Halibut anglers will have several extra days to reel in halibut this season as well as two upcoming opportunities to help shape the 2023 season, fishery managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have announced.

Ilwaco (Marine Area 1) and Westport-Ocean Shores (Marine Area 2) areas will open to all-depth halibut fishing for three additional days in August and three days in September including the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Open dates are: Friday, Aug. 19; Thursday, Aug. 25; Sunday, Aug. 28; Saturday, Sept. 3; Sunday, Sept. 4 and Friday, Sept. 23.

The halibut season for the Neah Bay and La Push (Marine Areas 3 and 4) will open on Thursday, August 11, five days per week, Thursday through Saturday. Starting Sept. 6, the Neah Bay and La Push will be open seven days per week.

Puget Sound (Marine Areas 5 – 10) will reopen on Thursday, Aug. 11, seven days per week. Halibut is quota-managed and the season runs through Sept. 30 or when the quota is taken.

WDFW will host two virtual public meetings, slated for 5:30-7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Aug. 9 and Tuesday, Oct. 4 to discuss season structure and proposed dates for the 2023 sport halibut season.

At the Aug. 9 meeting, state halibut managers will review preliminary 2022 season data and work with stakeholders to develop a range of preliminary options focused on general concepts.

At the Oct. 4 meeting, in addition to refining the options developed at the first meeting, WDFW staff will collect further public input, review tide calendars for next spring and select specific season dates.

For more information about how to participate in the Aug. 9 and Oct. 4 Zoom webinars, visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/halibut. The meetings will be recorded and posted online.