Pacific halibut recreational fishing days added in Columbia River subarea for June 2026

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the Commerce Department, is adding six extra days for recreational Pacific halibut fishing in the Columbia River subarea. These new dates fall on Mondays and Tuesdays in mid-to-late June: specifically June 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23.

Why it matters: The practical goal here is economic efficiency for the fishery. By opening more days, NMFS aims to let anglers harvest the full amount of halibut allowed for this region this year. If the allocation goes unused, those fish remain in the water rather than being caught by recreational fishermen, which limits the economic activity for charter boats and related businesses.

Who it affects

• Recreational anglers fishing from shore or boat in the Columbia River subarea off the U.S. West Coast.

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This rule was issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the Commerce Department; verify specific bag limits and subarea boundaries in the original Federal Register document before fishing.

Agency: Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source: Federal Register — read the official document