Department Fisheries and Oceans
Halibut Head On Off Measurement
The "head-on" measurement is from the centre of the tail, to the foremost end of the lower lip, and applies to halibut in your possession while angling or transporting fish to your residence.
Halibut fishing is currently OPEN
for most of the coast, see restrictions below. Effective April 1, 2013 until further notice, the maximum size limit for halibut is 126 cm head on. The daily limit is one (1) and the possession limit for halibut is two (2, of which one must be less than 83 cm head-on and one must be less than 126 cm head-on. The annual limit effective April 1, 2013 is six (6) halibut.
The "head-on" measurement is from the centre of the tail, to the foremost end of the lower lip, and applies to halibut in your possession while angling or transporting fish to your residence.
Head-off measurement
The International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) uses a conversion factor of 0.75 from head-on to head- off. The head-off measurement is measured from the base of the pectoral fin at its most anterior point to the extreme end of the middle of the tail. For a halibut which measures 126 cm with the head on, the head-off measurement would equal 95 cm.
After April 1, if you have two halibut in your possession you must be able to show that at least one of them is 83 cm or less head-on (63 cm head-off) and the other is 126 cm or less head-on (95 cm head-off). In order to comply with the licence condition, halibut in your possession must be retained in such a manner that their size can be readily determined. Halibut close to the size limits may be left whole with the head on which will allow fishery officers to measure them accurately for compliance with the length requirement.
Fishers are reminded that it is a violation to have any fish in your possession that is caught while recreationally fishing that has been skinned, cut, packed or otherwise dealt with in such a manner that the species, number, and length of the fish cannot be readily determined.
Regulations require that where size limits apply to any fish caught while fishing recreationally, it must remain in a condition that the size of the fish may be readily measured. Possession of fish that are not readily measurable, if inspected by a fishery officer constitutes a violation of the regulation.
Areas 121, 23 and 123 Closed Areas:
Effective until 23:59 hours December 31, 2013, no person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in Area 121 outside the 12 nautical mile limit seaward of a line that begins at 48°34.00’N and 125°17.386’W and continues south easterly at a bearing of 116° True to a point at 48°28.327’N and 125°01.687’W.