The 2022 recreational Pacific halibut fishery will open Sunday, May 1 and remain open until Nov. 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 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’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.