2025 Pacific Halibut Recreational Fishery
Summary
NOAA Fisheries announces publication of the proposed rule to approve changes to the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (CSP) for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's (IPHC) regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. This action also proposes to approve and implement management measures for the 2025 recreational fisheries in Area 2A that are not implemented through the IPHC. These measures include the recreational fishing seasons and subarea allocations for Area 2A. This action would also add a new inseason management provision to transfer anticipated uncaught recreational fishery allocation from the Northern California subarea to the South of Point Arena subarea. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide angler opportunity where available.
2025 Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan Allocations
The 2025 Total Constant Exploitation Yield (TCEY) and Fishery Constant Exploitation Yield (FCEY) for Area 2A, as well as other applicable Area 2A allocations that are established by the IPHC in accordance with the Area 2A CSP, will be published in the final rule.
Proposed 2025 Recreational Fishing Seasons and Bag Limits
These are preliminary dates and bag limits that are based on the CSP framework and/or recommendations received to date. The final dates will be based on the 2025 Area 2A FCEY and will be published in the final rule.
Washington
The proposed daily bag limit is one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Subarea | Season Dates |
Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca | If the 2025 Area 2A FCEY is 1.3 million lb (589.7 mt) or greater, NMFS is proposing to open the Puget Sound and the U.S. Convention Waters in the Strait of Juan de Fuca fishery on April 3 through June 30, 7 days a week. If the 2025 Area 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million lb (589.7 mt), then NMFS proposes to open the fishery every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from April 3 through June 30. If any subarea allocation remains for at least another full day of fishing after June 30, NOAA Fisheries may take inseason action to reopen the fishery in August through September, up to 7 days per week. The area will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. |
North Coast | If the Area 2A 2025 FCEY is greater than 1.3 million lb (589.7 mt), NMFS is proposing to open the Washington North Coast fishery:
If the 2025 Area 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million lb (589.7 mt), then NMFS is proposing to open the fishery:
If any subarea allocation remains for at least another full day of fishing after June 30, NOAA Fisheries may take inseason action to reopen the fishery in August through September, up to 7 days per week. The area will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. |
South Coast primary | NMFS is proposing to open the Washington South Coast primary fishery:
If any subarea allocation remains for at least another full day of fishing after June 30, NOAA Fisheries may take inseason action to reopen the fishery in August through September, up to 7 days per week. The area will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. |
South Coast nearshore | NMFS is proposing that when the South Coast subarea primary fishery does not have sufficient allocation to open for at least another full day of fishing, any remaining primary fishery allocation will be used to open a nearshore fishery. The nearshore fishery will open the first Saturday after the closure of the primary fishery and will be open 7 days per week until there is not sufficient nearshore fishery allocation remaining for another full day of fishing, at which point the area will be closed. |
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 proposed daily bag limit is one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Subarea | Season Dates |
All-depth | If the 2025 2A FCEY is at least 1.3 million lb (589.7 mt), NMFS proposes to open the all-depth fishery as follows:
If at least 55 percent of the Columbia River subarea allocation remains as of May 25, 2025, then NMFS may take inseason action to allow the all-depth fishery open the following additional days:
If the 2025 2A FCEY is less than 1.3 million lb (589.7 mt), NMFS proposes to open the all-depth fishery as follows:
If the subarea allocation remains for at least another full day of fishing after June 30, NOAA Fisheries may take inseason action to reopen the fishery in August through September, up to 7 days per week. The area will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. |
Nearshore | NMFS is proposing to open the nearshore fishery Monday through Wednesday following the opening of the all-depth fishery until the nearshore allocation is taken or September 30, whichever is earlier. On days when the all-depth halibut fishery is closed, taking, retaining, possessing, or landing halibut on groundfish trips is only allowed in the nearshore area. |
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 proposed daily bag limit is two Pacific halibut of any size per person unless otherwise specified through inseason action.
Subarea | Season Dates |
Central Coast nearshore | If the FCEY is 1.2 million lb (544.3 mt) or greater, NMFS proposes 10,000 lb (4.5 mt) of the Central Coast subarea allocation be allocated to the nearshore fishery. If the FCEY is between 700,000 lb (317.5 mt) and 1.2 million lb (544.3 mt), NMFS proposes to allocate 25 percent of the Central Coast subarea allocation to the nearshore fishery. If the FCEY is less than 700,000 lb (317.5 mt), NMFS proposes to allocate 12 percent of the Central Coast subarea allocation to the nearshore fishery. For the season structure, NMFS proposes to open the nearshore fishery 7 days per week from May 1 through October 31 if the nearshore fishery allocation is 25,000 lb (11.3 mt) or more, or from June 1 through October 31 if the nearshore fishery allocation is less than 25,000 lb (11.3 mt). The area will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. |
Central Coast all-depth | Spring If the FCEY is 1.2 million lb (544.3 mt) or greater, NMFS proposes 75 percent of the Central Coast subarea allocation be allocated to the spring all-depth fishery. If the FCEY is between 700,000 lb (317.5 mt) and 1.2 million lb (544.3 mt), NMFS proposes to allocate 63 percent of the Central Coast subarea allocation to the spring all-depth fishery. If the FCEY is less than 700,000 lb (317.5 mt), NMFS proposes to allocate 75 percent of the Central Coast subarea allocation to the spring all-depth fishery. NMFS is proposing to open the spring all-depth fishery up to 7 days per week from May 1 through July 31. The area will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. Summer If the FCEY is 700,000 lb (317.5 mt) or greater, NMFS proposes 25 percent of the Central Coast subarea allocation be allocated to the summer all-depth fishery. If the FCEY is less than 700,000 lb (317.5 mt) the summer all-depth fishery will not open. Should the summer all-depth fishery receive an allocation, NMFS is proposing to open the summer all-depth fishery from August 1 through October 31. The area will close when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. At the close of the spring all-depth fishery (July 31), if there is 50,000 lb (22.7 mt) or more allocation remaining, NMFS proposes to open the summer all-depth fishery 7 days a week, every week, from August 1 through October 31. If there is less than 50,000 lb (22.7 mt) allocation remaining, NMFS proposes to open the summer all-depth fishery 7 days a week, every other week, from August 1 through October 31. If the entire Central Oregon Coast subarea allocation is 30,000 lb (13.6 mt) or more following Labor Day Weekend, the summer all-depth season will be open every week. The subarea will close when the remaining combined spring all-depth fishery and summer all-depth fishery allocations in the Oregon Central Coast subarea is not sufficient for another full day of fishing. |
Southern Oregon | NMFS is proposing to open the fishery May 1 through October 31, 7 days a week The area will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. |
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 proposed daily bag limit is one Pacific halibut of any size per person.
Subarea | Season Dates |
Northern California Coast | NMFS is proposing to open the fishery May 1 through November 15. The area will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. |
South of Point Arena | NMFS is proposing to open the fishery May 1 through December 31. The area will be closed when there is not sufficient subarea allocation for another full day of fishing. |
Northern California Coast - south of the Oregon/California border (42°00.00′ N lat.) to Point Arena (38°57.5′ N lat.).
South of Point Arena - Point Arena (38°57.5′ N lat.) to the U.S./Mexico border
More information about Pacific halibut fishing in California >
Closures
In addition to the following areas, any closure will be announced in accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 300.63(c)(3) 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 2024 area closures in the Puget Sound subarea.
Oregon
A yelloweye rockfish conservation area off central Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, is closed to recreational 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 recreational 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 recreational 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.