Halibut

[MADMAX]

Season details are as follows:

2018 Puget Sound halibut seasons

Marine areas 5-10 will be open May 11, 13, 25 and 27. Puget Sound will be managed to an overall quota of 60,995 pounds. Depending on available quota, areas will re-open to halibut fishing June 7, 9, 16, 21, 23, 28 and 30.
Marine areas 11, 12, and 13 will remain closed to halibut fishing to protect threatened and endangered rockfish species.
2018 Pacific Coast halibut seasons

Marine Area 1 (Columbia River) opens Thursday, May 3, and runs three days per week (Thursday, Friday and Sunday) until the subarea quota is taken or Sept. 30, whichever occurs first. The nearshore area opens to fishing May 7 on a Monday-through-Wednesday schedule. Coordinates for the nearshore fishery are available online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/creel/halibut/. The all-depth fishery will be managed to 11,182 pounds (Oregon accounts for 5,284 pounds of this quota); the nearshore quota is 500 pounds.
Marine Area 2 (Westport): The all-depth fishery opens May 11, 13, 25 and 27 as long as there is sufficient quota. Depending on available quota, additional fishing days may be scheduled for June 7, 9, 16, 21, 23, 28 and 30. The northern nearshore area will open on the Saturday after the all-depth fishery closes and will continue seven days per week until Sept. 30, or until the nearshore quota is reached. The all-depth fishery will be managed to 44,341 pounds; the quota for the northern nearshore fishery is 2,000 pounds.
Marine areas 3 (La Push) and 4 (Neah Bay) will open May 11, 13, 25 and 27, as long as there is sufficient quota. Depending on available quota, additional fishing days may be scheduled for June 7, 9, 16, 21, 23, 28 and 30. The combined quota for both areas is 111,632 pounds.
Fishing regulations include depth restrictions and area closures designed to reduce encounters with yelloweye rockfish, which must be released under state and federal law. Anglers are reminded that a descending device must be on board vessels and rigged for immediate use when fishing for or possessing bottomfish and halibut.

do I still need to use barbless hooks for Halibut ?

 I think I do, can anyone confirm ?

"barbless hooks - are required for all
species in Marine Areas 5-13, except forage
fish jig gear. When fishing for SALMON in Areas
1-13, single-point barbless hooks must be used."



also new requirement I saw

Anglers are reminded that a descending device must be on board vessels and rigged for immediate use when fishing for or possessing bottomfish and halibut.

I plan to use my downrigger for doing it

[knighttime25]

Yes, unfortunately you still have to use barbless hooks...

[MADMAX]

Thank you
Ridiculous rule for Hali

[Huntin4Ever]

One more new rule this year... 4 fish annual limit

In all marine areas 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. New for 2018, in response to public input, there will be an annual limit of four halibut.   

[Mfowl]

Enjoy the season! You won't have us to get in your way, already done in BC. Fun times!

[jeffitz]

Nice Haul guys ! Is BC expensive ?

[Mfowl]

Nice Haul guys ! Is BC expensive ?

I found it to be very reasonable for the package we booked. About $2300 US for 2 full days fishing and 3 nights lodging in a nice cabin. Factor in travel, food and licences it was about $850 each between 4 adults. This also involved off season rates for the lodging. We were on Vancouver Island.

[jeffitz]

Very cool - and close to home really

[cohoho]

I can tell we released about 20 Halibut last weekend, glad we use barbless hooks....  Not sure how you loose a lot of Halibut when you have barbless hook, if reeled with steady pressure very, very, very few ever get off.  Pumping the rod or something?

[MADMAX]

I lost one fishing solo, reaching for the harpoon
beats me maybe hooked bad
fought him for 20 minutes, was a nice one from the the bucking

[Mfowl]

When you have heavy lead weights  bouncing around in front of a fish it can create slack that allows them to throw the hooks. I've lost them on both J and circle hooks because of this. Same with lings, I've had plenty head shake a leadhead right out of their mouth.

[gasman]

Nice Haul guys ! Is BC expensive ?

I found it to be very reasonable for the package we booked. About $2300 US for 2 full days fishing and 3 nights lodging in a nice cabin. Factor in travel, food and licences it was about $850 each between 4 adults. This also involved off season rates for the lodging. We were on Vancouver Island.

Did you fish with the Oak Bay Marien Group?

[Mfowl]

Nice Haul guys ! Is BC expensive ?

I found it to be very reasonable for the package we booked. About $2300 US for 2 full days fishing and 3 nights lodging in a nice cabin. Factor in travel, food and licences it was about $850 each between 4 adults. This also involved off season rates for the lodging. We were on Vancouver Island.

Did you fish with the Oak Bay Marien Group?

No, we fished with an independent captain out of Port Renfrew. He referred us to the lodging we booked. There are a number of charter operations as well as rental cabins there. There is also atleast one resort that offers lodging/fishing combos but they weren't quite up and running for the season when we were there. We are already considering next years trip. It was a nice change of pace from the sardine can, jump when WDFW tells you to fishery we have here.

[MADMAX]

yesterday fished Dungeness and Dallas bank
slow slow slow
but windy and bumpy
hopefully tomorrow am, will try Freshwater bay

[lazydrifter]

Freshwater Bay was slow too.   Don't know what it will be like tomorrow.  I heard the tribes were longlining area 6 today.   We might launch at Freshwater Bay and then head west.  Heard sekiu was a little better.