 2…
- Temporary rule; closure (88 FR 53383, August 8, 2023)
- Temporary rule; inseason adjustment; request for comments (88 FR 47055, July 2…
- Inseason correction; request for comments (88 FR 36973, June 6, 2023)
- Final Rule (88 FR 21503, April 11, 2023)
- Final Rule; correction (88 FR 30907, May 15, 2023)
- Proposed Rule (88 FR 13399, March 3, 2023)