ODFW staff recommendations for 2023 recreational Pacific halibut season dates

Thank you to everyone who provide input via the online public meeting, online survey, phone calls, and e-mails. ODFW staff have used that input to develop our staff recommendations for the 2023 recreational Pacific halibut seasons, outlined below. Reminder, season dates are not final until the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopts them at their April 21 meeting.

The information below summarized in the 2023 Recreational Halibut Season Map 

Columbia River Subarea

All-Depth

• Quota = 18,375 pounds
• Open Thursdays and Sundays beginning May 4 through May 25. If quota remains can be open every Thursday and Sunday starting June 1 through the earlier of the quota getting caught or June 30.

Nearshore

• Quota = 500 pounds
• Open Mondays through Wednesdays inside the 40-fathom regulatory line off Oregon beginning May 8, through the earlier of the quota getting caught or Sept. 30.

Central Oregon Coast Subarea

Spring All-Depth Season

• Quota = 173,385 pounds
• Fixed dates: May 1 through June 30, seven days per week
• Back-up dates available (if quota remaining): July 10-16 & July 24-30 (7-days per week)

Summer All-Depth Season

• Quota = 68,803 pounds
• Opens Aug 3-5, then every other Thurs-Sat through the earlier of the quota getting caught, or Oct 31, whichever is earlier

Nearshore

• Quota = 33,026 pounds
• Opens May 1, seven days per week, inside the 40-fathom regulatory line, through the earlier of the quota getting caught, or Oct. 3

Southern Oregon Subarea

• Quota = 8,000 pounds
• Opens May 1, seven days per week through the earlier of the quota getting caught, or Oct. 31

  For more info on tagging salmon and halibut, see:

Tips for tagging fish and game | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (myodfw.com)

For additional information see the ODFW recreational halibut webpage: https://myodfw.com/pacific-halibut-sport-regulations