Pacific halibut Regulations in Alaska (2026)

Hippoglossus stenolepis

Recreational pacific halibut rules in Alaska saltwater, as published by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Last checked November 7, 2026.

Limits differ by area — the summary below is the first published rule; see every rule underneath.

Size limit

Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.

Bag limit

Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.

Season

• January 1-January 31: Closed to halibut fishing. • February…

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Recreational Pacific halibut rules in Alaska

Where: Southeast Alaska salt waters (ocean)
Size limit: Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.
Bag limit: Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.
Possession: Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit.
Season: • January 1-January 31: Closed to halibut fishing. • February 1-December 31: Open to halibut fishing.

Pacific halibut fisheries are managed by the federal government under international treaty.
Federal possession and landing requirements for sport-caught halibut differ from state regulations. Possession includes unpreserved AND preserved fish for halibut.
No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure crafts used for fishing, Pacific halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each Pacific halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.
Consult federal regulations for the following: bag, size, and possession limits for guided (charter) anglers; possession and landing requirements, and inseason changes to the regulations.
Federal halibut regulations are available through NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region at (907) 586-7228. www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/sport-halibut

Official source

Where: Cook Inlet & Kachemak Bay salt waters (ocean)
Size limit: Bag, possession and size limits, and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers.
Bag limit: Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession.
Possession: Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession.
Season: • February 1-December 31: Open to halibut fishing.

Pacific halibut fisheries are managed by the federal government under international treaty.
Pacific halibut fisheries are managed by the federal government under international treaty. See page 7.
Consult federal regulations for the following:
Bag, possession and size limits, and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers.
No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure crafts used for fishing, Pacific halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each Pacific halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.

Official source

Where: Prince William Sound salt waters (ocean)
Size limit: Consult federal regulations for bag, possession and size limits and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers.
Bag limit: Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession.
Possession: Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession.
Season: • February 1-December 31: Open to halibut fishing.

Pacific halibut fisheries are managed by the federal government under international treaty.
Pacific halibut fisheries are managed by the federal government under international treaty. See page 7.
Consult federal regulations for bag, possession and size limits and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers.
Filleting requirements for fish cleaned at sea: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure crafts used for fishing, Pacific halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each Pacific halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.

Official source

Where: Kodiak Island, Alaska Peninsula & Aleutian Islands salt waters (ocean)
Size limit: Bag, possession and size limits, and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers.
Bag limit: Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession.
Possession: Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession.
Season: • February 1-December 31: Open to halibut fishing.

Pacific halibut fisheries are managed by the federal government under international treaty.
Pacific halibut fisheries are managed by the federal government under international treaty. See page 7 for federal contact information.
Consult federal regulations for the following:
Bag, possession and size limits, and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers.
No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure crafts used for fishing, Pacific halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each Pacific halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.

Official source

Where: North Gulf Coast salt waters (ocean)
Size limit: Feb. 1-Dec. 31 Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession. Consult federal regulations for bag, possession and size limits and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers. Filleting requirements for fish cleaned at sea: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure crafts used for fishing, Pacific halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each Pacific halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.
Bag limit: Feb. 1-Dec. 31 Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession. Consult federal regulations for bag, possession and size limits and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers. Filleting requirements for fish cleaned at sea: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure crafts used for fishing, Pacific halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each Pacific halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.
Possession: Feb. 1-Dec. 31 Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession. Consult federal regulations for bag, possession and size limits and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers. Filleting requirements for fish cleaned at sea: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure crafts used for fishing, Pacific halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each Pacific halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.
Season: Feb. 1-Dec. 31 Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession. Consult federal regulations for bag, possession and size limits and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers. Filleting requirements for fish cleaned at sea: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure crafts used for fishing, Pacific halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each Pacific halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.

Feb. 1-Dec. 31 Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession. Consult federal regulations for bag, possession and size limits and other regulations for guided (charter) anglers. Filleting requirements for fish cleaned at sea: No person shall possess on board a vessel, including charter vessels and pleasure crafts used for fishing, Pacific halibut that have been filleted, mutilated, or otherwise disfigured in any manner, except that each Pacific halibut may be cut into no more than 2 ventral pieces, 2 dorsal pieces, and 2 cheek pieces, with a patch of skin on each piece, naturally attached.

Official source

Commercial rules

Show 6 commercial rules

Where: Southeast Alaska (IPHC Regulatory Area 2C) (ocean)
Size limit: 18. Size Limits (1) No person shall take or possess any Pacific halibut that: (a) with the head on, is less than 32 inches (81.3 cm) as measured in a straight line, passing over the pectoral fin from the tip of the lower jaw with the mouth closed, to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2; or (b) with the head removed, is less than 24 inches (61.0 cm) as measured from the base of the pectoral fin at its most anterior point to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Season: (2) Unless the Commission specifies otherwise, commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas may begin no earlier in the year than 06:00 local time on 26 March. (3) All commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas shall cease for the year at 23:59 local time on 7 December.

