CDFW News

Recreational Pacific Halibut Season to Open April 1

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:39:22 GMT

The 2026 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will open Wednesday, April 1 and remain open until the season ends Nov. 15 north of Point Arena (38°57.5 N. Latitude) and December 31 south of Point Arena, or until the quota is reached, whichever occurs first. The 2026 Pacific halibut quota for the California sport fishery is 40,040 pounds — approximately the same amount as last year.

The Pacific halibut opening date for waters off California this year aligns with the April 1 opening date for all-depth recreational boat-based fishing for many groundfish species statewide, including rockfish, lingcod, cabezon and greenlings. Anglers are always advised to check for updated information when planning a Pacific halibut fishing trip.

Season dates, bag/possession limits and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s Pacific halibut web page.

Groundfish fishing regulations can be found on CDFW’s Summary of Recreational Groundfish Fishing Regulations page.

Public notification of any in-season change to regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific halibut hotline at (800) 662-9825 or CDFW’s Groundfish and Pacific halibut Regulations Hotline at (831) 649-2801.

Annual state regulations for Pacific halibut automatically conform to federal regulations set by NMFS using the process described in Section 1.95(b)(2), Title 14, California Code of Regulations. Federal regulations for Pacific halibut were published in the Federal Register (91 FR 14464) on March 25, 2026, and became effective March 12.

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Media Contacts:
Melanie Parker, CDFW Marine Region, (831) 601-5928
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

CDFW Seeks Public Input on California’s Recreational Pacific Halibut Fishery

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 13:47:57 GMT

California stakeholders are invited to submit angler preferences for open fishing dates for the 2024 recreational Pacific halibut season via an online survey. Survey results will be used to develop the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) recommendations to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the 2024 season. The survey should take approximately two minutes to complete and will remain open until midnight on February 21, 2024, and can be found online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KPDDVQP.

Per NMFS’ proposed 2024 Catch Sharing Plan, California recreational fisheries will be allocated 38,220 net pounds, with 500 pounds set aside for the area south of Point Arena.

Season dates, daily bag and possession limits and gear restrictions that apply to recreational Pacific halibut fishing off California will continue to be specified in Title 14, Section 28.20.

For more information on the Pacific halibut fishery in California, visit CDFW’s Pacific Halibut web page.

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Media Contacts:
Melanie Parker, CDFW Marine Region, (831) 601-5928
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

CDFW Seeks Input on Pacific Halibut Fisheries

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:22:09 GMT

California stakeholders who are interested in the Pacific halibut resource and fisheries are invited to participate in an online survey. The survey will help inform the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) about angler preferences for open fishing dates during the upcoming 2023 recreational season and offers an opportunity for input on development of the 2024 Catch Sharing Plan that is used to allocate quota to several West Coast fisheries. Results of the survey will be used to develop recommendations to the Pacific Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service. The survey is available until February 12, 2023, and can be found online: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DDYWDGP.

The recreational Pacific halibut fishery takes place off northern California. In 2022, the fishery was open May 1 through Aug. 7, with a one fish daily bag limit. The fishery closed Aug. 7 due to projected attainment of the quota. The 2023 California recreational Pacific halibut quota will be 39,520 net pounds, approximately the same as all prior years since 2019.

For more information on the Pacific halibut fishery in California, visit CDFW’s Pacific Halibut web page.

Media contacts:
Melanie Parker, CDFW Marine Region, (831) 601-5928
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

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Recreational Pacific Halibut Fishery to Close August 7

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 16:01:29 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the recreational Pacific halibut fishery will close Sunday, August 7 at 11:59 p.m. Based on the latest catch projections, CDFW expects the 2022 California recreational quota of 38,740 net pounds will be exceeded unless the fishery is closed.

CDFW tracks the progress of the fishery each year to prevent catch from exceeding the California quota. CDFW field staff are located at public launch ramps and charter boat landings to monitor catches of Pacific halibut throughout the season, along with other marine sport fish species. The quota amount is determined annually by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC).

Using this information, CDFW conferred with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the IPHC and the Pacific Fishery Management Council to review projected catch amounts and determine the closure date. Formal authority to close the fishery resides with NMFS, which took action to close the fishery following consultation with CDFW.

Pacific halibut are a different species than California halibut and occupy a large geographic range from the Aleutian Islands eastward through Alaska to British Columbia and throughout ocean waters of the Pacific Northwest. Along the West Coast, Pacific halibut are commonly found as far south as Point Arena in Mendocino County.

For current information about the Pacific halibut fishery, science or management, please check the following resources:

NMFS Hotline, (800) 662-9825
CDFW Recreational Groundfish Regulations Hotline, (831) 649-2801
CDFW website, wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Pacific-Halibut
IPHC website, iphc.int

Media Contacts:
Melanie Parker, CDFW Marine Region, (831) 601-5928
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

Pacific Halibut Fishery Set to Open May 1

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 13:44:53 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce the 2022 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will open Sunday, May 1 and remain open until November 15, or until the quota is reached, whichever is earlier. The 2022 Pacific halibut quota for the California sport fishery is 38,740 pounds – approximately the same as the 2021 quota.

The season dates are expected to meet the goal of providing as much fishing opportunity as possible throughout the season and ensuring the quota is attained. The open dates are not guaranteed, and the season could be closed early if it is determined that projected catches will exceed the California quota.

Anglers are always advised to check for updated information when planning a Pacific halibut fishing trip. Season dates, bag/possession limits and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s Pacific halibut web page. Public notification of any in-season change to regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific halibut hotline at (800) 662-9825 or CDFW’s Groundfish and Pacific halibut Regulations Hotline at (831) 649-2801.

State regulations for Pacific halibut automatically conform to federal regulations set by NMFS using the process described in the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 1.95. Federal regulations for Pacific halibut took effect March 31, 2022 and were published in the Federal Register (87 FR 19007) on April 1, 2022.

Media Contact:
Melanie Parker, CDFW Marine Region, (831) 601-5928
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

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