Action: Opens late season all-depth recreational halibut fisheries beginning Aug. 16, 2024. Raises annual halibut limit to six (6). 

Effective dates: Immediately through Sept. 30, 2024.

Species affected: Pacific halibut.

Locations and specific open dates:

• Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco/Chinook): The all-depth fishery opens Aug. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31; Sept. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, and 29, 2024; as long as there is sufficient quota. The all-depth fishery will be managed to 18,112 pounds. The nearshore area is open immediately through Sept. 30, on a Monday-through-Wednesday schedule, as long as there is sufficient quota. Coordinates for the nearshore fishery are available on the WDFW website. The nearshore quota is 500 pounds.

• Marine Area 2 (Westport): The all-depth fishery opens Aug. 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31; Sept. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, and 29, 2024; as long as there is available quota. This area will be managed to an overall quota of 67,074 pounds.
• Marine Areas 3 and 4 (Neah Bay and La Push): Open Aug. 16 through Sept. 30, 2024; as long as there is sufficient quota. The combined quota for both areas is 132,366 pounds. In Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, sablefish, Pacific cod, and lingcod may be retained in waters seaward of the 120-foot bottomfish closure on days open for halibut.

• Marine Area 5 (Sekiu) and Marine Areas 6 through 10 (Puget Sound): Open Aug. 16 through Sept. 30, 2024; as long as there is sufficient quota. This area will be managed to a quota of 81,729 pounds. In Marine Areas 5 through10, lingcod may not be retained. In Marine Area 5, Pacific cod and sablefish may be retained in waters deeper than 120 feet on days open for halibut. The daily limit is two (2) of each species. In Marine Area 6, Pacific cod may be retained in waters deeper than 120 feet on days open for halibut.

• Marine Areas 11 through 13 (Puget Sound): Closed.

Halibut rules: Daily limit of one (1) halibut per angler with no minimum size limit.  Annual limit of six (6) halibut. All catch must be immediately recorded on a WDFW catch record card. Possession limit is two daily limits in any form, except only one daily limit while aboard the fishing vessel. Anglers cannot fish for, retain, possess, or land halibut into a port located within an area that is closed to halibut fishing.

Reason for action: This emergency rule revises state rules, to conform with proposed federal regulations.

Additional information: Recreational halibut is quota managed, days open are dependent on available quota and areas will close when the quota is projected to be taken.

Information contact: Lorna Wargo, Intergovernmental Policy Coordinator, 360-581-5611.