Halibut Charter Fishing in the State of Washington

Boat

• Depending on where in Washington you start, you may need to go one to 1 1/2 hours from the harbor to find halibut. Halibut boats should be large and steady, with dual engines and ample power to get passengers out to the fish and back in good time. The boat must also be able to ride rough waters with ease because of the need to go out relatively far in the sea to find halibut. According to Pacific Lure Communications, a 22- to 28-foot boat with a minimum of an 8-foot beam is ideal.

What's Included

• An experienced and skilled captain with capable skippers makes for a successful fishing charter; almost all fishing charters in Washington will include the captain and deckhand (one or two depending on size of boat and number of passengers). Most private charters will also include all bait and tackle, as well as all fishing rods suited for fishing for halibut. Some charter boats will include coffee, and some will include or exclude the cost of the fishing license required by the state of Washington. If it is excluded, the passengers will have to each purchase a license prior to starting the fishing trip.

The Season and Dwindling Halibut

• Halibut has been readily available in the Pacific Ocean from April to early fall. From Washington down through Oregon and into the California coast, halibut fishing is a popular pasttime. Because of haphazard commercial fishing practices and increasing interest in the sport of deep-sea fishing, the halibut population has decreased drastically. With minimum size limitations ignored and countless fish being captured as bycatch while fishing for bigger fish, too many young and fertile halibut have been killed, resulting in a dwindling population of remaining fish.

Strictly Enforced Limits

• Because of the drastically decreasing population, the limits on halibut have been decreased to one per angler. Hence, the fishing season for halibut in Washington has also been greatly shortened. Depending on the area, the season begins in April and ends in May, and will reopen for a short time in August--but only in some areas--until limits have been reached. Many of these areas will only allow halibut fishing one certain days of the week. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that the limit for 2008 was 232,807 lbs.; the 2009 limit was 214,110 lbs., creating a very short season with a very small limit. Keep in mind that this limit can be reached early; your fishing charter trip may end up being very short if limits on the boat are reached quickly.

Miscellaneous Details

• Most boats will require that you pack your own lunch and refreshments. Check with your charter company about whether it will allow alcoholic refreshments on the boat. If so, you will usually have to furnish your own cooler.

  Most boats will have anglers meet between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.; it's important to be on time, especially if you have not chartered the entire boat to yourselves. If you are late, charters are allowed to leave to reach the fishing destination.

  Back in the harbor, most charters will include the cost of filleting the fish; vacuum-packing or flash-freezing the fish is usually additional.