OLYMPIA — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced this week additional recreational halibut fishing dates through most of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in August and September.
The updated rules also include temporarily raising the annual halibut bag limit to six fish in all marine areas.
“Responding to angler interest, we opened the Puget Sound region five days per week in early April. However, sufficient quota remains to provide more opportunity to harvest halibut,” said Lorna Wargo, WDFW intergovernmental ocean policy coordinator. “And to extend this opportunity to anglers that have caught their four-fish annual limit, we’re temporarily increasing it to six fish.”
The 2023 fishing season is based on statewide recreational quota of 291,950 pounds.
Additional 2023 coast and Puget Sound halibut dates include:
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu to Low Point at the Lyre River), Marine Area 6 (Low Point east to Point Wilson, Port Townsend) and Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands): Open daily from Aug. 17 through Sept. 30, or until the catch quota is achieved. The overall quote for Marine Areas 5 to 10 is 79,031 pounds.
Neah Bay and La Push (Marine Areas 4 and 3): Open daily from Aug. 17 through Sept. 30, or until catch quota achieved. The combined quota for both areas is 129,668 pounds.
Anglers who have already purchased a halibut catch record card (CRC) will be able to obtain a free supplemental CRC with two halibut lines. Anglers who have not yet obtained a halibut CRC will receive the supplemental halibut CRC when they purchase a halibut CRC. The supplemental CRC will be available for purchase in early August. Anglers are reminded that the quickest way to obtain a fishing license and/or CRC is directly from a dealer. Online transactions take between seven and nine business days to arrive by mail.
In all marine areas currently open to halibut fishing, there is a one-fish daily catch limit and no minimum size restriction. Anglers may possess a maximum of two fish in any form while in the field and must record their catch on a WDFW catch record card.
Other fishing regulations include depth restrictions and area closures designed to reduce encounters with yelloweye rockfish, which must be released under state and federal law.
The WDFW is also hosting a virtual public webinar meeting regarding the recreational Pacific halibut fishery from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Halibut managers will review the 2023 season and take input on general ideas for structuring the 2024 season to present as preliminary options.
