Species guide · Oregon
Pacific halibut fishing in Oregon
Hippoglossus stenolepis, a bottom species also called halibut, butt and chicken halibut. Listed for the Pacific Northwest region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Pacific Northwest
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Off season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Not present
- Dec: Not present
Peak: May to Jul. In season (shoulder or peak): Apr to Sep.
Research notes, Pacific Northwest region
Area 2A quota fishery. Washington 2026: Puget Sound from early April, coast from Apr 30, most areas through late June with a second opener in mid to late August. Oregon Central Coast 2026: spring all-depth May 1 to Jul 31, summer all-depth Aug 1 to Oct 31, nearshore inside 40 fathoms May 1 to Oct 31, all subject to quota.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 0
Not scored in this forecast: Coastal waters from Cape Blanco OR to Pt. St. George CA out 10 nm, Coastal waters from Cape Falcon to Cape Foulweather OR out 10 nm, Coastal waters from Cape Foulweather to Florence OR out 10 nm, Coastal waters from Florence to Cape Blanco OR out 10 nm and Columbia River Bar.
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 36°F to 54°F, best between 39°F and 47°F.
- Water depth
- 50 to 600 ft of water.
- Structure
- Bank, ledge, bar, pinnacle, channel, shoal and canyon, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers high tide and low tide, with slack current.ADF&G says the best halibut fishing is just before, during and after slack tide, when bait stays on the bottom and fish move out from cover to feed. Smaller tide series are easier to fish. When anchored on moving water, bait spreads a scent trail down-current that draws fish in.
- Light
- Little tied to dawn and dusk.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 20 kt of wind and 7 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Halibut sit on sand and gravel bottoms near drop-offs, bars and pinnacles, most often in 90 to 500 feet in Alaska and on the shelf off Washington, Oregon and far northern California. Anchor up-current of a likely edge and fish herring, squid, octopus or a salmon head on a circle hook with 24 to 32 ounces of weight, or bounce a large jig on the bottom. The best bite usually comes in the hour around slack tide.
- Methods
- bottom fishing at anchor, drift fishing, jigging
- Lures
- large lead-head jigs with shad or curly-tail bodies, plastic squid or hoochie skirts over bait, flashy metal spoon jigs, glow jig bodies
- Bait
- herring, salmon heads and bellies, octopus, squid, salmon viscera
Regulations
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Synced with ODFW Sep 17, 2026.
No reviewed pacific halibut rule for Oregon is on file yet. Check with ODFW before you keep one.