Your Guide to Washington’s 2024 Halibut Fishing Seasons

Washington is starting the 2024 Halibut Season with early Puget Sound dates followed by a full season on the Pacific Ocean marine areas.

Washington’s 2024 Halibut Season is in full swing, and we are already seeing excitement with some great catches in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Our Pacific Ocean marine areas all open in May, so whether you are planning on taking your own boat Halibut fishing or plan on booking a charter, it’s time to prepare!

You can use this post as a guide for the entire season, and each marine area’s published dates, emergency regulations and remaining quota links will keep you informed as the season progresses. Also, check out our Riptidefish Shop Halibut fishing gear to get dialed in this season. Good luck everyone.

Jump to Puget Sound Halibut Season 2024
Jump to Sekiu & Straits Halibut Season 2024
Jump to North Coast Halibut Season 2024
Jump to South Coast Halibut Season 2024

What to expect of Washington’s 2024 Halibut Seasons

Halibut fishing in Washington State is managed by a catch quota, and it looks like once again we will have ample quotas for a really healthy season that should stretch well into summer in many areas. Another exciting change is that the annual bag limit for Halibut increased from four fish to six fish!

With an earlier opener we should see some decent fishing within boating distance from our major ports of Everett, Edmonds and Seattle. Admiralty Inlet’s halibut hot spots should yield some nice catches this season.

Sekiu & Straits Halibut

The Strait of Juan De Fuca is loaded with great Halibut fishing areas, and whether you’re fishing from Sekiu, Port Angeles, Sequim or Port Townsend, there should be a bunch fo fish caught here in 2024.

North Coast Halibut

Neah Bay and La Push Halibut anglers have ample days to head out to offshore Halibut grounds in Marine Areas 3 and 4 this year.

South Coast Halibut

South Coast areas of Westport and Ilwaco are easily accessible from Portland, Seattle and Tacoma areas, tend to have an abundance of Halibut, many people that go tend to catch and keep at least a 20 to 30 pounder with a larger ones in the mix.

Washington’s Marine Areas

Halibut Fishing in the Pacific Ocean – 2024 Halibut Season

Marine Area 1 – Ilwaco Halibut Fishing 2024

South Coast’s Marine Area 1 Halibut fishing seasons are split between nearshore and all-depth dates. All Depth openings are scheduled for May 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 30 and June 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 and maybe more dates in August and September if sufficient quota remains. Nearshore Halibut fishing dates are scheduled for Monday thru Wednesday, starting on the first Monday after the all-depth season opener, for nearshore fishery coordinates check out wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut/columbia-river. Please check the WDFW Columbia River quota status and MA1 emergency regulations before you go.

Marine Area 2 – Westport Halibut Fishing 2024

South Coast’s Marine Area 2 Halibut fishing dates are May 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 28, 30, and possibly more landing on the following dates if sufficient quota remains: June 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30. There is also a possibility of more dates in August and September. Please check the WDFW South Coast quota status and MA2 emergency regulations before you go.

Marine Area 3 – La Push Halibut Fishing 2024

Marine Area 3 Halibut fishing dates are May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 24, 26, 30, 31, and possibly more later if sufficient quota remains. Please check the WDFW North Coast quota status and MA3 emergency regulations before you go.

Marine Area 4 – Neah Bay Halibut Fishing 2024

Marine Area 4 Halibut fishing dates are May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 24, 26, 30, 31, and possibly more later if sufficient quota remains. Please check the WDFW North Coast quota status and MA4 emergency regulations before you go.

Halibut Fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca & San Juan Islands – 2024 Halibut Season

Marine Area 5 – Sekiu Halibut Fishing 2024

Marine Area 5 will open up for Halibut fishing from April 4 to June 30, 7-days a week. After the spring season, WDFW will assess available quota for a potential 7-day a week season in August and September. If you catch a Lingcod deeper than the 120′ line during Lingcod season, you can keep one between 26″ and 36″. Please check WDFW Puget Sound/Strait quota status and MA5 emergency regulations before you go.

Marine Area 6 – Eastern Strait, Port Angeles, Sequim Halibut Fishing 2024

Marine Area 6 Halibut season is April 4 to June 30, 7-days a week. Any Lingcod or Pacific Cod caught deeper than the 120′ depth restriction needs to be released, to protect fragile Yelloweye Rockfish stocks. Please check WDFW Puget Sound/Strait quota status and MA6 emergency regulations before you go.

Marine Area 7 – San Juan Islands, Bellingham Halibut Fishing 2024

Marine Area 7 Halibut season is April 4 to June 30, 7-days a week. Any Lingcod or Pacific Cod caught deeper than the 120′ depth restriction needs to be released, to protect fragile Yelloweye Rockfish stocks. Please check WDFW Puget Sound/Strait quota status and MA7 emergency regulations before you go.

Halibut Fishing in the Puget Sound – 2024 Halibut Season

Marine Area 9 – Admiralty Inlet Halibut Fishing 2024

Marine Area 9 Halibut season is April 4 to June 30, 7-days a week. Any Lingcod or Pacific Cod caught deeper than the 120′ depth restriction needs to be released, to protect fragile Yelloweye Rockfish stocks. Please check WDFW Puget Sound/Strait quota status and MA9 emergency regulations before you go.

Marine Area 10 – Seatttle, Bainbridge Island, Bremerton Halibut Fishing 2024

Marine Area 10 Halibut season is April 4 to June 30, 7-days a week. Any Lingcod or Pacific Cod caught deeper than the 120′ depth restriction needs to be released, to protect fragile Yelloweye Rockfish stocks. Please check WDFW Puget Sound/Strait quota status and MA10 emergency regulations before you go.