2021 Recreational Pacific Halibut Fisheries in Washington, Oregon, and California

April 20, 2021

For Information Contact: Kathryn Blair: kathryn.blair@noaa.gov, (503) 231-6858; NMFS Hotline: (800) 662-9825

Bulletin |

West Coast

NOAA Fisheries announces publication of the 2021 Pacific halibut Area 2A (Washington, Oregon, and California) Catch Sharing Plan and annual management measures final rule. The rule is effective on April 20, 2021. You can access Pacific halibut information on the NOAA Fisheries website.

The NOAA Fisheries halibut hotline at (800) 662-9825 has the most up-to-date information for recreational Area 2A fisheries. State-specific Pacific halibut fishery information is available at the following websites:

Washington: https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut
Oregon: https://myodfw.com/pacific-halibut-sport-regulations
California: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Pacific-Halibut

	Pounds	Metric Tons
Area 2A TCEY	1,650,000	748.4
Area 2A Catch Limit	1,510,000	684.9
Nontribal
Recreational
Washington Puget Sound	78,291	35.5
Washington North Coast	128,928	58.5
Washington South Coast	63,636	28.9
Columbia River	18,662	8.5
Oregon Central Coast	273,403	124.0
Oregon Southern Coast	8,000	3.6
California Coast	38,260	17.8

For 2021, the following regulations apply to recreational halibut fisheries:

The halibut daily bag limit in Washington, Oregon, and California is 1 halibut of any size per person per day.
Check state regulations for information on rockfish and other groundfish retention allowances.
For information on retaining groundfish, please see the NMFS groundfish website and federal regulations.

Season dates are subject to quota availability, and areas will close if there is not sufficient quota for another full day of fishing.

Washington

Subarea	Location	Season Dates
Puget Sound and eastern waters in the Strait of Juan de Fuca	Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca east of a line at approximately 123°49.60' W. long.	April 22-24, April 29-May 1; May 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 28-30; June 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, and 24-26.
Strait of Juan de Fuca	Strait of Juan de Fuca, approximately between 124°23.70' W. long. and 123°49.60' W. long.	May 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 28-30; June 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26.
North Washington Coast	North of Queets River and west of the Sekiu River mouth	May 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 28, 30; June 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, and 26.
South Washington Coast	Queets River south to Leadbetter Point	May 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27; June 17, 20, 24, 27.
South Washington 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	Quota permitting, open the Saturday after the primary fishery closure, 7 days per week.

Recreational fishing for halibut is closed within Recreational Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas off the north and south Washington coast subareas. There are additional area closures in the Puget Sound subarea for 2021. Please check state regulations online.

Columbia River

Columbia River all-depth	Between Leadbetter Point, WA and Cape Falcon, OR	May 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27; June 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27.
Columbia River 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.	May 10, 3 days per week (Monday – Wednesday) until the nearshore allocation is taken, or September 30.

Oregon

Subarea	Location	Season Dates	Additional Season Dates (quota permitting)
Central Coast “inside 40-fathom”	Cape Falcon south to Humbug Mountain, shoreward of a boundary line approximating the 40-fm depth contour	May 1, 7 days a week until the quota is taken, or through October 31.
Central Coast all-depth	Cape Falcon south to Humbug Mountain	Spring: May 13-15, 20-22; June 3-5, 10-12, 17-19; and July 1-3. Summer: August 5-7, 19-21; September 2-4; 16-18, September 30-October 2; October 14-16, 28-30.	July 15-17 and 29-31.
Southern Oregon	Humbug Mountain, to the OR/CA border	May 1, 7 days per week until the quota is taken, or October 31.

A yelloweye rockfish conservation area off central Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, is closed to sport fishing for halibut. Please check waypoints online.

California