Can I Keep?Bottomfish Regulations in Washington (2026)
Recreational bottomfish rules in Washington saltwater, as published by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Last checked November 7, 2026.
Limits differ by area — the summary below is the first published rule; see every rule underneath.
Bag limit
9 per person
Season
Recreational bottomfish is open from the second Saturday in March…
Can I keep it today? Check your harbor & date
Recreational Bottomfish rules in Washington
- Where
- North Coast (Marine Areas 3 and 4) - West of the Bonnilla-Tatoosh line (ocean)
- Bag limit
- Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, anglers can retain five additional flatfish.
- Season
- Recreational bottomfish is open from the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October, which is March 14 - October 17, 2026. Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, angle
- In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, anglers can retain five additional flatfish.
- In Marine Area 3 and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line) effective June 1 through July 31, recreational fishing for bottomfish is prohibited seaward of a boundary line approximating the 20-fm (120 ft.) depth contour. Beginning June 1, on days open to the Pacific halibut fishery, the following bottomfish can be retained seaward of 20 fathoms: lingcod, sablefish, Pacific cod, bocaccio, silvergray rockfish, canary rockfish, widow rockfish, and yellowtail rockfish. Yellowtail and widow rockfish retention is allowed seaward of 20 fathoms at all times during the month of July.
- In Marine Area 4B (east of the Bonnilla Tatoosh line) recreational fishing for bottomfish is prohibited seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line year-round. On days open to the Pacific halibut fishery in this area, no bottomfish except lingcod, sablefish, and Pacific cod can be retained seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line. Yellowtail and widow rockfish retention is allowed seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line on days open to recreational salmon fishing July 1-Aug. 31.
- The retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited in all Marine Areas.
- Area Closures
- Where
- North Coast (Marine Areas 3 and 4) - East of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line (ocean)
- Bag limit
- In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, anglers can retain five additional flatfish.
- Season
- Open year-round.
- In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, anglers can retain five additional flatfish.
- In Marine Area 3 and Marine Area 4 (west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line) effective June 1 through July 31, recreational fishing for bottomfish is prohibited seaward of a boundary line approximating the 20-fm (120 ft.) depth contour. Beginning June 1, on days open to the Pacific halibut fishery, the following bottomfish can be retained seaward of 20 fathoms: lingcod, sablefish, Pacific cod, bocaccio, silvergray rockfish, canary rockfish, widow rockfish, and yellowtail rockfish. Yellowtail and widow rockfish retention is allowed seaward of 20 fathoms at all times during the month of July.
- In Marine Area 4B (east of the Bonnilla Tatoosh line) recreational fishing for bottomfish is prohibited seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line year-round. On days open to the Pacific halibut fishery in this area, no bottomfish except lingcod, sablefish, and Pacific cod can be retained seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line. Yellowtail and widow rockfish retention is allowed seaward of the Bottomfish Closure line on days open to recreational salmon fishing July 1-Aug. 31.
- The retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited in all Marine Areas.
- Area Closures
- Where
- South Coast (Marine Area 2) (ocean)
- Bag limit
- Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, five additional flatfish species (excluding Pacific halibut) can be retained.
- Season
- Recreational fishing for bottomfish will be open from the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October, which is March 14 through October 17, 2026. Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottom
- In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, five additional flatfish species (excluding Pacific halibut) can be retained.
- Recreational fishing for lingcod is prohibited seaward of a boundary line approximating the 30-fm (55 m) depth contour from May 1 through May 31. The retention of lingcod seaward of the 30-fathom line is allowed on days that the primary halibut season is open. The retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited.
- Recreational fishing for, retention or possession of lingcod is prohibited seaward of a line extending from 47°31.70'N. lat., 124°45.00'W. long. south to 46°38.17'N. lat., 124°30.00'W. long. Lingcod retention is allowed in this area on days open to the primary (all-depth) halibut season. Lingcod may also be taken, retained and possessed in this area from June 1 through June 15 and Sept. 1 through Sept. 30.
- Where
- Columbia River (Marine Area 1) (ocean)
- Bag limit
- Daily limit is a total of nine bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, five additional flatfish species (excluding Pacific halibut) can be retained.
- Season
- Recreational fishing for bottomfish will be open from the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October, which is March 14 through Oct. 17, 2026. Daily limit is a total of nine bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottom
- In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, five additional flatfish species (excluding Pacific halibut) can be retained.
- On days open to the all-depth halibut fishery and when halibut are on board the vessel, no bottomfish other than lingcod caught north of the Washington-Oregon border, sablefish, Pacific cod, flatfish species, yellowtail rockfish, widow rockfish, canary rockfish, redstriped rockfish, greenstriped rockfish, silvergray rockfish, chilipepper, bocaccio, and blue/deacon rockfish may be retained.
