WSR 26-10-033
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 26-59—Filed April 29, 2026, 2:44 p.m., effective April 30, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: April 30, 2026.
Purpose: This emergency rule opens coastal recreational halibut seasons and maintains previously announced Puget Sound halibut seasons.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-314-03000Y; and amending WAC 220-314-030.
Under RCW
34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: This emergency rule revises state rules to conform to federal regulations. Halibut catch will be closely monitored by department of fish and wildlife staff; seasons may close earlier if quotas are achieved. Halibut seasons are open only by emergency rule (see WAC 220-314-040(1)).
Additionally, this rule is necessary to allow fishing for and possession of sablefish in Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, and seaward of the 120-foot bottomfish closure on days open for halibut in Marine Area 4.
This rule carries forward rules previously announced for halibut seasons in Marine Areas 5 through 10. These rules include halibut legally retained in Catch Record Card Area 5 may be landed into port within Catch Record Card Area 4 on days when halibut fishing is closed in Area 4; retention of sablefish is allowed in waters seaward of the 120-foot bottomfish closure in Marine Area 5 on days open for halibut in Area 5.
There is insufficient time to adopt permanent rules.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 29, 2026.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-314-03000ZHalibut—Seasons—Daily and possession limits.
Notwithstanding the provisions of WAC 220-314-030, and 220-314-010, effective April 30 through June 30, 2026, it is unlawful to fish for or possess halibut taken for personal use, except as provided in this section. All other provisions of WAC 220-314-030, and WAC 220-314-010, including Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas (YRCA), not addressed in this section, remain in effect unless otherwise amended by emergency rule:
(1) Marine Area 1 All Depth Fishery:
Halibut open April 30; May 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 24, 28, 29, and 31; June 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 21, 25, 26, and 28, 2026.
(2) Marine Area 2 All Depth Fishery:
Halibut open April 30; May 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, and 31; June 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28, and 30, 2026.
(3) Marine Area 3 and Marine Area 4:
(a) Halibut open April 30; May 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, and 30; June 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, and 28, 2026.
(b) Anglers may fish for, retain, and possess sablefish in Marine Area 4 east of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line, seaward of the 120-foot bottomfish closure described by WAC 220-314-010 (2)(a) on days the halibut fishery is open in Marine Area 4.
(4) Marine Areas 5 through 10:
(a) Halibut open April 30 through June 30, 2026.
(b) Anglers may fish for, retain, and possess sablefish in Marine Area 5 seaward of the 120-foot bottomfish closure described by WAC 220-314-010 (2)(a) on days the halibut fishery is open in Marine Area 5.
(5) Marine Areas 11, 12 and 13: Halibut closed.
(6) It is unlawful to fish for, retain, possess, or land halibut into a port located within an area that is closed to halibut fishing, except it is lawful to land halibut into a port within Marine Area 4, that were lawfully retained in Marine Area 5.
(7) Halibut caught in Canadian waters may be landed into a port located within a marine area that is closed to halibut fishing. See WAC 220-310-210 for rules on Canadian-origin halibut possession.
(8) The annual limit is six halibut taken from state or offshore waters. This does not include Canadian waters; see WAC 220-310-210 for limits on Canadian-origin halibut.
Reviser's note: The typographical errors in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appear in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040. REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective April 30, 2026:
WAC 220-314-03000Y | Halibut—Seasons—Daily and possession limits. (26-43) |