Alaska commercial halibut is fished under the NOAA Fisheries Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) programs (IPHC regulations Section 9 apply to all commercial fishing).
IPHC 2026 fishery limits (net weight; tonnes, million pounds), Section 5(2): Area 2C (southeastern Alaska) (combined commercial and guided recreational) 1,615 3.56 Commercial fishery (includes 2.81 Mlb landings and 0.10 Mlb discard mortality) 1,320 2.91 Guided recreational fishery (includes landings and discard mortality) 295 0.65

Official source

Where: IPHC Regulatory Area 3A (central Gulf of Alaska) (ocean)
Size limit: 18. Size Limits (1) No person shall take or possess any Pacific halibut that: (a) with the head on, is less than 32 inches (81.3 cm) as measured in a straight line, passing over the pectoral fin from the tip of the lower jaw with the mouth closed, to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2; or (b) with the head removed, is less than 24 inches (61.0 cm) as measured from the base of the pectoral fin at its most anterior point to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Season: (2) Unless the Commission specifies otherwise, commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas may begin no earlier in the year than 06:00 local time on 26 March. (3) All commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas shall cease for the year at 23:59 local time on 7 December.

Alaska commercial halibut is fished under the NOAA Fisheries Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) programs (IPHC regulations Section 9 apply to all commercial fishing).
IPHC 2026 fishery limits (net weight; tonnes, million pounds), Section 5(2): Area 3A (central Gulf of Alaska) (combined commercial and guided recreational) 3,538 7.80 Commercial fishery (includes 5.96 Mlb landings and 0.36 Mlb discard mortality) 2,867 6.32 Guided recreational fishery (includes landings and discard mortality) 667 1.47

Official source

Where: IPHC Regulatory Area 3B (western Gulf of Alaska) (ocean)
Size limit: 18. Size Limits (1) No person shall take or possess any Pacific halibut that: (a) with the head on, is less than 32 inches (81.3 cm) as measured in a straight line, passing over the pectoral fin from the tip of the lower jaw with the mouth closed, to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2; or (b) with the head removed, is less than 24 inches (61.0 cm) as measured from the base of the pectoral fin at its most anterior point to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Season: (2) Unless the Commission specifies otherwise, commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas may begin no earlier in the year than 06:00 local time on 26 March. (3) All commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas shall cease for the year at 23:59 local time on 7 December.

Alaska commercial halibut is fished under the NOAA Fisheries Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) programs (IPHC regulations Section 9 apply to all commercial fishing).
IPHC 2026 fishery limits (net weight; tonnes, million pounds), Section 5(2): Area 3B (western Gulf of Alaska) 1,125 2.48

Official source

Where: IPHC Regulatory Area 4A (eastern Aleutians) (ocean)
Size limit: 18. Size Limits (1) No person shall take or possess any Pacific halibut that: (a) with the head on, is less than 32 inches (81.3 cm) as measured in a straight line, passing over the pectoral fin from the tip of the lower jaw with the mouth closed, to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2; or (b) with the head removed, is less than 24 inches (61.0 cm) as measured from the base of the pectoral fin at its most anterior point to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Season: (2) Unless the Commission specifies otherwise, commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas may begin no earlier in the year than 06:00 local time on 26 March. (3) All commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas shall cease for the year at 23:59 local time on 7 December.

Alaska commercial halibut is fished under the NOAA Fisheries Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) programs (IPHC regulations Section 9 apply to all commercial fishing).
IPHC 2026 fishery limits (net weight; tonnes, million pounds), Section 5(2): Area 4A (eastern Aleutians) 458 1.01

Official source

Where: IPHC Regulatory Area 4B (central and western Aleutians) (ocean)
Size limit: 18. Size Limits (1) No person shall take or possess any Pacific halibut that: (a) with the head on, is less than 32 inches (81.3 cm) as measured in a straight line, passing over the pectoral fin from the tip of the lower jaw with the mouth closed, to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2; or (b) with the head removed, is less than 24 inches (61.0 cm) as measured from the base of the pectoral fin at its most anterior point to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Season: (2) Unless the Commission specifies otherwise, commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas may begin no earlier in the year than 06:00 local time on 26 March. (3) All commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas shall cease for the year at 23:59 local time on 7 December.

Alaska commercial halibut is fished under the NOAA Fisheries Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) programs (IPHC regulations Section 9 apply to all commercial fishing).
IPHC 2026 fishery limits (net weight; tonnes, million pounds), Section 5(2): Area 4B (central and western Aleutians) 417 0.92

Official source

Where: IPHC Regulatory Areas 4CDE (Bering Sea) (ocean)
Size limit: 18. Size Limits (1) No person shall take or possess any Pacific halibut that: (a) with the head on, is less than 32 inches (81.3 cm) as measured in a straight line, passing over the pectoral fin from the tip of the lower jaw with the mouth closed, to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2; or (b) with the head removed, is less than 24 inches (61.0 cm) as measured from the base of the pectoral fin at its most anterior point to the extreme end of the middle of the tail, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Season: (2) Unless the Commission specifies otherwise, commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas may begin no earlier in the year than 06:00 local time on 26 March. (3) All commercial fishing for Pacific halibut in all IPHC Regulatory Areas shall cease for the year at 23:59 local time on 7 December.

Alaska commercial halibut is fished under the NOAA Fisheries Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) programs (IPHC regulations Section 9 apply to all commercial fishing).
IPHC 2026 fishery limits (net weight; tonnes, million pounds), Section 5(2): Areas 4CDE (Bering Sea) 739 1.63

Official source

Quick answers

What is the pacific halibut size limit in Alaska?

Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit. (for the first listed area; other areas may differ — see above).

How many pacific halibut can I keep in Alaska?

Unguided anglers: 2 per day, 4 in possession, no size limit. (for the first listed area; other areas may differ — see above).

When is pacific halibut season in Alaska?

• January 1-January 31: Closed to halibut fishing. • February 1-December 31: Open to halibut fishing.. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.

Compare Pacific halibut limits in other states →

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All Alaska saltwater fishing regulations →

Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Most anglers need a Alaska saltwater license or registry: get one here.