- Retention of yelloweye rockfish is prohibited at all times.
- Recreational fishing for, retention, or possession of lingcod is prohibited seaward of a line extending from 46°38.17'N. lat., 124°20.00'W. long. to 46°33.00’ N. Lat., 124°21.00’ W. long. Except, lingcod may be taken, retained and possessed in this area from June 1 through June 15 and Sept. 1 through Sept. 30.
- NOTE: Bottomfish caught in the Pacific Ocean and landed into a Washington port are subject to Washington personal use fishing regulations including possession limits (WAC 220-305-010). That is, recreational anglers are prohibited from landing recreational bottomfish in excess of the possession limits in place for the port of landing.
Commercial rules
Show 1 commercial rule
- Where
- Marine Areas 1, 2, 3 and 4 (coastal state waters) (ocean)
- Bag limit
- (1)(a) It is unlawful to possess, transport through the waters of the state, or land in any Washington state port, bottomfish taken in excess of the amounts or less than the minimum or maximum sizes, or in violation of any of the possession, landing, or sorting requirements published in the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Title 50, Part 660, Subparts D through F. These federal regulations provide the requirements for commercial groundfish fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Additional regulations may be enacted and listed in the Federal Register, and these regulations override those in the C.F.R. if there are any inconsistencies between the two. Therefore, persons must consult these federal regulations, which chapter 220-355 WAC incorporates by reference and is based on, in part. Where rules refer to the fishery management area, that area is extended to include Washington state waters coterminous with the Exclusive Economic Zone. A copy of the federal rules may be obtained by the internet at the National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Region Groundfish page. State regulations may apply that are more restrictive than federal regulations.
- Season
- (1)(a) It is unlawful to possess, transport through the waters of the state, or land in any Washington state port bottomfish in violation of any area or time closure or requirement as published in the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Title 50, Part 660, Subparts D through F. These federal regulations provide the requirements for commercial groundfish fishing in the Pacific Ocean. There may be additional regulations listed in the Federal Register, and these override the regulations in the C.F.R. if there are any inconsistencies between the two. Chapter 220-355 WAC incorporates the C.F.R. by reference and is based, in part, on the C.F.R. Where rules refer to the fishery management area, that area is extended to include Washington state waters coterminous with the Exclusive Economic Zone. A copy of the federal rules may be obtained by the internet at the National Marine Fisheries Service West Coast Region Groundfish page. State regulations may apply that are more restrictive than federal regulations.
- (2)(a) It is unlawful to use otter trawl or beam trawl gear in state territorial waters (0-3 miles) within Areas 58B, 59A-1, 59A-2, 59B, 60A-1 or 60A-2.
- (5)(a) It is unlawful to use set line gear in state territorial waters (0-3 miles) within Areas 58B, 59A-1, 59A-2, 59B, 60A-1 and 60A-2, and in that portion of Area 58B within the Exclusive Economic Zone.
- (6)(a) It is unlawful to use bottomfish pots in state territorial waters (0-3 miles) within Areas 58B, 59A-1, 59A-2, 59B, 60A-1 and 60A-2, and in that portion of Area 58B within the Exclusive Economic Zone.
- (7)(a) It is unlawful to use commercial jig gear in state territorial waters (0-3 miles) within Areas 58B, 59A-1, 59A-2, 59B, 60A-1 and 60A-2, and in that portion of Area 58B within the Exclusive Economic Zone.
- (8)(a) It is unlawful to use bottomfish troll gear in state territorial waters (0-3 miles) within Areas 58B, 59A-1, 59A-2, 59B, 60A-1 and 60A-2, and in that portion of Area 58B within the Exclusive Economic Zone.
- (6)(a) It is unlawful to take salmon incidental to any lawful bottomfish fishery.
- (8)(a) It is unlawful to retain any species of shellfish taken incidental to any lawful bottomfish fishery, except that it is lawful to retain octopus and squid.
- WAC 220-355-090 (https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=220-355-090): areas and seasons follow 50 CFR 660 Subparts D-F; see the 'Federal waters (EEZ)' trip-limit records.
Quick answers
How many bottomfish can I keep in Washington?
Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, anglers can retain five additional flatfish. (for the first listed area; other areas may differ — see above).
When is bottomfish season in Washington?
Recreational bottomfish is open from the second Saturday in March through the third Saturday in October, which is March 14 - October 17, 2026. Daily limit is a total of 9 bottomfish regardless of species, subject to individual limits shown below. In addition to the nine bottomfish daily limit, angle. Whether it is open on a specific day can change by emergency rule — check today's status in the app.
More groundfish & flatfish in Washington
All Washington saltwater fishing regulations →
Source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Most anglers need a Washington saltwater license or registry: get one here.